Look Who’s No. 1 – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
NEW YORK – Ohio State is the new No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll.
The Buckeyes moved up one spot in the Top 25 after preseason No. 1 Alabama lost for the first time this season. The Crimson Tide fell 35-21 on Saturday at South Carolina.
“You take a look at the Top 10 week to week and the precarious nature of any ranking is obvious – just review the change in the makeup of the Top 10 between the beginning of the season until now,” Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel said. “The Buckeyes know what’s it’s like to have a target on our back, especially since we are now well into Big Ten play. We expect that every team will give us its best shot. How we respond will determine our ultimate ranking.”
Oregon is No. 2, followed by Boise State, TCU, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Auburn.
Ohio State received 34 first-place votes and Oregon (15), Boise State (eight), TCU (one) and Oklahoma (two) also got first-place votes from the media panel.
The Crimson Tide slipped to No. 8, LSU was No. 9 and South Carolina moved up nine spots to 10th after the program’s first victory against a top-ranked team.
The last time Ohio State was No. 1 was the final regular season poll of 2007.
Ohio State player comments:
OL Bryant Browning: “It’s a good feeling. Now we just have to work to have the chance to stay No. 1 the rest of the season. We will keep focused on each game and hope we’re still up there in January.”
DL Cameron Heyward: “The No. 1 ranking just means that more than ever, we’re in control of our own destiny.”
LB Ross Homan: “It’s a good feeling to be No. 1, but it really doesn’t change how we work. We still have to work hard every day and try to get better. We’ve just got a bigger target on us now.”
QB Terrelle Pryor: “I love it for the Ohio State students and fans, but it’s a big responsibility and opportunity for us. How we react to being No. 1, and how we stay determined in our focus and in our work habits, will tell us how long we will stay there.”
LB Brian Rolle: “It’s good to be No. 1, but if we don’t play like it every week, then all the hype will be for naught.”
RB Brandon Saine: “Maybe the polls have changed, but I don’t feel much difference in our team than I felt last week. We still have to take it one game at a time and remain true to our goals.”
WR Dane Sanzenbacher: “The top ranking is obviously a challenge we welcome, but we all know how much more important it is to be No. 1 at the end of the season.”
AP Top 25
1. Ohio State (34)
2. Oregon (15)
3. Boise State (8)
4. TCU (1)
5. Nebraska
6. Oklahoma (2)
7. Auburn
8. Alabama
9. LSU
10. South Carolina
11. Utah
12. Arkansas
13. Michigan State
14. Stanford
15. Iowa
16. Florida State
17. Arizona
18. Wisconsin
19. Nevada
20. Oklahoma State
21. Missouri
22. Florida
23. Air Force
24. Oregon State
25. West Virginia
Others receiving votes: Michigan 137, Miami 63, N.C. State 31, Virginia Tech 17, Northwestern 5, Texas 5, Kansas St. 1.
