COLUMBUS – Ohio State is ranked fifth in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season, behind Georgia, Alabama, Michigan State and Oregon.
“Nobody talks about who was ranked in Week 8, 9 or 10. They always talk about where it was at the end of the season and that’s all that matters to us, is playing in this game because, if we want to be ranked high, we have to keep winning,” Buckeye head coach Ryan Day told reporters at this weekly news conference Tuesday as his team prepares to travel to Nebraska Saturday.
(5) OHIO STATE (7-1, 5-0 Big Ten) at NEBRASKA (3-6, 2-4)
Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Neb. Nov. 6 (Noon/FOX)
Undefeated Cincinnati is ranked No. 6 as the Bearcats try to become the first non-Power Five team to make the playoff. They are still ranked behind three teams – Alabama, Oregon and Ohio State — that have already lost a game.
Michigan, Oklahoma, Wake Forest and Notre Dame rounded out the top 10.
Only once in the seven-year history of the CFP have the four teams in the committee’s initial ranking made the final four. That was last season.
Big Ten teams jockey for postseason positions
With four weeks remaining in Big Ten play, Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan all remain in pursuit of a spot in the national semifinals with the Rose Bowl next on the list of big postseason prizes.
Iowa and Minnesota have also reached the six-win threshold for bowl game eligibility.
Wisconsin and Penn State are at five and should have no problem getting there, while Purdue and Maryland with five wins have tougher schedules ahead.
Rutgers has to win two of its last four games. Northwestern can only lose once more.
Illinois, Indiana and Nebraska have to win out to play beyond November.