Skip to main content
ohio-state logo

BREAKING: Buckeyes ranked No. 1 in initial College Football Playoff rankings

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•10/31/23•

SpencerHolbrook

Josh Proctor by Matt Parker -- Lettermen Row --
Ohio State defensive back Josh Proctor helped the Buckeyes defense dominate Penn State. (Matt Parker/Lettermen Row)

COLUMBUS — Ohio State doesn’t need to worry about the initial College Football Playoff rankings.

The Buckeyes just need to keep winning, an they’ll find themselves in the four-team field on the first Sunday of December.

The first set of College Football Playoff rankings are a good indication of how the committee has seen the first two months of the year play out, which makes them noteworthy. The Buckeyes are the No. 1 team in the country in the first set of rankings, which were released Tuesday night on ESPN.

Ohio State topped Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, Washington and Oregon to round out the top six. Ohio State will face Michigan in what should be a battle of two 11-0 teams on Nov. 25 in Ann Arbor for the annual rivalry game to close the regular season.

Ohio State has one of the best resumes in all of college football, aided by a road win at No. 15 Notre Dame and a home win over No. 11 Penn State. Only one remaining opponent on the Buckeyes schedule is ranked or has a chance to be ranked — and that’s Michigan. Even any potential Big Ten West division winner is unlikely to be ranked at any point before the Big Ten title game, if the Buckeyes make it there with a win over Michigan.

Ohio State doesn’t need to pay attention to the rankings. But it’s nice to know where the Buckeyes stand in the first set of them, and they’re firmly in the mix to get in — if they just keep winning.

Lettermen Row has the first set of College Football Playoff rankings below:

1. Ohio State
2. Georgia
3. Michigan
4. Florida State
5. Washington
6. Oregon
7. Texas
8. Alabama
9. Oklahoma
10. Ole Miss
11. Penn State
12. Missouri
13. Louisville
14. LSU
15. Notre Dame
16. Oregon State
17. Tennessee
18. Utah
19. UCLA
20. USC
21. Kansas
22. Oklahoma State
23. Kansas State
24. Tulane
25. Air Force

Buckeyes stayed put in AP Top 25

Ohio State, and the entire top five, stayed put in this week’s AP Top 25. The Buckeyes are still No. 3 after improving to 8-0 and 5-0 in Big Ten play this season with a 24-10 win at Wisconsin Saturday night.

Head coach Ryan Day’s team received three first-place votes for the second week in a row. No. 1 Georgia leads the way with 48 first-place votes. Next is No. 2 Michigan with nine, and No. 4 Florida State is tied with Ohio State with three first-place votes.

Lettermen Row has the entire Week 9 AP Top 10 (Oct. 29) below:

1. Georgia (48 first-place votes)
2. Michigan (9)
3. Ohio State (3)
4. Florida State (3)
5. Washington
6. Oregon
7. Texas
8. Alabama
9. Penn State
10. Oklahoma

You may also like