Ryan Day

The College Football Playoff committee and the polls are in complete agreement — Ohio State is the nation’s best team. The Buckeyes debuted at No. 1 in the initial CFP rankings of 2025, ahead of Indiana, Texas A&M, Alabama, and Georgia. Ryan Day’s program sits undefeated at 8-0 and on a 12 game win streak going back to last season’s playoff run.

But while the college football world buzzes about the rankings reveal, Day isn’t getting caught up in the hype. “I hope nobody on our team pays attention to it,” Day said during his weekly press conference. “It doesn’t matter. At all. Just keep winning, man.”

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That mindset has defined this year’s Buckeyes — a team built not on flash, but on focus. Their résumé is one of the most complete in the country. Ohio State opened the season with a gritty 14–7 victory over then-No. 1 Texas, followed by convincing wins over Grambling State, Ohio, No. 23 Washington, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, and most recently, Penn State. They’ve outscored opponents by an average of nearly 24 points per game and rank among the top five nationally in both scoring defense and total offense.

The analytics echo the committee’s confidence. The Buckeyes also hold the No. 1 ranking in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll, while ESPN’s College Football Power Index and Bill Connelly’s SP+ metrics place them atop the national field. According to ESPN, Ohio State’s strength of record ranks third nationally behind Texas A&M and Indiana, while its strength of schedule sits at No. 33 — with four games still to play against Purdue, UCLA, Rutgers, and rival No. 21 Michigan.

If the season ended today, the Buckeyes would be slotted to face the winner of a first-round matchup between No. 8 Texas Tech and No. 9 Oregon in the quarterfinals. Yet, despite sitting atop every measurable ranking in college football, Day remains locked in on what’s ahead, not what’s already been accomplished.

He also provided updates on the team’s health coming out of the Penn State game, noting that two of the three injured offensive guards should return this week. “We’re getting guys back and continuing to grow,” Day said, adding that his tight ends “had their best week as blockers” against the Nittany Lions — a subtle but meaningful sign of improvement in Ohio State’s physical identity.

For Buckeye fans, seeing Ohio State at No. 1 is both exciting and familiar. Under Ryan Day, the program has consistently been in the national championship conversation, but the coach’s message remains steady: rankings are temporary — legacies are built in December and January.

So while the scarlet and gray faithful can take pride in their team’s No. 1 spot, the Buckeyes themselves are looking beyond the spotlight. Their mission is clear: block out the noise, stay healthy, and keep winning. Because in Ryan Day’s words, and in true Ohio State fashion — it does not matter until the end.