Ohio State Falls Eight Spots to No. 20

Ohio State dropped from No. 12 to No. 20 in the second 2026 College Football Playoff rankings after losing 41-28 at home to Oregon, its second consecutive defeat and third loss of the season. The Buckeyes remain mathematically in contention, but their chances are considered remote: they likely must win their final three games against Northwestern, Nebraska and Michigan while several teams ahead of them lose. The ranking is the program’s lowest in CFP history, and the team’s path is complicated by a crowded group of contenders and the playoff’s guaranteed place for a top-ranked Group of Six team.