Buckeyes stay put in latest College Football Playoff rankings
COLUMBUS — Ohio State never cares about the College Football Playoff rankings until the committee releases the final set on the first week of December.
But this week especially, the Buckeyes certainly do not care about the CFP rankings that came out Tuesday night.
For the record, Ohio State stayed put at No. 2 in the CFP rankings Tuesday night, one spot behind top-ranked Georgia. But it’s rivalry week, and the Buckeyes are just days away from facing No. 3 Michigan on the road in The Big House this weekend. So worrying about the rankings are even sillier than usual.
Two teams Ohio State beat are in the top 25. Notre Dame checked in at No. 18 and Penn State sits at No. 11. Both of those wins give the Buckeyes an impressive resume, and they’ll get a chance to add to it against the Wolverines and potentially in the Big Ten title game — if they make it — against No. 17 Iowa in the Big Ten title game.
But this is rivalry week. And the best way to respect The Game is for Ohio State to fully focus on that — and not pay attention to anything else.
“I was taught that the way you respect the rivalry is to work in every day,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “Whether it’s in the weight room, whether it’s in game planning, talking to your players, periods in practicing and during the spring periods and practicing, the preseason. And that’s it.
“So we do we respect the rivalry, and certainly excited to play here on Saturday.”
If the Buckeyes keep their focus and win on the road in Ann Arbor this weekend, the rest will take care of itself. And wins will equal a trip to the College Football Playoff, no matter where they’re ranked right now.
Lettermen Row has the third set of College Football Playoff rankings below:
1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Michigan
4. Washington
5. Florida State
6. Oregon
7. Texas
8. Alabama
9. Missouri
10. Louisville
11. Penn State
12. Ole Miss
13. Oklahoma
14. LSU
15. Arizona
16. Oregon State
17. Iowa
18. Notre Dame
19. Kansas State
20. Oklahoma State
21. Tennessee
22. North Carolina State
23. Tulane
24. Clemson
25. Liberty
Are you a member yet?
Are you ready to get all your latest Ohio State news in one place? Become a member of Lettermen Row today. With your Lettermen Row/On3+ membership, you’ll not only have access to everything that’s happening with the Buckeyes, but you’ll also be able to peruse other fan sites within the network to hear just how rivals are feeling about Ohio State, as well. Make sure to follow along on X, Instagram and on Youtube for all the latest Buckeyes news you need to know.