Penn State men’s hockey swept its weekend series on the road against then-No. 5 Wisconsin in emphatic fashion. That, combined with losses around college hockey, vaulted them up the rankings.

In the latest USCHO poll released on Monday, the men’s hockey team jumped three spots to No. 5 with a 18-6-0 record. They are currently tied for first in the Big Ten standings with 31 points and No. 4 in the NPI, the new formula that determines seeding for the NCAA Tournament. If the season ended today, the Nittany Lions would be a No. 1 seed.

Michigan continues its stranglehold on the No. 1 spot, picking up 48 first-place votes. Michigan State and Western Michigan held serve at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, both earning a first-place vote.

No. 4 North Dakota holds off the Nittany Lions, but Quinnipiac (No. 6), Minnesota-Duluth (No. 7), and Wisconsin (No. 8) all fall behind after rough weekends. Penn State is 53 points behind North Dakota and 129 points ahead of Quinnipiac.

After sweeping Wisconsin, Penn State jumps them as the third-highest-ranked team in the Big Ten. Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Minnesota all continue not to receive votes, while previous non-conference opponents Arizona State (2 points) and RIT (2 points) both get consideration.

The men’s hockey team returns home for a blockbuster two-game weekend set against No. 2 Michigan State, starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, January 30, and culminating in the highly anticipated game at Beaver Stadium the following day. Friday’s game will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus.