Ohio State’s spot in the latest AP Top 25 is the kind of thing that can irritate a fan base for about five minutes before the larger truth kicks in: September rankings are built on movement, not permanence.
The Buckeyes dropped to No. 7 in the new poll after starting the season at No. 1, even after rolling past Kent State 59-3 in Week 3. Ole Miss, fresh off a win over LSU, climbed to No. 4 and moved ahead of Indiana, Miami and Ohio State.
That reshuffle pushed the Buckeyes down, and it also came after the Rebels were the home team in a No. 7 vs. No. 8 matchup.
Despite Ohio State’s blowout victory, the Buckeyes also fell to No. 7 in the AP and Coaches polls. “Despite Ohio State’s 59-3 win over Kent State, the Buckeyes fell to #7 in the AP and Coaches polls. pic.twitter.com/ZmF5DjMisi
- Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 20, 2026”
The frustration is easy to understand. Ohio State has been strong all season outside of the fourth quarter against Texas, and that lone loss in Austin still appears to be carrying real weight with voters. At the same time, the teams above the Buckeyes have been winning, and in this format, that matters.
Still, the number beside Ohio State’s name feels more like a snapshot than a verdict. Once Big Ten play settles in, the Buckeyes will have plenty of chances to climb again. Week 4 brings Illinois to Columbus, and that should be another game Ohio State handles comfortably.
After that, the schedule turns to Iowa and Maryland before the highly anticipated matchup with Indiana at The Shoe. Ohio State will have revenge on its mind there after the Hoosiers stunned the Buckeyes in the Big Ten title game last December. If Ohio State wins that game and avoids a slip before it, a move back into the Top 4 or 5 would be in play.
For now, though, the Buckeyes can only focus on what’s ahead. Ole Miss deserves credit for the win and Trinidad Chambliss and the Rebels deserve their moment, but Ohio State sitting at No. 7 after a 59-3 win still feels off. The rankings will sort themselves out on the field soon enough.
In Other News...
Jeremiah Smith Just Entered Rare Ohio State Receiver Company
Jeremiah Smith has already put himself in some rare Ohio State company, and the numbers behind it only underline how quickly he has become the centerpiece of the Buckeyes passing game. By moving past Michael Jenkins to become the schools all-time leading receiver, Smith added another mark to a resume that keeps growing even as he still has plenty of football ahead of him.
Smith has made clear he is not finished, either, saying he wants to chase more school records as Ohio State moves through the season. Ryan Day has been just as effusive, praising both Smiths production and the way he carries himself, and for a program that has seen its share of star wideouts, that combination is what makes this climb feel especially notable. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Fans Have A New Fox Frustration After Another Blowout
Ohio States latest rout gave fans another chance to notice something besides the scoreboard, and it was Foxs broadcast that drew the heat this time. During the Buckeyes 59-3 win over Kent State, play-by-play voice Gus Johnson was criticized for sounding unusually flat on several big moments, an odd fit for a game that spent most of the afternoon as a one-sided showcase.
The reaction picked up after Chris Henry Jr.s touchdown catch, when Johnson described it as Henrys first score as a Buckeye. Fans also pointed to the same muted tone on other big plays, including Jamir Perezs fumble return touchdown and earlier Ohio State scores, continuing a pattern that has followed Johnson through previous Buckeyes blowouts. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Most Unexpected Touchdown Came From A Player Fans Didn't Expect
Ohio States defense got an unexpected jolt in its rout of Kent State, and it came from a player built more for clogging the middle than finding the end zone. Freshman defensive tackle Jamir Perez turned a fumble recovery into a touchdown in the 59-3 win, a rare scoring moment for a position group that usually measures success in tackles and quarterback pressure rather than points.
For a Buckeyes team that cruised through the afternoon, Perezs run to the end zone stood out as one of the games most memorable moments. Ryan Day even had a little fun afterward when the play and the celebration came up, a reminder that sometimes the biggest surprise of a lopsided game is the one nobody saw coming. [Read more 🡒]