Ohio State, the first-ever unanimous preseason No. 1 team, is still the No. 1 team after its season-opening win at Virginia Tech.
The Buckeyes trailed at halftime Monday night but roared back with a dominant second-half performance from its cavalcade of playmakers, including an eye-popping showing from Braxton Miller, who switched form quarterback to wide receiver this offseason. That allowed them to hang on to the No. 1 spot when the latest AP poll was released on Tuesday afternoon.
Ohio State figures to stick at No. 1 for some time, not only due to its status as a favorite to repeat as national champion but also thanks to a light schedule that doesn't feature any major tests until November.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Chicago sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Michigan State, which opened the season as the nation's No. 5 team, kept its ranking after its season-opening win over Western Michigan.
Wisconsin fell out of the top 25 after its season-opening loss to Alabama on Saturday night in Texas. The Badgers were bothered by injuries in that game and struggled to establish a rushing attack. The Crimson Tide were ranked No. 2 in this week's poll, up one spot after jumping TCU.
Northwestern received votes after its impressive win over Stanford. The Cardinal entered the Week 1 showdown ranked No. 21, but the Wildcats kept them out of the end zone with a masterful defensive display. The Wildcats are ranked No. 29 based on those votes.