Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Winning ugly has consequences, as Ohio State found out today.
As top-ranked USC sat at home and Georgia, Oklahoma and Florida posted wins over solid opponents, Ohio State fell to No. 5 in both polls after Saturday's too-close-for-comfort win against Ohio. The good news for the Buckeyes is they likely will grab the No. 1 ranking by knocking off USC on Saturday in Los Angeles. Ohio State deserved to drop. An elite team shouldn't trail Ohio heading into the fourth quarter at home. But the Buckeyes should work their way back to the top 3 at some point, even if they fall to USC.
Wisconsin moved up a spot to No. 10 as West Virginia tumbled, but the Badgers need a strong effort at Fresno State to stay there. Another slow start won't cut it on the road, and Wisconsin needs tight end Travis Beckum and linebacker Jonathan Casillas back on the field.
Penn State's rout of Oregon State moved the Nittany Lions up two spots to No. 17 in both polls. If Daryll Clark, Evan Royster and the offense keep rolling, Penn State will continue to climb. But defensive line depth is becoming a greater concern after Penn State lost end Jerome Hayes to a season-ending knee injury. With the status of starters Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma very much in doubt, Penn State can't afford to lose more bodies up front.
Illinois remained at No. 24 in the AP Poll and just outside the coaches' poll. The Illini can make their move in the first two weeks of Big Ten play, when they visit Penn State and Michigan.
Iowa got four votes in the coaches' poll and Northwestern somehow got a vote, too. Is that you, Pat Fitzgerald?
Adam Rittenberg joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four years at the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, where he covered sports at Notre Dame, Northwestern, DePaul and several other colleges. He lives in Chicago.
