Ohio State’s trip to USC didn’t just hand the Buckeyes their second loss of the season - it sent them tumbling in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll.
The Buckeyes entered the weekend at No. 2 and came out at No. 10, a steep drop that lands them just days before the first College Football Playoff rankings of the 2026 season. Ohio State is now 6-2 after the road loss to a USC team that was still trying to find itself.
At the top of the poll, Miami (FL) holds the No. 1 spot at 8-0, followed by Georgia, Indiana, Utah and UCLA. Notre Dame sits at No.
6, Kentucky at No. 7, BYU at No. 8 and Alabama at No. 9, with Ohio State rounding out the top 10.
The Big Ten still has several teams in the mix, though none are sitting where Ohio State was a week ago. USC moved up to No.
17, Iowa is No. 20 and Northwestern is No. 23.
Here’s how the full Week 9 Coaches Poll shook out:
- Miami (FL) Hurricanes, 8-0
- Georgia Bulldogs, 7-1
- Indiana Hoosiers, 8-1
- Utah Utes, 8-0
- UCLA Bruins, 8-0
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 7-1
- Kentucky Wildcats, 7-1
- BYU Cougars, 7-1
- Alabama Crimson Tide, 6-2
- Ohio State Buckeyes, 6-2
- Texas Longhorns, 6-2
- Ole Miss Rebels, 6-2
- Texas Tech Red Raiders, 7-1
- Wake Forest Demon Deacons, 7-1
- LSU Tigers, 6-2
- Tennessee Volunteers, 6-2
- USC Trojans, 7-2
- Houston Cougars, 6-2
- Missouri Tigers, 6-2
- Iowa Hawkeyes, 6-2
- Boise State Broncos, 7-1
- Arizona Wildcats, 6-2
- Northwestern Wildcats, 6-2
- SMU Mustangs, 6-2
- New Mexico Lobos, 7-1
In Other News...
Ohio State Still Has Two Big Lineup Questions Before Oregon
Ohio State left the USC game with two key injury questions hanging over its week of preparation, and both sit in the trenches where the Buckeyes can least afford uncertainty. Defensive tackle Eddrick Houston and left tackle Ian Moore were hurt in the win, and Ryan Days update offered some relief on one front while leaving the other very much open as the No. 1 concern shifts toward Oregon.
Houston is expected back soon enough to give Ohio State some stability inside, but Moores availability is still tied to how his recovery goes in the days ahead. With Oregon next on the schedule, the Buckeyes are balancing health, lineup planning and the usual late-week coaching decisions, all while trying to keep the focus on a game that could demand its best five up front from the opening snap. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Day Defends A Call Ohio State Fans Still Cant Trust
Ryan Days late-game decisions have become a talking point around Ohio State after a pair of losses put his fourth-quarter judgment under the microscope. The first came against Texas, when Day later said he regretted not letting the Longhorns score in order to preserve more time for a possible comeback. The second arrived against USC, when Ohio State went for two late and came up empty, adding another layer to a season already shaped by what-ifs.
Day has defended the USC choice as one rooted in analytics and internal discussion, but it is the kind of call Buckeyes fans are unlikely to trust until it works in a big moment. The hesitation is understandable, too, given Ohio States recent history on two-point tries, with the program having missed its last eight attempts dating back to 2017. [Read more 🡒]
Jeremiah Smith Already Has Oregon Sounding Concerned About The Rematch
Oregons 32-31 win over Ohio State in 2024 is still fresh enough to shape the conversation around the rematch, and it has plenty to do with Jeremiah Smith. The Buckeyes receiver made enough of an impression in the first meeting that Ducks coach Dan Lanning has already been talking about him, a reminder that Ohio States passing game is once again going to be one of the biggest storylines when these teams line up again.
Ohio State is treating the game like more than just another date on the schedule, too, with the program designating it as its Scarlet the Shoe event as it looks to keep its home winning streak rolling. For a matchup that already carries the weight of last years one-point finish, Smiths presence only adds another layer to what should be one of the most closely watched games on the Buckeyes calendar. [Read more 🡒]