This is the way the AP Top 25 works these days. If you post a Top 10 win, you're going to see a massive jump. Unfortunately for Ohio State and Ryan Day, this has led to some bad news heading into Week 4. The new poll just dropped, and following a win over LSU, Ole Miss has moved up to No. 4 in the country.
With this, the Rebels jumped Indiana, Miami, and Ohio State. Due to this, the Buckeyes are now ranked No. 7 in the nation after being No. 1 to start the year. On paper, sure, it might sting a little for some fans, but these rankings are meaningless this time of year. At the same time, is one loss to No. 1 Texas (after beating OSU) in Austin a reason to keep penalizing the Buckeyes?
Despite Ohio State’s 59-3 win over Kent State, the Buckeyes fell to #7 in the AP and Coaches polls. pic.twitter.com/ZmF5DjMisi
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 20, 2026
Ohio State just dropped to No. 7 in the AP Top 25 poll despite a blowout Week 3 win
Again, these rankings aren't going to mean much once December and January get here. Still, Ohio State has been close to perfect this season, other than a debacle of a fourth quarter against the Longhorns. The Texas miracle is enough to keep the Buckeyes on the outside looking in at the Top 5? Hey, you've got to give credit to the teams ahead of them for winning and doing so convincingly.
Despite that, Ole Miss was the home team in a No. 7 vs. No. 8 battle. They pulled off a big win, yeah, but to jump Ohio State as well? It doesn't sit well with me, but it will be on the Buckeyes to ignore these new rankings and just focus on playing their best football now that Big Ten play is here.
In Week 4, Ohio State will get ready to host Illinois in what should be another lopsided win. In order for the Buckeyes to move up in the rankings, they'll need to see one of the six teams in front of them suffer a loss. Hey, Josh Heupel and Tennessee... go ahead and do us a favor against the Longhorns next weekend, please.
Following next week's tilt with Illinois, matchups with Iowa and Maryland will be on the way before the highly anticipated showdown against Indiana at The Shoe. We all know Ohio State will have revenge on its mind for that one, as the Hoosiers shocked OSU in the Big Ten title game last December. With a win in that contest, Ohio State will 100 percent move into the Top 4 or 5, assuming they don't lose leading up to that one.
All Ohio State can control is what's coming up in front of them. Yes, we'll tip our hats off to Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss for serving Lane Kiffin with a massive piece of humble pie, but seeing them jump four spots like that feels like a bit much. Calling Ohio State No. 7 just feels strange, especially after a 59-3 win in Week 3. This will all get settled on the gridiron soon enough, though, which will have Ohio State ranked where they deserve to be.
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