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Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Ohio State falls to No. 20, its lowest CFP ranking ever

Plus, ComFest says 2027 could be its last festival in Goodale Park.

The CBUStoday team2 stories15 sources5 min read

BuckeyesTop story

Ohio State falls to No. 20, its lowest College Football Playoff ranking ever

Ohio State fell to No. 20 as Oregon climbed to No. 16

CFP ranking; a lower number is better

Nov. 3Nov. 10
Ohio State 12Oregon 23
20 +67%16 −30%

Sources: NBC4 WCMH-TV, Oregon Ducks On SI

View as table
Nov. 3Nov. 10Change
Ohio State1220+67%
Oregon2316−30%

If you missed the second rankings Tuesday night: Ohio State dropped from No. 12 to No. 20 after back-to-back losses to USC and Oregon. That's its lowest spot since the playoff began in 2014. The Indianapolis Star says the previous low was No. 16 in the first rankings on Oct. 26, 2014.

Oregon, which beat the Buckeyes 41-28 in Columbus, moved up seven spots to No. 16. Ohio State is 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten, and it needs to win out to have a shot at the Big Ten title game.

  • Big Ten: UCLA 6-0, Indiana 5-1; USC, Oregon, Ohio State 4-2
  • Tiebreaker: Ohio State would top Indiana head-to-head
  • Streak: in every CFP ranking, like Alabama
  • Next year: the CFP expands to 24 teams

Ohio State needs three wins to have a shot at Indianapolis

  1. Nov. 14Ohio State hosts Northwestern at noon
  2. Nov. 21Ohio State plays at Nebraska
  3. Nov. 28Ohio State hosts Michigan at noon
  4. Dec. 5Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis, set to be the last of its kind

Source: NBC4 WCMH-TV

Buckeyes

Ryan Day says Ohio State's focus is winning the next game after two straight losses

If you want to know what Ryan Day thinks went wrong, he met with reporters Tuesday alongside coordinators Arthur Smith and Matt Patricia. NBC4 says the Buckeyes are trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak since 2011 when they host Northwestern Saturday at noon. Special teams coordinator Robby Discher was fired after nine games.

Ohio State's rough week in four numbers

41-28
loss to Oregon on Saturday
9
games Robby Discher was at the helm before he was fired
2
quarters Jeremiah Smith didn't touch the ball against Oregon
No. 21
in the AP poll, down from No. 2 in two weeks

Sources: The-Ozone, NBC4 WCMH-TV

Day said the offense's biggest issues are not getting Jeremiah Smith the ball and a lack of rhythm. He said he could feel Smith's absence during the game. He also said some transfer-portal players haven't fulfilled what the staff thought they would.

  • Goal: finish the regular season with three wins
  • Plan: Day said one was in place if Julian Sayin got hurt
  • Standard: Day said nobody understands expectations more than he does

Day left the special teams and quarterback questions open

TopicWhat Day said
Discher's replacementNot deciding right now
QuarterbackWill do what gives best chance to win
Tavien St. Clair“One snap away,” still building trust

Source: The-Ozone

Asked

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Asked

How are you watching Ohio State vs. Northwestern on Saturday at noon?

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News Notes

ComFest

says 2027 could be its last year. Organizers say the free, volunteer-led festival is sustained primarily by alcohol sales, and that model is no longer working because festivalgoers don't drink like they used to. ComFest has enough money for one more festival in Goodale Park and is asking for $5-a-month members to keep going. WSYX reports it costs more to put on the event while it brings in less money every year. NBC4 WCMH-TVColumbus NavigatorWSYX

Nearly $250,000ComFest drew from its reserves over the past 10 years

Organizers say the festival built those reserves over its first four decades.

Source: NBC4 WCMH-TV

Road work

The Winchester Pike bridge over U.S. 33 on the Southeast Side will close Nov. 20 for reconstruction expected to take over a year. The Columbus Dispatch

Data centers

If you live near Buckeye Lake, the Ohio EPA held a public hearing Tuesday night as it considers an air permit for the 1,300-megawatt , which would power Vantage Data Centers' four neighboring facilities in Millersport. About 50 people sat in the Millersport Elementary School auditorium for the hearing. Buckeye Lake Village Councilmember Kellie Green said, “I’m concerned about our lake, our environment, our communities and the future.” NBC4 WCMH-TVThe Reporting Project

Blue Jackets

Sam Bennett scored twice as the Florida Panthers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 Tuesday night. It's Florida's 12th win in its last 13 games against Columbus. Cleveland.com

Wexner

Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center is teaming up with Microsoft on a five-year partnership to build what officials call a “smart hospital.” Chief health information officer Ravi Tripathi said the technology is meant to take some of the administrative burden off medical staff. NBC4 WCMH-TV

