Ohio State might not be playing football in 2020, but that hasn’t stopped the Buckeyes from ranking among the best teams in the country.
Despite the Big Ten postponing the fall football season until 2021, Ohio State ranks No. 2 in the Preseason Associated Press Top 25 Poll, behind only Clemson by 16 points. The preseason poll had voters consider all teams, whether they will be playing football or not this year, and future polls will strictly consider the teams that are actually playing in 2020.
Just behind Ohio State is Alabama, Georgia and Oklahoma, who rank at No. 3, 4 and 5, respectively. LSU, the defending national champions, were ranked in sixth.
The Buckeyes received 21 of 62 first-place votes in the poll, with Clemson earning 38, Alabama earning two and LSU getting one vote for the top spot.
Ohio State is one of six teams from the Big Ten to make it on the poll, with Penn State at No. 7, Wisconsin at No. 12, Michigan at No. 16, Minnesota at No. 19 and Iowa at No. 24 rounding out the rest. Indiana (19 votes) and Northwestern (one vote) received votes, but did not crack the top 25.
For the full AP top 25 poll, click here.
For four free issues of the print edition of Buckeye Sports Bulletin, no card required, sign up at the link here: http://www.buckeyesports.com/subscribe-4issue-trial/
