Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes stay put in latest early-season AP Poll

COLUMBUS — Ohio State isn’t budging from its spot as the No. 2 team in the country, according to the AP Poll. Yes, the second Associated Press top 25 was released on Tuesday after a jam-packed five-day slate of college football in Week One. And the Buckeyes remained at No. 2 — behind Georgia.

The Buckeyes are ahead of Texas, Alabama and Notre Dame. Those three rounded out the top five. Michigan fell a spot to No. 10, while Penn State stayed at No. 8 and Oregon fell to No. 7.

Ohio State won’t play a ranked team until Oct. 5 when it plays No. 21 Iowa inside the Horseshoe. The Buckeyes will play at No. 7 Oregon a week later and No. 8 Penn State on Nov. 2 a few weeks before hosting No. 10 Michigan to close the regular season.

The full AP Poll can be found below. First-place votes are in parenthesis.

1. Georgia (57)
2. Ohio State (2)
3. Texas
4. Alabama
5. Notre Dame
6. Ole Miss
7. Oregon
8. Penn State
9. Missouri
10. Michigan
11. Utah
12. Miami
13. USC
14. Tennessee
15. Oklahoma
16. Oklahoma State
17. Kansas State
18. LSU
19. Kansas
20. Arizona
21. Iowa
22. Louisville
23. Georgia Tech
24. NC State
25. Clemson

Pair of Buckeyes starters listed as ‘day-to-day’ by Ryan Day

COLUMBUS — Ohio State was without two key starters for the season-opening win over Akron on Saturday. Both starting left guard Donovan Jackson and star middle linebacker Cody Simon missed the opener with minor injuries, neither considered serious in nature.

Asked Tuesday if either will play in the primetime home game against Western Michigan this Saturday night (7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network), Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said both were considered ‘day-to-day.’

“They’re day-to-day right now,” Day said Tuesday. We’re going to see how today goes. Had a good weekend. We’re going to list them as day-to-day.”

In place of Simon, the Buckeyes turned to Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and C.J. Hicks as a three-man rotation. All three had their bright moments, but they’ll certainly be a better unit when Simon returns to action.

Reese was a standout, and he’ll continue to play a lot — even when Simon returns to action.

In place of Jackson, Ohio State turned to redshirt freshman offensive lineman Austin Siereveld as the team’s starting left guard. Day and the staff liked some of what Siereveld did despite it being his first start.

ICYMI: Ohio State lands hoops commitment

One of the top basketball players in Central Ohio has committed to Ohio State.

Three-star Upper Arlington (Ohio) power forward Alex Smith has committed to the Buckeyes. The 6-foot-8 and 195-pound Smith chose the Buckeyes over offers from Bryant, Indiana, Kent State, Ohio and Toledo.

Smith got the attention of the Ohio State coaching staff after a strong performance at the Buckeyes’ team camp from June 6-7. Head coach Jake Diebler then decided to offer Smith while he was on campus for the Buckeyes’ alumni week scrimmage on June 17. Smith has quality relationships with multiple Ohio State assistants.

Smith is the second commitment for Ohio State in the 2026 class. He joins four-star point guard Marcus Johnson, a top-30 player in the 2026 class according to the On3 Industry Rankings, out of Cleveland (Ohio) Garfield Heights in the Buckeyes class.

Smith dealt with injuries throughout his junior season but still led Upper Arlington to the second round of the OHSAA Division I state playoffs. He earned honorable mention Division I All-Ohio honors as a junior.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Western Michigan: 3 days
Ohio State at Oregon: 38 days
Ohio State at Penn State: 59 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 87 days

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