Miami sits atop the Associated Press Top 25 poll released Sunday, with undefeated BYU at No. 2 and Ohio State third, but a closer look at the Buckeyes’ schedule and results through seven games supports the case that they have the strongest body of work among the top three teams.
Ohio State (6-1) is 4-0 in the Big Ten after a 19-15 road win Saturday at defending national champion Indiana that ended the Hoosiers’ 22-game winning streak. The Buckeyes previously won at then-No. 14 Iowa and lost by one point on the road at Texas in a season-opening nonconference test.
Miami (6-0) claimed the No. 1 ranking for the first time since 2002 after a 43-35 double-overtime win over Florida State, receiving 40 of 70 first-place votes. BYU (6-0) rose to its highest ranking since its 1984 national championship season on the strength of a 28-24 home win over Notre Dame. Five of the previous top seven teams lost Saturday, producing the largest single-week reshuffling of the poll in its history.
Ohio State’s nonconference slate included a road game against a ranked Texas team and two MAC opponents. Its Big Ten games have featured a road win at Iowa, a home win over Illinois and the signature victory at Indiana. Miami’s wins include road victories at Stanford and Clemson plus a rivalry game against Florida State, but its nonconference schedule featured Florida A&M and Central Michigan. BYU’s résumé includes the Notre Dame win and solid Big 12 results against Arizona, TCU and Iowa State, along with a nonconference trip to Colorado State.
The Buckeyes’ only loss came by a single point in a hostile environment against a quality opponent. Their two ranked road wins — including one against the defending champion — stand out relative to the competition faced so far by the two undefeated teams above them. Undefeated records traditionally carry significant weight with voters, which explains the current order, but quality of wins and strength of schedule favor Ohio State when comparing the three teams’ bodies of work.
The victory over Indiana came at a cost. Starting quarterback Julian Sayin left in the fourth quarter with an arm injury and is expected to miss several weeks, according to coach Ryan Day. Freshman Luke Fahey finished the game. Ohio State has a bye this week before traveling to USC on Oct. 31.
Voters have three remaining regular-season weeks plus conference championship games to reassess. Ohio State’s remaining schedule includes a road game at USC and home games against Oregon and Michigan. Miami still faces a road trip to Notre Dame, while BYU has games remaining against Utah and other Big 12 opponents. The current ranking reflects the value placed on perfect records, but the results on the field through mid-October provide a clear argument that Ohio State belongs higher.
