It may be hard to believe, but Ohio State only has four regular season games left on the schedule. Where does the time go? November also signals the first College Football Playoff Rankings of the year. The season’s first top four offer a surprise for Husky fans as Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, and Texas A&M occupy the top quartet of spots. Undefeated Washington is ranked fifth, and the Buckeyes open in the top ten with a No. 6 ranking.
Ohio State’s national title hopes took a hit when they lost in Happy Valley, but it seems the pollsters are not holding that against the Buckeyes too much. The Big Ten is well represented in 2016’s first polls. Undefeated Michigan opens at No. 3. Wisconsin lurks behind Ohio State at No. 8. Nebraska enters strong with a No. 10 ranking. A peg lower on the list one can find Penn State at a healthy No. 12 as well. Clearly the CFP committee thinks more highly of them than the Associated Press.
The full top 25:
1. Alabama
2. Clemson
3. Michigan
4. Texas A&M
5. Washington
6. Ohio State
7. Louisville
8. Wisconsin
9. Auburn
10. Nebraska
11. Florida
12. Penn State
13. LSU
14. Oklahoma
15. Colorado
16. Utah
17. Baylor
18. Oklahoma State
19. Virginia Tech
20. West Virginia
21. North Carolina
22. Florida State
23. Western Michigan
24. Boise State
25. Washington State
For those concerned that OSU’s loss to the Nittany Lions will doom them, I will remind you that in 2014 the eventual National Champion Buckeyes placed 16th in the inaugural CFP poll. Much can, and often does, happen in the season’s final few weeks. As articulated last week, the Bucks have the ability to write their own ticket to the Big Ten Title Game and potentially a playoff appearance.
The initial poll is more a temperature check of the college football landscape. Ohio State is certainly warm with a chance to get hot before all is said and done.
