Ohio State did just about everything right in its most recent game, absolutely embarrassing then-No. 10 Nebraska in Columbus by 59 points. That performance, coupled with Texas A&M's loss at Mississippi State, got Urban Meyer's team one step closer to the College Football Playoff.
The Buckeyes are No. 5 in the rankings this week, up one spot from the initial set. Ohio State still trails top-ranked Alabama, No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 Washington but is the highest rated 1-loss team.
“No. 5 Ohio state, very good football team had a very convincing win last week,” CFP Committee selection chair Kirby Hocutt said on ESPN. “Washington earned that No. 4 spot this week.”
Nebraska tumbled to No. 19 after its loss at Ohio Stadium. Louisville, Wisconsin, Auburn and Penn State round out the top-10. There are four Big Ten teams in the top-10, easily the most of any conference.
The full rankings can be seen here.
Unlike last week, the committee views the Buckeyes a tad better than AP voters. Ohio State stayed put at No. 6 in Sunday's AP Poll but leapfrogged the Cardinals to No. 5 in the Coaches Poll.
Ohio State visits Maryland on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
| Rank | Team | Conf. | Record | Key Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALABAMA | SEC | 9-0 | AUBURN (11/26) |
| 2 | CLEMSON | ACC | 9-0 | PITTSBURGH (11/12), @ WAKE FOREST (11/19), S. CAROLINA (11/26) |
| 3 | MICHIGAN | BIG TEN | 9-0 | @ IOWA (11/12), @ OHIO STATE (11/26) |
| 4 | WASHINGTON | PAC-12 | 9-0 | USC (11/12), @ WASHINGTON STATE (11/25) |
| 5 | OHIO STATE | BIG TEN | 8-1 | @ MICHIGAN ST. (11/19), MICHIGAN (11/26) |
| 6 | LOUISVILLE | ACC | 8-1 | WAKE FOREST (11/12), @ HOUSTON (11/17) |
| 7 | WISCONSIN | BIG TEN | 7-2 | MINNESOTA (11/26) |
| 8 | TEXAS A&M | SEC | 7-2 | LSU (11/24) |
| 9 | AUBURN | SEC | 7-2 | @ GEORGIA (11/12), @ ALABAMA (11/26) |
| 10 | PENN STATE | BIG TEN | 7-2 | @ INDIANA (11/12), MICHIGAN STATE (11/26) |
| 11 | OKLAHOMA | BIG 12 | 7-2 | BAYLOR (11/12), WEST VIRGINIA (11/19), OKLAHOMA STATE (12/3) |
| 12 | COLORADO | PAC-12 | 7-2 | WASHINGTON STATE (11/19), UTAH (11/26) |
| 13 | OKLAHOMA STATE | BIG 12 | 7-2 | @ TCU (11/19), OKLAHOMA (12/3) |
| 14 | VIRGINIA TECH | ACC | 7-2 | GEORGIA TECH (11/12), @ NOTRE DAME (11/19) |
| 15 | UTAH | PAC-12 | 7-2 | @ COLORADO (11/26) |
| 16 | WEST VIRGINIA | BIG 12 | 7-1 | OKLAHOMA (11/19), BAYLOR (12/3) |
| 17 | NORTH CAROLINA | ACC | 7-2 | @ DUKE (11/10), NORTH CAROLINA STATE (11/25) |
| 18 | FLORIDA STATE | ACC | 6-3 | FLORIDA (11/26) |
| 19 | NEBRASKA | BIG TEN | 7-2 | MINNESOTA (11/12), @ IOWA (11/25) |
| 20 | USC | PAC-12 | 6-3 | @ WASHINGTON (11/12), @ UCLA (11/19) NOTRE DAME (11/6) |
| 21 | WESTERN MICHIGAN | MAC | 10-0 | TOLEDO (11/25) |
| 22 | BOISE STATE | MWC | 8-1 | @ AIR FORCE (11/25) |
| 23 | WASHINGTON STATE | PAC-12 | 7-2 | @ COLORADO (11/19), WASHINGTON (11/25) |
| 24 | LSU | SEC | 5-3 | @ ARKANSAS (11/12), FLORIDA (11/19), TEXAS A&M (11/26) |
| 25 | ARKANSAS | SEC | 6-3 | LSU (11/12) |
