STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State players didn’t want to say they were surprised with their No. 12 spot in the first College Football Playoff rankings -- but they had no problem expressing their excitement and the ranking’s importance Wednesday.

“It’s kind of showing people we’re back,” linebacker Jason Cabinda said.

“For guys like me,” he continued,” it kind of reminds you of why you came to Penn State -- to kind of put the university and the program back in that position and kind of getting us back to the top where Penn State belongs. It was definitely special to us.”

Cabinda, a junior, signed with the Lions about seven months before the postseason ban was lifted in September 2014. Few expected Penn State to arrive at this point so quickly.

Even five weeks ago, the Nittany Lions stood at 2-2 while some fans chanted “Fire Franklin!” during a home game. But after four straight wins -- including a stunning upset of then-No. 2 Ohio State -- that narrative has been turned upside-down.

Cabinda insisted he never harbored any doubts. But what would he have said if someone told him, a month ago, that the .500 Lions were destined for a No. 12 ranking?

“I’d believe it, no doubt about it,” Cabinda said. “This is a team whose basic existence at this point is about overcoming adversity. That’s what we’ve done time and time again through so many ways. So it wouldn’t have surprised me at all.”

The Nittany Lions’ ranking was one of the biggest surprises Tuesday night. Penn State found itself at No. 20 this week in The Associated Press’ poll and No. 23 in the coaches’ poll, so few projected it to crack the top-15. The Lions haven’t been ranked this high in any poll since Nov. 12, 2011, when it was also No. 12.

Most players said they discovered the news on Twitter. And, like Cabinda, they felt ecstatic.

“I just thought that was crazy, looking at the other teams that are in front of us, behind us,” defensive lineman Ryan Buchholz said. “We’re in there with some of the great teams in the country, so I think it’s just amazing that we’re there.

“Obviously, everyone’s very excited -- but we’re not going to let it get to our heads.”

As of Wednesday morning, players said they hadn't yet discussed the ranking with the coaching staff. But it’s no stretch to think the staff is going to reiterate that there’s no use on focusing on “No. 12” just yet.

Assistant coach Charles Huff tweeted a celebratory message shortly after the ranking was released, but it’s since been deleted. Instead, the staff has re-tweeted the head coach’s message:

All that matters is Iowa, Iowa, Iowa! We NEED the stadium sold out & rocking on Sat night! #107kStrong will make a huge impact on the game

— James Franklin (@coachjfranklin) November 2, 2016

Mathematically, Penn State remains in the playoff picture -- and it’s now in better shape to make one of the New Year’s Six. Based on ESPN’s FPI, the Nittany Lions have a 36 percent chance to win out. They’ll need Michigan to drop two games to earn a spot in the B1G championship game, so the FPI gives them about a 1-in-50 chance of winning the conference.

That scenario obviously involves a lot of “ifs” and “maybes.” Penn State can’t control all that, so players said they weren’t going to worry about it. Instead, they’re looking to Saturday’s matchup against Iowa -- and simply appreciating the fact they’re on the rise.

“It’s pretty exciting,” defensive end Torrence Brown said. “It’s just a great feeling knowing how much work we’ve put in over the time I’ve been here, and even before me. It’s also motivating for us to move forward.”