COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State improved to 6-1 following its 21-17 win over Nebraska which meant getting back in the win column, but things were far from perfect.
The Buckeyes walked away victorious but often looked sloppy in doing so and could’ve easily lost to the Cornhuskers on Saturday needing an interception on what would’ve been a game-winning drive to seal the win. Now they head into yet another top-five matchup as a road team only this time without much momentum.
One can make a case that through seven games OSU has been at best the fourth most impressive Big Ten with the three ahead of it all on the schedule. It’s already lost to Oregon, faces Penn State next Saturday and plays Indiana in a few weeks.
All three have good reason to be ranked above Ohio State right now, which is exactly why they are on my ballot.
Here’s a look at my AP ballot as OSU prepares for Saturday’s showdown with the Nittany Lions:
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | Oregon | 8-0 |
| No. 2 | Penn State | 7-0 |
| No. 3 | Indiana | 8-0 |
| No. 4 | Ohio State | 6-1 |
| No. 5 | Georgia | 6-1 |
| No. 6 | Iowa State | 7-0 |
| No. 7 | Miami | 8-0 |
| No. 8 | Notre Dame | 7-1 |
| No. 9 | Texas | 7-1 |
| No. 10 | BYU | 8-0 |
| No. 11 | Clemson | 6-1 |
| No. 12 | Tennesee | 6-1 |
| No. 13 | Boise State | 6-1 |
| No. 14 | Pittsburgh | 7-0 |
| No. 15 | Texas A&M | 7-1 |
| No. 16 | Alabama | 6-2 |
| No. 17 | Army | 7-0 |
| No. 18 | Kansas State | 7-1 |
| No. 19 | SMU | 7-1 |
| No. 20 | Washington State | 7-1 |
| No. 21 | Memphis | 7-1 |
| No. 22 | Illinois | 6-2 |
| No. 23 | LSU | 6-2 |
| No. 24 | Colorado | 6-2 |
| No. 25 | Navy | 7-1 |
The ‘Undaunted’
We have to start acknowledging Indiana as a good football team.
I’ve been out on a ledge with how high I’ve ranked the Hoosiers over the past month they continue to validate that decision. They’re undefeated with an offense that ranks sixth in yards per play (7.22), fourth in passing yards per attempt (10.4) and second in points per game (46.5). Defensively they’re tied for seventh in yards allowed per play (4.48), tied for ninth in passing yards allowed per play (5.8), ninth in rushing yards allowed per play (3.04) and seventh in points allowed per play (14.1).
The only other teams who are top in yards per play both offensively and defensively are Ole Miss, Ohio State and Penn State. But those teams were supposed to be this good, or at least flirting with that level.
Indiana is doing this with a quarterback who was at Ohio last year — and also didn’t play this weekend — in Kurtis Rourke and a first-year head coach in Curt Cignetti.
Tougher games are coming for the Hoosiers including two of the three teams it’s in a conversation with statistically. But their dominance has to be acknowledged.
‘Do you believe?’
Colorado has put together a competent team in Deion Sanders’ second year. No longer is that team just Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter playing catch while Hunter also flirts with 125 snaps a game.
OK…well…actually yes it is but at least that’s no longer the only option just to lose.
The Buffaloes have some other weapons in the passing game thanks to Florida Atlantic transfer LaJohntay Wester and former USF receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. But the main difference is an upgraded offensive line that’s at least serviceable enough to keep its quarterback upright long enough to make plays.
Colorado suffered some 6-2 and doesn’t have a signature win yet thanks to losses at Nebraska and at home to a ranked Kansas State. But it’s playing better as of late while playing in a conference where a spot in the conference championship game is still up for grabs. When Sanders’ team returns to play in two weeks they’ll return to a schedule where it’s reasonable to make a case that they can grab one of those spots.
Time for separation
The ACC has an interesting month ahead of it. I put four teams from that conference in my poll ranging from Miami at No. 7 to SMU at No. 19.
None of the four teams have played each other year and at times this season, I’ve looked at all of them just waiting on them to inevitably lose games so I could eliminate them from my mind. Yet here we are heading into November and they’re all still here.
That’s about to change in the coming weeks starting with No. 14 Pittsburgh and the Mustangs this week.
