COLUMBUS – The Buckeyes’ 24-21 loss at Penn State Saturday night shook up the major college football polls.
Ohio State (6-1, 4-1 Big Ten) dropped four spots to No. 6 in The Associated Press poll and to No. 8 in the Amway coaches’ poll after its first loss of the season, and the Nittany Lions moved into the rankings for the first time since 2011, entering the AP Top 25 at No. 24.
Penn State snapped Ohio State’s streak of 20 consecutive true road wins under Urban Meyer.
“Special teams had two blocked kicks and offense didn’t control the line of scrimmage. [Quarterback J.T. Barrett] was under pressure all night when he threw it and we didn’t lead him off the ball in the run game and we gave up some big pass plays,” Meyer summed up after the loss.
Ohio State last lost on the road at Michigan in the 2011 season finale.
Before the comeback win at Beaver Stadium, Ohio State had won 78-straight games when leading by 14 in the fourth quarter since 2004.
The Buckeyes’ loss was good news for their arch-rivals. Michigan moved up to No. 2 in both polls, right behind top-ranked Alabama. Clemson is No. 3, Washington No. 4 and Louisville moved up to No. 5 in both polls.
Nebraska, which comes to Ohio Stadium on Nov. 5 (8:00 p.m./ABC/ESPON or ESPN2) is No. 7.
Next up for Ohio State: Northwestern. The Wildcats(4-3, 3-1) come to Ohio Stadium Saturday, Oct. 29 (3:30p.m./ESPN).