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Updated college football rankings: Should Ohio State fall after near upset vs Penn State?

By Cody Williams

Oct 29, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) runs past Penn State Nittany Lions safety Ji'Ayir Brown (16) for a 41-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter of the NCAA Division I football game at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchNcaa Football Ohio State Buckeyes At Penn State Nittany Lions
Oct 29, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) runs past Penn State Nittany Lions safety Ji'Ayir Brown (16) for a 41-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter of the NCAA Division I football game at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchNcaa Football Ohio State Buckeyes At Penn State Nittany Lions /
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Ohio State entered the week at No. 2 in the college football rankings, but should the Buckeyes fall after fighting off a Penn State upset bid?

Going into halftime in Happy Valley, the Ohio State Buckeyes had their backs against the ropes. Penn State was giving them all they could handle, particularly with the Nittany Lions defense causing CJ Stroud and the vaunted Ryan Day offense to have a horrendous time moving the ball consistently or converting the red zone.

Trailing 14-13 at halftime, Ohio State found their mojo in the second half and eventually was able to take the lead and then never look back. Defensive star J.T. Tuimoloau continued a monstrous effort with a late pick-six that was answered by a meaningless Penn State touchdown to ultimately give OSU a 44-31 win on the road.

But considering that Michigan beat the same Nittany Lions 41-17 and that Ohio State has now been in trouble against the two best teams they’ve played, you have to wonder if the college football rankings will start to penalize the Buckeyes and drop them a bit.

Projected college football rankings after Ohio State survives Penn State

  1. Georgia Bulldogs
  2. Tennessee Volunteers
  3. Michigan Wolverines
  4. Ohio State Buckeyes
  5. Clemson Tigers
  6. Alabama Crimson Tide
  7. TCU Horned Frogs
  8. Oregon Ducks
  9. Oklahoma State Cowboys
  10. USC Trojans
  11. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
  12. UCLA Bruins
  13. Utah Utes
  14. Ole Miss Rebels
  15. Illinois Fighting Illini
  16. LSU Tigers
  17. Penn State Nittany Lions
  18. Kentucky Wildcats
  19. Cincinnati Bearcats
  20. North Carolina Tar Heels
  21. Kansas State Wildcats
  22. Tulane Green Wave
  23. NC State Wolfpack
  24. South Carolina Gamecocks
  25. Liberty Flames

Note: Projected rankings only reflect the results of Noon ET slate games. 

Yes, the end result was a 13-point win for Ohio State that was cut into with a garbage-time touchdown from Penn State. That counts for something.

But the truth of the matter is that the two truly good teams that the Buckeyes have played this season, they have struggled for at least a half, particularly on offense. The end results were wins against Notre Dame and Penn State, but when we’re talking about this team in comparison to the likes of Tennessee and Michigan, the results just haven’t been impressive for anyone who’s watched the games.

At the end of the day, my gut tells me that the voters will largely look at the final score and, barring Tennessee just outright embarrassing Kentucky in a blowout, OSU will stay at No. 2. But if we’re talking about the eye test, the Buckeyes should be in that Top 4, but at the back end of it rather than closer to the top.

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