College football rankings: With Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State is good enough to win it all-ZoomTech News

That is the most effective protection Ohio State has fielded since 2019, however that is Marvin Harrison Jr.’s crew.

The Buckeyes protection held Penn State to only 2.8 yards per play in Saturday’s 20-12 victory at Ohio Stadium.

[This is a different kind of Ohio State team, and that’s OK]

To start the sport, each defenses stood up on cash downs: The groups mixed to go 1-for-8 on third down within the first quarter. 

However whereas Ohio State discovered a approach to transfer the ball, the Buckeyes protection held Penn State in verify and dominated the Nittany Lions on third down. Penn State was 1-for-16 on third down and did not convert that one till their ultimate try down 20-6 late within the fourth quarter. Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar was held to only 18-of-42 for 191 yards. Penn State rushed for simply 49 yards.

I will repeat: The Buckeyes protection is legit.

If solely it had an offense that seemed like every other offense Ryan Day has coached prior to now.

Positive, Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord hit 22 of 35 for 286 yards and a TD. Nevertheless it’s Harrison who dictates each what Day calls, and what any opposing defensive coordinator calls when the dynamic wideout is on the sphere.

Harrison has notched 100-plus receiving yards in 5 of Ohio State’s final six video games. This one towards Penn State was his twelfth 100-yard receiving sport of his profession, placing him previous Chris Olave for the second-most at school historical past, behind solely David Boston (14). He completed with 11 catches for 162 yards and a TD.

With respect to Gus Johnson, I am a automotive man. And as a automotive man, I can inform you Harrison is just not a Maserati, he is a McLaren Senna. Ain’t however five GTR LMs made, and it is a seven-speed, dual-clutch 800-horsepower, hell-raising rocket.

Harrison is the frontrunner for the Biletnikoff Award — which might be Ohio State’s first since Terry Glenn — and must also be a frontrunner for the Heisman Memorial Trophy.

The final time we noticed a wideout imply this a lot to his crew, DeVonta Smith received the Heisman and led Alabama to an undefeated season and the School Soccer Playoff nationwide championship.

Harrison and Ohio State are adequate to do the identical.

Listed here are my Prime 25 rankings after Week 8.

1. Michigan (8-0)

Defeated Michigan State, 49-0

Michigan doesn’t must steal your indicators.

2. Georgia (7-0)

Idle

The Bulldogs will play the Gators on Oct. 28.

3. Ohio State (7-0)

Defeated Penn State, 20-12

The Buckeyes are offensively sound however defensively dominant — a change within the Ryan Day period.

4. Oklahoma (7-0)

Defeated UCF, 31-29

The Sooners are 7-0 after going 6-7 in 2022.

5. Washington (7-0)

Defeated Arizona State, 15-7

Mishael Powell’s 89-yard pick-six within the fourth quarter helped the Huskies keep away from catastrophe vs. the Solar Devils. It was the Huskies’ first win with out an offensive landing since 2001, however they’re nonetheless alone atop the Pac-12 at 4-0 in league play.

6. Florida State (7-0) 

Defeated Duke, 38-20

The Seminoles got here again from a 10-0 deficit to beat the Blue Devils with Riley Leonard compelled to overlook a lot of the second half. The Noles are the final remaining undefeated crew within the ACC.

7. Texas (6-1)

Defeated Houston, 31-24

The Longhorns led 21-0 earlier than taking place 24-21 within the fourth quarter, however the Longhorns managed to drag it out with out star quarterback Quinn Ewers.

8. Alabama (7-1)

Defeated Tennessee, 34-20

The Tide scored 27 unanswered factors within the second half to stay certainly one of simply two SEC applications with no convention loss, alongside Georgia.

9. Oregon (6-1) 

Defeated Washington State, 38-24

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix grew to become the all-time chief for begins in FBS with 54 within the Geese’ first sport since dropping to Washington.

10. Penn State (6-1)

Misplaced to Ohio State, 20-12

Penn State is 0-10 towards top-10 opponents on the street below James Franklin.

11. Utah (6-1) 

Defeated USC, 34-32

Utah safety-turned-running-back Sione Vaki accounted for 217 whole yards with two TDs to safe the Utes’ third win towards a top-25 program.

12. Ole Miss (6-1) 

Defeated Auburn, 28-21

Quarterback Jaxson Dart and working again Quinshon Judkins mixed for 320 yards and two TDs in a much-needed SEC West win.

13. Oregon State (6-1) 

Idle

The Beavers will play Arizona on Oct. 28. 

14. Missouri (7-1)

Defeated South Carolina, 34-12

The Tigers are off to their greatest eight-game begin since 2013 — the identical 12 months they completed within the SEC title sport and beat Oklahoma within the Cotton Bowl.

15. LSU (6-2)

Defeated Military, 62-0

LSU paid Military $1.6 million for this whooping.

16. Notre Dame (5-2)

Idle

The Preventing Irish will host Pittsburgh on Oct. 28.

17. UCLA (5-2)

Defeated Stanford, 42-7

Carson Steele rushed for 76 yards and three touchdowns.

18. North Carolina (6-1)

Misplaced to Virginia, 31-27

The Cavaliers’ win at Chapel Hill was this system’s first win on the street towards a top-10 opponent and simply their second win of the season.

19. Tulane (6-1)

Defeated North Texas, 35-28

Makhi Hughes carried the ball 20 instances for 121 yards and a TD within the win.

20. USC (6-2)

Misplaced to Utah, 34-32

Lincoln Riley’s USC has now suffered back-to-back losses in every of the final two years. On every event, Utah has been a type of losses.

21. Air Power (7-0)

Defeated Navy, 17-6

The Falcons accomplished the longest play from scrimmage at school historical past towards Navy — a 94-yard move. Air Power is the No. 1 dashing crew within the nation and 7-0 for the primary time since 1997.

22. James Madison (7-0)

Defeated Marshall, 20-9

The Dukes outgained the Thundering Herd 405-169 to stay unbeaten.

23. Duke (5-2)

Misplaced to Florida State, 38-20

Regardless of dashing for 197 yards, the Blue Devils suffered their second loss to a top-10 opponent.

24. Tennessee (5-2)

Misplaced to Alabama, 34-20

After accounting for 275 yards and 20 factors within the first half, the Vols managed simply 129 yards and never a single level.

25. Louisville (6-1)

Idle

The Cardinals will host Duke on Oct. 28. 

RJ Younger is a nationwide school soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports activities and the host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” Comply with him on Twitter at @RJ_Young and subscribe to “The RJ Young Show” on YouTube.

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