Scarlet Sunrise: Where Buckeyes would be ranked using old BCS format

COLUMBUS — Ohio State has been No. 2 in the country for the last couple of weeks, according to all three of the AP Poll, the Coaches Poll and the College Football Playoff Poll. But where would the Buckeyes be ranked if this sport was still using the old BCS formula to rank teams.

Still No. 2.

Actually the would-be BCS top five would be unchanged from the current AP Poll. It would have Oregon at No. 1, followed by Ohio State, Texas, Penn State and Indiana.

Maybe that old computer formula knew what it was doing after all, because that’s an impressive top five. Ohio State will host Indiana on Saturday in a battle of top-five teams. The Hoosiers are coming to Columbus as the biggest surprise story of the year; they’re 10-0 for the first time in program history.

Four-star EDGE Zahir Mathis decommits from Ohio State

Ohio State has one of the highest-ranked recruiting classes in the 2025 cycle, but it has had a setback.

Four-star Philadelphia (Pa) Imhotep EDGE Zahir Mathis has decommitted from the Buckeyes. Mathis is the No. 95 overall prospect and the No. 10 EDGE according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He checks in as the No. 201 overall prospect and the No. 22 EDGE per On3.

“After much consideration I’ve decided to reopen my recruitment and decommit from Ohio State,” he wrote on Twitter. “I appreciate Coach Day, Coach Johnson and all the coaches at Ohio State. They are still a top school for me. This is a life decision. Please respect my decision!”

Mathis committed to Ohio State on Jan. 10. He chose the Buckeyes over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Penn State and Syracuse.

Mathis took an official visit to Ohio State for the Nebraska game on Oct. 26. He has also visited other schools, however.

What Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti speaks about Buckeyes

Ohio State will face Indiana on Saturday in a top-five showdown, the third game against a top-five team the Buckeyes have played this season and first at home. The Buckeyes previously lost to Oregon and beat Penn State in top-five matchups this year.

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti previewed the matchup on Monday, and he had plenty to say during his weekly press conference.

Opening statement…

“Excited about this week’s opportunity against Ohio State. Obviously, an excellent football team, one of the favorites to win the national championship, a lot of great players, extremely well-coached. Their tradition speaks for itself. It’s a big game for us because it’s this game coming up. We treat them all alike. If there was a better way to prepare for a certain team, we’d do that for every team. We have to stack moments, meetings, practices and days to give ourselves the best chance to be successful on Saturday. I’m confident in our team that we’ll prep well this week, play well, play in there with poise and play our game. Excited about the opportunity.”

READ MORE: What Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said about Buckeyes

Ohio State boosted its College Football Playoff resume in a massive way a couple of weeks ago, scoring a road win against previously-undefeated Penn State before steamrolling Purdue and Northwestern in back-to-back weeks. The Buckeyes are projected by everyone to make the 12-team field.

Now for the third time this season, Ohio State will play in a showdown of top-five teams.

Lettermen Row combed through the college football ecosystem and found some of the bowl projections, where experts are expecting the Buckeyes to finish the season and the potential matchups in the College Football Playoff. Let’s break them down.

READ: Where Buckeyes are projected in latest College Football Playoff predictions

Counting down

Ohio State vs. No. 5 Indiana: 4 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 11 days
Big Ten championship game: 18 days

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