Ohio State Buckeyes Hold Steady At No. 3 In Latest AP Poll Rankings

The Buckeyes remain in the bronze status following their win over Penn State.

The Ohio State Buckeyes might have the top two wins of the college football season, but it's not enough to nab the top spot in the AP Poll. 

The Buckeyes held steady at No. 3 in the last rankings following their 20-12 win over No. 7 Penn State Saturday at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State travels next week to Madison to take on Wisconsin.

Few would argue it was a dominant offensive performance from Ryan Day's squad, who remain undefeated heading into the final days of October. Kyle McCord struggled with accuracy throughout most of the afternoon, completing 22 of 35 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown. The run game was all but invisible, averaging 1.9 yards per attempt. 

But few programs have a playmaker like Marvin Harrison Jr. at their disposal to save the day. In times of trouble, McCord knew No. 18 would be the No. 1 option to move the sticks and keep drives alive. 

Ohio State Buckeyes QB Kyle McCord throws a pass downfield against Penn State at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio  / USA Today Sports

Consider that mission accomplished. Harrison notched 11 catches for 162 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter to extend the Buckeyes' lead to 14. Harrison now ranks second all-time in 100-receiving yard games with 12, surpassing former Buckeyes star Chris Olave. 

“The standard he has set here, his work ethic, and what he means to Ohio State, it’s about leaving a legacy behind,” Day said. “We’re only halfway through the season, so I’m not going there yet, but he’s on his way. I’m proud of him.”

Penn State (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) lived up to the billing defensively under second-year coordinator Manny Diaz. Even without Chop Robinson for most of the afternoon, the Nittany Lions added pressure up front, forcing six punts, a turnover on downs and two field goal attempts. 

But the Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) aren't a defensive slouch that relies on offensive production to carry the load. Jim Knowles had the Buckeyes ready to wreak havoc against Drew Aller and the 1-2 combo of Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton on the ground. 

Aller consistently looked flustered and finished the day with 189 passing yards and a touchdown. Allen and Singleton combined for 74 yards on 18 carries. As a unit, the Nittany Lions struggled to convert on third down, finishing the afternoon 1-for-16 on attempts. 

"Unbelievable job," Day said of his defense. "If we could play like this, then that is championship-level defense. If we can keep growing as a team, then we'll be tough to beat here down the road."

Michigan, which dismantled in-state rival Michigan State 49-0, remained steadfast at No. 2. Georgia, which was idle, extended its streak of No. 1 rankings to 19 straight weeks, the third best in the history of the rankings. 

The Buckeyes looked like a national championship contender Saturday at home. If all goes according to plan, Nov. 25 could be a top-three showdown for the Big Ten East title.