Ohio State climbed to No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 after its bye week, moving up one spot following a 19-15 road win over Indiana that snapped the Hoosiers’ 22-game winning streak. Miami remains No. 1, while Georgia sits at No. 3 and Indiana is No. 4. The Buckeyes are 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten. Their position reflects the quality of their résumé—including road wins over Iowa and Indiana—but the ranking arrives with clear complications.
The 19-15 victory in Bloomington was decisive in conference terms yet costly in others. Starting quarterback Julian Sayin left in the fourth quarter after a sack and finished the game in a sling. He completed 15 of 29 passes for 235 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions before the injury. Ryan Day has since said Sayin is out indefinitely, and the staff is planning as though he will miss the remainder of the regular season and potentially the postseason. That changes the immediate path for a team that has relied on a high-efficiency passing attack.
The Immediate Test at USC
Ohio State’s next game is October 31 at USC. The Trojans entered the week at 6-2 and ranked outside the Top 25 after a recent loss, but they present a difficult road environment at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava has been productive, and the Trojans’ offense ranks among the more explosive units in the Big Ten. Ohio State will be favored in most projections, but the margin is narrower without Sayin. The game offers a direct test of whether the Buckeyes can generate enough points on the road with a backup quarterback while relying on their defense to limit USC’s big plays.
Managing the Quarterback Situation
Luke Fahey is the most likely starter against USC. The true freshman has completed 9 of 13 passes for 203 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in limited action this season. Tavien St. Clair, a former five-star recruit, will also receive first-team repetitions during the bye week. Day has indicated the staff will play whichever quarterback gives the team the best chance to win. Neither player has extensive experience in high-leverage conference games, so the offense will likely emphasize shorter routes, play-action, and the run game more than it did with Sayin.
Jeremiah Smith remains the clearest advantage on offense. He has 52 catches for 984 yards and 12 touchdowns this season and continues to draw primary defensive attention. Supporting him with a functional ground game and protecting the quarterback will be necessary, especially on the road. The Buckeyes’ rushing totals have been modest in several recent games, including only 78 yards against Indiana, so improving efficiency on the ground is one practical adjustment available in the short term.
What the Ranking Requires Going Forward
Holding the No. 2 spot through the rest of October and into November depends on results more than reputation. Ohio State’s remaining regular-season schedule includes the trip to USC, a home game against Oregon, a home game against Northwestern, a road game at Nebraska, and the regular-season finale against Michigan. A loss in any of those contests would not eliminate the Buckeyes from the Big Ten race or the College Football Playoff picture, but it would make the path tighter, particularly if other contenders such as UCLA and Indiana continue to win.
The defense has been the more consistent unit. It forced two fumbles against Indiana and limited the Hoosiers’ rushing attack. Maintaining that level of disruption on the road against USC would give the offense more margin for error. On the offensive side, the priority is minimizing turnovers and converting in the red zone while the quarterback situation settles. Ohio State has shown it can win close games with its defense and opportunistic scoring, as it did in Bloomington. Sustaining that formula over a five-game stretch against varied Big Ten defenses is the practical requirement.
The No. 2 ranking is earned on the strength of the Indiana win and the overall résumé. Keeping it will require winning the next several games without the starting quarterback who has directed the offense for most of the season. The October 31 game at USC is the first and most immediate measurement of whether that is possible.
