Every victory this season proves that last year’s championship win wasn’t a fluke but a result of continuous grind. Since the start, Ryan Day’s team has been making its presence felt, first by dominating Texas and then continuing that momentum till Week 5 despite facing the Huskies in a tough road game. And it showed until the first half, when Ohio State could find its offensive rhythm despite holding a 7-3 lead. But when they did, they ended up putting up a 24-6 strong score against the Huskies and didn’t flinch on their undefeated status. But despite a perfect 4-0 record, Texas A&M holds the top spot, and that’s not something the Bucks were hoping for.

Just like Ohio State, the Aggies also hold a 4-0 record in the league, and after their dominating 16-10 win against Auburn, their status is pretty solid in the playoff run. But the Bucks remain the No. 1 team in the AP poll, whereas the Aggies are at the 5th spot. Yet they are holding a better position in “ESPN’s Undefeated Teams SOS.” That’s right, as CFB Home reports in its latest update, Texas A&M ranks highest among all undefeated teams at 12th, with Ohio State just behind them at 15th.

But here’s the bigger question: why is Ohio State not in the top place? Well, drawing comparisons might be tough, but the Aggies have won games against two ranked teams, Auburn and Notre Dame, whereas the Bucks just won it against the Texas Longhorns in their season opener. And even if their knockout 70-0 win against Grambling State and 37-9 against Ohio look impressive, those teams aren’t that strong against the No. 1 defensive team in the nation. Right? Even if the margin was close, winning 41-40 against last year’s runner-up team is a big feat for the Aggies.

And it’s all because of Aggies’ dynamic players like RB Mario Craver, who are turning things around for the team since the start of the season. He has not rushed for less than 100 yards in any game. Now, if you don’t know, then DeVonte Smith won the Heisman back in 2020. He had 89 yards, 63 yards with a TD, and 164 yards with a TD in the first three games that season. But Craver has already surpassed those numbers with 122 yards and two TDs, 114 yards with one, and 207 yards with one in the first three games this season.

So, that’s exactly why there’s a high chance that Ohio State might lose its top spot to the Aggies. And let’s not forget their dual-threat QB, Marcel Reed, who went throwing for 360 yards with two touchdowns against Notre Dame’s man-to-man defense. This is a massive turnaround for a guy who threw 6 interceptions last season and has yet to throw a single one this year. So, if that dominance continues, there’s a high chance the Aggies might outrun the Bucks soon in the league.

But even they are putting up a strong game this year. That’s right, the Bucks defense ranks at the No. 1 spot in the country in scoring, allowing just 5.5 points per game, and on top of that, they have not allowed a single rushing TD this season. And even their dynamic QB Julian Sayin stood strong against the Huskies, showing his exceptional passing skills, completing 22 of 28 passes for 208 yards.

It’s a close competition, and one setback can be a major issue for them in the future.

Ryan Day gets real about Ohio State’s one glaring issue

Ohio State’s win against the Huskies helped them keep their undefeated status in the league, but what’s interesting is that despite the win, Ryan Day couldn’t hold back his concern for their future games. “We can’t be having these self-inflicted wounds,” Day said. “It’s going to cost us a game. So, that happened too many times in this game. We had five penalties. We can’t do that.” Day’s frustration is pretty clear with his words, and let’s not forget that those rookie mistakes would have cost them that game.

Remember when Ohio State recorded its only turnover against the Huskies on a punt return, when Brandon Inniss fumbled inside Washington’s area? Then, penalties made things worse for them, as they had 6 of them for 60 yards, and that gave them a slow start. Look, sure, Ohio State outgained them with a 357-234 margin and also covered an 8.5-point spread in the game.

But let’s not forget rookie mistakes like penalties and turnovers could halt Ohio State’s winning chance in the league, especially going up against stronger opponents like Penn State and Michigan later in the season. Now, let’s wait and see if Day fixes it all up or Bucks messes it up big time.