COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State moved up a spot to No. 5 after a bye week and Cincinnati moved up to No. 2, their highest rank ever, in the latest Associated Press college football poll.

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio State moved up from No. 6 to No. 5 after a bye week

  • Cincinnati is now ranked No. 2 right behind top-ranked Georgia

  • The Bearcats reached a new best ranking in program history

  • Cincinnati is the first team to reach No. 2 from outside a Power Five or BCS conference since TCU finished second in 2010

It's the first time a team from outside the traditional power conferences has been ranked that high since 2010.

Unbeaten Cincinnati from the American Athletic Conference reached a new best ranking in program history and is the first team to reach No. 2 from outside a Power Five or BCS conference since TCU finished second in 2010, when it went undefeated as a member of the Mountain West.

The Bearcats are right behind top-ranked Georgia and ahead of No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 4 Alabama and No. 5 Ohio State.

Staying ranked shouldn’t be a problem for Cincinnati this season. Staying at No. 2 could be, even if the Bearcats win out in the American Athletic Conference.

The Bearcats moved up to No. 2 in the AP poll after Jerome Ford rushed for a career-high 189 yards and four touchdowns, helping Cincinnati roll past UCF 56-21 on Saturday.

Desmond Ridder passed for 140 yards and a touchdown as the Bearcats (6-0, 2-0 AAC) extended the nation’s second-longest home winning streak to 24 games.

The last time Ohio State played, C.J. Stroud threw five touchdowns as the Buckeyes pounded Maryland 66-17.

Ohio State scored on nine straight possessions and piled up 598 yards of offense and the Buckeyes had their way with the Terps.

UP NEXT

Ohio State: The Buckeyes play at Indiana on Oct. 23.

Cincinnati: Plays at Navy on Oct. 23.

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