Big win = big jump in polls

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Saturday’s win at Michigan State put the Buckeyes right back into the hunt for a spot in the college football playoff.

Ohio State (8-1, 5-0) jumped four spots to No. 7 in the USA Today coaches’ poll and five places to 8th in the AP Top 25.

Courtesy OSU Dept. of Athletics
J.T. Barett was named Athlons national Player of the Week and freshman of the Week for his performance in a 49-37 OSU win over Mich. St. -Photo courtesy OSU Dept. of Athletics

Redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett was named Big Ten Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week after completing 16 of 26 passing attempts for 300 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions while rushing for 86 yards and two more touchdowns in the win at East Lansing.

Up next for the Buckeyes is Minnesota on Saturday (12:05 p.m./ABC). The Golden Gophers (7-2, 4-1) who made a statement of their own on Saturday by dominating Iowa in a battle of Big Ten West contenders.

The top two teams are both polls are Mississippi State and Florida State.

Baylor and Arizona State also took big steps forward after big wins and Auburn dropped out of the top five after being upset.