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Ohio State Might Not Be No. 1 In First CFB Playoff Top 25 Rankings

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Oct 28, 2025 11:36 AM ET

Ohio State has spent most of the season atop college football's AP poll, but a former Buckeyes star isn't convinced they'll headline the first College Football Playoff rankings.

The defending champions have possessed the AP's No. 1 spot ever since beating the preseason's top-ranked Texas Longhorns to start the season. Ryan Day's squad has since tacked on six double-digit victories ahead of Saturday's Big Ten bout against Penn State.

Despite Ohio State's dominant start, Joey Galloway told ESPN colleague Kirk Herbstreit on the "Nonstop podcast" that he can see next week's inaugural CFP rankings giving top billing to a different team.

"I wouldn't have a complaint in the world if, on Nov. 4, the committee doesn't have them No. 1," Galloway said. "Their resume? Not great."

Ohio State's schedule could deter Selection Committee

A statement Week 1 win over Texas no longer carries the same weight after the Longhorns lost to a Florida program that's since fired head coach Billy Napier. This weekend's Penn State was supposed to be a colossal showdown of national title contenders, but the Nittany Lions enter Columbus with a four-game losing streak and new coach.

Ohio State has played only one currently ranked team, and No. 20 Texas could vacate that designation if it loses to Vanderbilt on Saturday. No. 21 Michigan is the Buckeyes' only remaining ranked opponent, so Galloway theorized that a weaker strength of schedule could hurt Ohio State.

"You look at their schedule and say, 'Well, there's no ranked wins.' They look really good, but their resume and their schedule now -- all of a sudden -- has the potential to not look very good," Galloway said. "They don't play Indiana. They don't play Oregon. It will be interesting to see. If the Committee was to move them down, I wouldn't have an argument. I would understand it."

Who else could take the top spot?

If not Ohio State, the CFP's No. 1 ranking would likely go to Indiana. The Hoosiers are 8-0 with a 34.5-point average victory margin, and they boast a more impressive win in their 30-20 triumph at Oregon.

Their respective performances against a common Big Ten opponent could also tip the scales. Ohio State notched a 34-16 victory at Illinois, but Indiana pummeled the Fighting Illini in a 63-10 rout at Bloomington.

USA Today's Matt Hayes projected the top spot for Indiana, but Texas A&M could also make a compelling case. The 8-0 Aggies wield road wins over Notre Dame and LSU entering a Week 10 bye.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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