COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State moved up a spot to No. 5 after a bye week and Cincinnati moved up to No. 2, their highest rank ever, in the latest Associated Press college football poll.
It’s the first time a team from outside the traditional power conferences has been ranked that high since 2010.
Unbeaten Cincinnati from the American Athletic Conference reached a new best ranking in program history and is the first team to reach No. 2 from outside a Power Five or BCS conference since TCU finished second in 2010, when it went undefeated as a member of the Mountain West.
The Bearcats are right behind top-ranked Georgia and ahead of No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 4 Alabama and No. 5 Ohio State.
Staying ranked shouldn’t be a problem for Cincinnati this season. Staying at No. 2 could be, even if the Bearcats win out in the American Athletic Conference.
The Bearcats moved up to No. 2 in the AP poll after Jerome Ford rushed for a career-high 189 yards and four touchdowns, helping Cincinnati roll past UCF 56-21 on Saturday.
Desmond Ridder passed for 140 yards and a touchdown as the Bearcats (6-0, 2-0 AAC) extended the nation’s second-longest home winning streak to 24 games.
The last time Ohio State played, C.J. Stroud threw five touchdowns as the Buckeyes pounded Maryland 66-17.
Ohio State scored on nine straight possessions and piled up 598 yards of offense and the Buckeyes had their way with the Terps.
UP NEXT
Ohio State: The Buckeyes play at Indiana on Oct. 23.
Cincinnati: Plays at Navy on Oct. 23.
