AP Poll: After huge road win, Buckeyes retain top spot in top 25

SEATTLE — Ohio State was finally tested again, and it passed the latest one even more emphatically than the first.

After opening the season against Texas back in late August, the Buckeyes had two tune-up games and an idle week. But they returned to action in a huge road battle at Washington — and delivered a statement win on the road over the Huskies.

Because of that huge road win, Ohio State retained the top spot in the weekly Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday, no surprise but still significant.

Ohio State received 46 first-place votes. Other first-place votes went to Oregon and Miami. The top five is rounded out by Oregon, Miami, Ole Miss and Oklahoma. The Ducks moved up after their road win over Penn State in the Whiteout game, while Miami and Oklahoma were both idle. Ole Miss was a big mover thanks to a win over LSU. Texas A&M is a major mover because of its win over Auburn and losses from teams previously ahead of the Aggies.

Ohio State will return home with its top ranking to face Minnesota on Saturday in a primetime showdown. The next three games, two of which will be on the road, will be critical for the Buckeyes as they look to win back-to-back national championships for the first time in program history.

The first road test of the year came Saturday for the Buckeyes, and they leave the West Coast with a huge win over a good Washington team. Now it’s full-steam ahead in Big Ten play.

The full AP Poll can be found below.

AP Poll (Sept. 28)

1. Ohio State (46)
2. Oregon (16)
3. Miami (4)
4. Ole Miss
5. Oklahoma
6. Texas A&M
7. Penn State
8. Indiana
9. Texas
10. Alabama
11. Texas Tech
12. Georgia
13. LSU
14. Iowa State
15. Tennessee
16. Vanderbilt
17. Georgia Tech
18. Florida State
19. Missouri
20. Michigan
21. Notre Dame
22. Illinois
23. BYU
24. Virginia
25. Arizona State