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College Football Playoff Rankings: Projected top four after Week 9

By Nathaniel Reeves

JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 28: The Georgia Bulldogs celebrate after Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) scored during the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators on October 28, 2017 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 28: The Georgia Bulldogs celebrate after Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) scored during the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators on October 28, 2017 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 28: Marcus Baugh #85 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with teammates after catching a 16-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Penn Statte 39-38. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 28: Marcus Baugh #85 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with teammates after catching a 16-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Penn Statte 39-38. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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Ohio State Buckeyes

Last week: Def. Penn State 39-38
Last rank: NR

With apologies to Miami, which will certainly be in the College Football Playoff if it goes undefeated, the Buckeyes will be the one-loss team to crack the initial field.

Ohio State earned one of the best wins in college football this season by taking down Penn State 39-38 on Saturday in Columbus. The Buckeyes fell behind instantly on Saquon Barkley’s opening kickoff return touchdown and trailed by as much as 18 before J.T. Barrett led an incredible comeback against one of the best defenses in the nation.

Now at 7-1 with the lone loss coming to a top-10 Oklahoma team and the great win over Penn State, the Buckeyes are building a resume worthy of playoff inclusion through nine weeks. The Buckeyes now have essentially a two-game lead over Penn State in the division, and will likely face off with Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game with a semifinal spot on the line.

Ohio State’s offense looked to be dead after the ugly 31-16 loss to the Sooners on Sep. 9, but has been steamrolling opponents ever since. Behind a resurgent Barrett along with outstanding freshman running back J.K. Dobbins, the Buckeyes are averaging 47.3 points per game to rank second in the country,

While there’s an argument to be made that Ohio State should be ahead of Wisconsin based on resume, the committee will hesitate to put a one-loss team ahead of an undefeated opponent in the same conference. Next week’s matchup at Iowa could be a major trap game that drops the Buckeyes out of the playoff race.

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