We knew Ohio State would drop in the polls following the Buckeyes' loss to Penn State Saturday night and the USA Today Coaches Poll is the first to tell us just how far the fall would be.
Ohio State checks in at No. 8 this week, down from the No. 2 position they've held in the Coaches Poll since throttling Oklahoma in week three. Ahead of the Buckeyes are No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Clemson, No. 4 Washington, No. 5 Louisville and Nebraska and Baylor, who are tied for No. 6 in the poll.
The Wolverines, up two spots from their No. 4 position last week, lead the Big Ten in the poll, with the Cornhuskers and Buckeyes giving the league three teams in the top 10. Wisconsin, ranked 11th, is the only other Big Ten team to appear in the Coaches Poll this week.
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | PTS | 1st VOTES | PREV | CHANGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ALABAMA | 8-0 | 1599 | 63 | 1 | – |
| 2 | MICHIGAN | 7-0 | 1486 | – | 4 | +2 |
| 3 | CLEMSON | 7-0 | 1485 | 1 | 3 | – |
| 4 | WASHINGTON | 7-0 | 1434 | – | 5 | +1 |
| 5 | LOUISVILLE | 6-1 | 1321 | – | 7 | +2 |
| 6 | NEBRASKA | 7-0 | 1194 | – | 9 | +3 |
| 6 | BAYLOR | 6-0 | 1194 | – | 8 | +2 |
| 8 | OHIO STATE | 6-1 | 1137 | – | 2 | -6 |
| 9 | WEST VIRGINIA | 6-0 | 1007 | – | 13 | +4 |
| 10 | TEXAS A&M | 6-1 | 979 | – | 6 | -4 |
| 11 | WISCONSIN | 5-2 | 963 | – | 10 | -1 |
| 12 | FLORIDA | 5-1 | 821 | – | 12 | – |
| 13 | BOISE STATE | 7-0 | 776 | – | 14 | +1 |
| 14 | FLORIDA STATE | 5-2 | 767 | – | 15 | +1 |
| 15 | OKLAHOMA | 5-2 | 692 | – | 16 | +1 |
| 16 | UTAH | 7-1 | 664 | – | 18 | +2 |
| 17 | AUBURN | 5-2 | 552 | – | 24 | +7 |
| 18 | TENNESSEE | 5-2 | 523 | – | 19 | +1 |
| 19 | LOUISIANA STATE | 5-2 | 424 | – | 23 | +4 |
| 20 | NORTH CAROLINA | 6-2 | 388 | – | 21 | +1 |
| 21 | WESTERN MICHIGAN | 8-0 | 352 | – | 20 | -1 |
| 22 | NAVY | 5-1 | 243 | – | 25 | +3 |
| 23 | COLORADO | 6-2 | 242 | – | 26 | +3 |
| 24 | HOUSTON | 6-2 | 144 | – | 11 | -13 |
| 25 | VIRGINIA TECH | 5-2 | 116 | – | 31 | +6 |
