Desmond Howard claims Ohio State is 'overrated,' picks new No. 1 team

Ohio State has been the No. 1 team in the AP poll since Week 2, but not everyone agrees that they’re the best team in the country. Desmond Howard, a former Heisman Trophy winner for Michigan, believes another Big Ten team should hold that ranking.

“I think (Indiana) should be No. 1 because of their wins. It’s safe to say that (Ohio State is) overrated at No. 1,” Howard said during a segment on ESPN College GameDay. “They probably should be number two.”

Howard’s argument is based on the victories each team has. Ohio State defeated the preseason No. 1. team in Texas to earn their top spot. They haven’t done anything to drop in the rankings, but haven’t played another College Football Playoff contender since. Additionally, the Longhorns haven’t had the season many expected of them, so the win doesn’t appear as impressive on paper in hindsight.

Meanwhile, Indiana took Oregon to its limit and defeated the Ducks 30-20. It was Oregon’s first loss in Big Ten play since joining the conference nearly two years ago, and solidified the Hoosiers as a legitimate CFP contender.

“We were in Eugene. This team went down there, handled their business,” Howard said. “They left no doubt. … I think those two should switch. Not greatly overrated, but slightly because I think (Indiana) should be the No. 1 team.”

Indiana won’t play another ranked team for the rest of the regular season, while Ohio State has a potential top 25 matchup against Michigan looming during the regular season finale. The Wolverines are currently ranked No. 21 with two losses heading into Week 10.

Barring any upsets, all signs point toward the Hoosiers and Buckeyes meeting into the Big Ten Championship game in December. That matchup would likely decide who will be the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff. If both teams are undefeated heading into that game, it’s not crazy to believe the loser could also receive a first-round bye under the new CFP seeding rules.

For now, the Buckeyes will match up against Penn State during Week 10 — a game that looked to be a blockbuster matchup heading into the season. That’s no longer the case with the Nittany Lions losing its last four games amid firing former head coach James Franklin. Indiana will travel to Maryland to take on the Terrapins. Ohio State would improve to 8-0 with a win, and Indiana would be 9-0.