New Mexico enters AP Top 25 as Ohio State falls
The Lobos rank 22nd in Week 10, while Ohio State drops to 11th following a loss at USC.
By Aiko Brooks ·
New Mexico has entered the AP Top 25 poll for the first time this season, securing the No. 22 spot in the Week 10 rankings released Sunday. The Lobos currently trail Boise State, the Group of Six frontrunner, by three positions. New Mexico has won five consecutive games since its sole defeat of the season, a 14-6 loss at Oklahoma on Sept. 19. This recent form has placed the team in the center of the automatic bid race.
The voting process this week appears to have closely tracked the previous day's results. The final standings mirror what analysts expect will be in the first College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday. Voters adjusted their assessments based on Saturday's games, resulting in a poll that reflects current performance levels accurately.
Ohio State dropped nine spots to No. 11 in the new poll. The Buckeyes fell to the Trojans 30-18 at USC on Saturday. This result marks their second loss and fourth defeat in their last 10 games under head coach Ryan Day. The team also lost quarterback Julian Sayin to a season-ending arm injury. Sayin was the starter when Ohio State defeated Indiana earlier in the season. The Buckeyes now face a challenging schedule for the remainder of the year.
South Carolina, which began its SEC schedule with three losses under Shane Beamer, has won three straight games. The Gamecocks are the highest-ranked team in the poll with three losses. They have victories over Florida and Tennessee, both of whom are currently ranked in the top 25. South Carolina previously led eighth-ranked Kentucky by 17 points in September before losing in overtime. The team is positioned to make a strong push for a playoff spot if it wins its remaining games.
Missouri climbed four spots to No. 19 in the latest rankings. The Tigers defeated Arkansas 34-10 in rainy conditions on Saturday. This win followed a 28-point loss to Ole Miss earlier in the month. Running back Ahmad Hardy returned to the lineup for the Arkansas game. Quarterback Austin Simmons has thrown for 1,952 yards with 16 touchdowns and two interceptions this fall. The defense allows the fifth-fewest points in the SEC.
Ohio State will play Oregon at home this Saturday. The Buckeyes then host Northwestern on Nov. 14, travel to Nebraska on Nov. 21, and finish the season at home against Michigan on Nov. 28. South Carolina faces Georgia and Clemson in its final two games. Missouri plays Texas at home as a narrow underdog this Saturday.
Missouri will then face two more top-10 opponents in consecutive weeks after the Texas game. The Tigers have already secured one ranked victory over Florida. New Mexico continues its bid hunt with games scheduled for the upcoming weeks. The AP poll will be updated next week to reflect the results of these matchups.
