COLUMBUS, Ohio – Saturday night’s manhandling of Illinois was enough to give the Buckeyes a slight bump in one of the major college football polls.
Ohio State moved up two spots to No. 11 in the USA Today Amway coaches poll, but remained No. 13 Ohio State after beating 4-5 Illinois 55-14.
Ohio State (7-1, 4-0) heads to East Lansing for the most important game on its regular season schedule: A showdown with Michigan State (7-1, 4-0). The Spartans are ranked No/. 6 in the coaches poll and No. 7 in the AP.
A win would prove to the pollsters and the college football playoff selection committee that Ohio State is worthy of consideration for a spot in the top four teams, despite an early-season home loss to Virginia Tech. It would also give the Buckeyes sole possession of first place in the Big Ten East Division and the inside track on a spot in the conference championship game.
The Buckeyes are 16th in the playoff committee’s first rankings; the Spartans are No. 8.
Mississippi State and Florida State remain 1-2 in the latest AP Top 25. Mississippi State and Florida State remain 1-2 in the newest Associated Press college football poll, but Auburn climbed a notch to third with Saturday’s win over Mississippi. Alabama slips to fourth, followed by Oregon.
TCU makes a four-step climb to No. 6 following a last second win over West Virginia. Michigan State checks in at seven, while Notre Dame, Kansas State and Baylor round out the top ten.