Ohio State Jumps to No. 1 in Way-Too-Early Top 25 and the Big Ten Isn't Slowing Down

Here's what's happening in college football right now: the Big Ten is running the show, and Ohio State just made it official. The Buckeyes catapulted from 6th all the way to the top spot in the updated Way-Too-Early Top 25, and honestly, the numbers back it up.

The shift is real. After the SEC won four straight national titles from 2019 to 2022, Big Ten teams have now won three in a row. Indiana's perfect 16-0 run last season that ended with a 27-21 championship win over Miami proved that the old power structure? It's gone. When the right coach gets the right budget, even programs that used to struggle can flip the script completely. The Big Ten and SEC now own seven of the top 10 spots in these rankings, and we're going to be watching this battle play out all the way through next January's playoff.

Why Ohio State Is The Team to Beat

The Buckeyes went 12-2 last year with a perfect 9-0 Big Ten record, and they're bringing back the pieces that matter most. Quarterback Julian Sayin is still there. So is tailback Bo Jackson. And then there's receiver Jeremiah Smith, who operates on another level entirely. With those three in place, OSU's offense is going to be a nightmare to stop, especially now that they've upgraded the offensive line.

Coach Ryan Day went out and hired former NFL head coach and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to take over the coordinator job. On defense, former NFL defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has already turned things into one of the best units in the country. That formula works. But here's the catch: Ohio State's got one of the toughest schedules in college football waiting for them. Games at Texas, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and USC? That's a gauntlet.

The Big Ten's Stranglehold Continues

Oregon sits at No. 2 after finishing 13-2 last year with an 8-1 Big Ten mark. The Ducks got some really good news this spring when quarterback Dante Moore, who looked like a potential top NFL draft pick, decided to come back for another run. They're bringing in a new QB in Dylan Raiola from Nebraska, plus they've got two new coordinators on the way. That's a lot of change, but they're still positioned to compete.

The story here is simple: the balance of power in college football has swung hard toward the Big Ten in the NIL and transfer portal era. These rankings will shift between now and next January, sure, but right now? The Big Ten owns it.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.