COLUMBUS – The Buckeyes remained at No. 3 in a tightening race atop the Associated Press College Football Poll.
Clemson remains No. 1, but not by much. Trevor Lawrence’s absence because of COVID-19 and the Tigers’ narrow victory over Boston College created a divide among the 62 sports writers and broadcasters on the voting panel. Clemson received 33 first-place votes — 19 fewer than last week — and has only a two-point lead over No. 2 Alabama heading into a huge ACC matchup at fourth-ranked Notre Dame this week.
Ohio State (2-0) remained in the No. 3 spot with some observers saying the poll is as close as ever to a three-way tie for first place. Only 85 overall points separate the Buckeyes from the Tigers.
The Buckeyes return to Ohio Stadium to host Rutgers Saturday (7:30 p.m./BTN).
The rest of the top five remained the same, with Ohio State and Notre Dame followed by Georgia.
Sixth-ranked Cincinnati is followed by Texas A&M, Florida, BYU and Wisconsin in the Top 10 while Penn State dropped out of the poll for the first time in four years following back-to-back losses.
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Defensive tackle Tommy Togiai and quarterback Justin Fields were named Big Ten Defensive and Offensive players of the week.
Togiai, a junior from Pocatello, Idaho, had the best statistical game of his career, finishing with seven total tackles and three quarterback sacks, leading a defense that limited Penn State to just 75 first-half yards
Fields completed 28 of 34 passes for 318 yards and four touchdowns while directing an Ohio State offense that finished with 526 total yards