College Football Rankings 2020: Projected AP Top 25 for Week 8

Ohio State was leapfrogged in the AP Top 25 by North Carolina in Week 7 and continued to hover just outside the top five. That is less due to where they rank on most ballots than because 10 voters continued to keep the Buckeyes completely off their lists. That will change in Week 8 when Ohio State finally takes the field for the first time this fall and holdout voters start including Ryan Day’s team in their rankings.

Excitement in Columbus starts, of course, with otherworldly quarterback Justin Fields. But much of the enthusiasm for another Big Ten championship run and a chance at the College Football Playoff also stems from the fact that a retooled defense won’t also have to replace Shaun Wade. After originally deciding to opt out of the 2020 season, Wade elected to return to the Buckeyes when the Big Ten decided to reverse course on fall football.

Right out of the gate the Buckeyes get a hell of a one-two punch. Nebraska visits the Horseshoe to open the season in Week 8, and then Ohio State turns around and heads east to Happy Valley for a Halloween showdown against Penn State. Win both and the Buckeyes will be right back among the top three teams in the country.