Ohio State Falls Out Of AP Top 25 After Loss To Texas A&M

Ohio State’s return to the AP top 25 polls was short-lived. Just one week after finding themselves inside the top 25 for the first time since the 2022-23 season on Nov. 11 at No. 21, the Buckeyes fell out of the rankings altogether in the latest poll released Monday following their 78-64 loss at No. 23 Texas A&M on Friday night. 

Ohio State did emerge in the “others receiving votes” category, but it earned less votes there than it did in the preseason poll, getting just 13 in these rankings — the 10th-most out of the schools just on the outside of the top 25 — compared to the 29 (T-7th) it got on Oct. 14. 

This massive drop-off may be more due to the way in which the Buckeyes lost in College Station, Texas, rather than the actual defeat. Ohio State struggled to get anything going on the offensive end against a stifling Aggies three-quarter-court press, shooting just 20 of 59 from the field (33.9 percent) and 8 of 30 from three (26.7), a poor performance that began with the Buckeyes missing 15 of their first 17 shots. 

Ohio State does have the opportunity to bounce back and improve its record with three straight home games against mid-major teams on deck — Evansville on Tuesday, Campbell on Nov. 22 and Green Bay on Nov. 25, but even if it wins those three it still likely won’t move Ohio State back into the rankings due to the quality of those teams. The Purple Aces have a 1-3 record heading into the game against the Buckeyes, while the Fighting Camels and Pheonix are currently 3-2 and 1-3, respectively.

The Buckeyes may not get another opportunity to jump back into the polls until after Thanksgiving Day on Nov. 24 when it plays three formidable opponents in a span of eight days, first at home against Pittsburgh on Nov. 25, then in Big Ten play against Maryland on the road on Dec. 4 and No. 24 Rutgers at Value City Arena on Dec. 7. 

The Scarlet Knights are one of five ranked Big Ten teams in the latest poll, a group that also includes No. 6 Purdue — who moved up seven spots after a statement 87-78 win over then-No. 2 Alabama at Mackey Arena on Friday– as well as No. 16 Indiana, No. 19 Wisconsin and No. 25 Illinois. Both the Badgers and Illini are ranked for the first time this season after securing wins over No. 8 Arizona and Oakland, respectively.