Buckeyes Advance In BCS Standings Again

The Buckeyes moved up one spot in the BCS standings released Sunday, from No. 17 to No. 16.

By: | NBC4i.com
Published: November 02, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- What's brewing today with the 2009 Ohio State Buckeyes ...

BCS STANDINGS: The Buckeyes moved up one spot in the BCS standings released Sunday, from No. 17 to No. 16.

Florida held onto the No. 1 spot, while Texas and Alabama flipped rankings to land at spots 2 and 3, respectively. Iowa remains at No. 4, followed by Cincinnati at No. 5 -- up three spots from the previous week.

The next opponent on the Buckeyes' horizon, Penn State, also moved up one spot from No. 12 to No. 11.

BUCKEYES BUZZ: Last week's 45-0 blitz of a New Mexico State team that might have had trouble with Capital's football team meant about as much as the spring game. Now, next week, that is the season.

A lot of Ohio State fans are already spying Saturday's 3:30 p.m. showdown at Penn State as a make-or-break game. A loss and the Buckeyes are eliminated from a BCS game and likely contention for a fifth straight Big Ten title. A win and almost all of their remaining major goals are still within reach: a conference title and a good BCS game.

It's all right there in front of the Buckeyes, too. Win out, and they're assured of at least a share of the league crown and might just have enough mojo to either sneak around unbeaten Iowa and the Nittany Lions or at least lock up a top-tier bowl trip if not a choice BCS-game berth.

And to think that two weeks ago it appeared that all of those possibilities were off the table.

JOEPA SPEAKS: Within minutes of his team's come-from-behind 34-13 victory at Northwestern on Saturday, Penn State coach Joe Paterno was asked about the looming battle with the Buckeyes:

"We're going to play a good football team. I haven't looked at enough tapes yet to know how good they are, but I'm sure they're going to be really good. I know they were kicking the ears in of somebody today (New Mexico St. 45-0). I saw part of their game last week (a 38-7 win over Minnesota) and they were good. I think we'll play a little better then what we've been playing, practice hard and see what happens."

LOOKING AHEAD: The Big Ten announced late on Sunday afternoon that the Iowa at Ohio State game on Nov. 14 will kick off at 3:30 p.m. The game will be carried by ABC on a regional basis. The Hawkeyes (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten) are alone in first place in the Big Ten heading into Saturday's home game with Northwestern.

MEDIA POLL: The Buckeyes climbed two spots to No. 15 in the latest Associated Press rankings. Penn State moved up one rung to No. 11.

Other teams of note: Florida remains No. 1, Texas slides by 'Bama to No. 2, UC up one to No. 4, Iowa falls spot to No. 8 and Wisconsin joins the party at No. 24.