Shop

Etsy’s Top 100 Holiday Gifts are here with festive finds for everyone on your list. Think: custom playing cards, one-of-a-kind advent calendars, and hand-painted ceramics. One of our favorite finds is this customizable vinyl mixtape, complete with your choice of 10-12 of songs, a photo for the cover, and a personalized message. (Sponsored by Etsy)

Wardrobe

Cute enough for a coffee run, comfy enough for a full day on the couch, these soft-brushed barrel-leg sweatpants and this best-selling mock neck sweater make a pretty convincing case for staying cozy. Shop the pair, plus find more great cozy wardrobe options.

Finance

How much cash back are you earning with your credit card? 2%? Maybe 4%? You're leaving money on the table. This viral card offers 6% cash back, 0% interest into 2028, and a lucrative bonus — all with zero annual fee. Apply now.

Content marked with an * is advertising.

Asked

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Asked

Would you sign up as a $5-a-month ComFest member?

Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 39 games

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Quoted

Character is much easier kept than recovered.

— Thomas Paine

Things to Do

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Wednesday, Nov. 11

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The Buy

The Wrap

Tucked on the second floor of Lincoln Tower is an Ohio State Esports Arena with more than 70 PCs, plus virtual reality, arcade games and Nintendo Switch consoles. Students get free access, and the space doubles as a classroom for a course that mixes gaming and professional skills. Game on.

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Every source in this edition15 links · 11 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. NBC4 WCMH-TVnbc4i.com
  3. The Indianapolis Starindystar.com
  4. Oregon Ducks On SIsi.com
  5. The-Ozonetheozone.net
  6. NBC4 WCMH-TVnbc4i.com
  7. NBC4 WCMH-TVnbc4i.com
  8. Columbus Navigatorcolumbusnavigator.com
  9. WSYXabc6onyourside.com
  10. The Columbus Dispatchdispatch.com
  11. NBC4 WCMH-TVnbc4i.com
  12. The Reporting Projectthereportingproject.org
  13. Cleveland.comcleveland.com
  14. NBC4 WCMH-TVnbc4i.com
  15. Columbus events calendarcbustoday.5amcity.com

Past issues

  1. Sat., Nov. 14Ohio State hosts Northwestern at noon; Columbus eyes an 18% water hike
  2. Fri., Nov. 13Morgan Wallen is coming to Ohio Stadium in 2027
  3. Thurs., Nov. 12OhioHealth plans a $700M hospital at the old Big Lots HQ
  4. Tues., Nov. 10Honda picks Union County for a $3 billion auto plant
  5. Mon., Nov. 9Oregon beats Ohio State 41-28, and the Crew will face Messi in the playoffs
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CBUStodayto me · Wed., Nov. 116:00 a.m.

Ohio State falls to No. 20, its lowest CFP ranking ever

Plus, ComFest says 2027 could be its last festival in Goodale Park.

The TLDR

  1. Ohio State falls to No. 20, its lowest CFP ranking ever
  2. Ryan Day: the focus is winning the next game
  3. ComFest says 2027 could be its last festival
Read this edition

More stories this week

From CBUStoday’s other editions

All the news
BuckeyesOhio State hosts Northwestern at noon as Ryan Day weighs more staff changesIf you're watching today, Ohio State (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) hosts Northwestern (6-3, 3-3) at noon on Fox, coming off losses to USC and Oregon. Freshman Luke Fahey makes his third straight start with Julian Sayin out with a fractured elbow.Today’s editionRead City HallColumbus is weighing an 18% water rate increase that would cost the average household $123 more a yearIf you pay a Columbus water bill, here's a heads-up: the city is weighing another steep increase, 18% this time, that would cost the average household an extra $123 a year. It comes one year after a similar increase was proposed, and Columbus City Council would have to approve it.Today’s editionRead ConcertsMorgan Wallen will play two nights at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 6-7, 2027If you want to see a country superstar in the Shoe, mark your calendar. Morgan Wallen will play two nights at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 6 and 7, 2027. The shows are part of his "Last Time I Checked" tour, a 14-show run across seven stadiums that starts June 11 in Tampa.Friday’s editionRead

Around Columbus

From 10TV, WCPO 9 Cincinnati and 3 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news

  1. 10TV9 minutes ago

    The Notebook: Behind the scenes interviews as Ohio State knocks off Northwestern in Columbus

    The Notebook is behind the scenes with Ohio State after the Buckeyes 28-19 win over Northwestern from Ohio Stadium on a cold, gray November Saturday.

  2. WCPO 9 Cincinnati23 minutes ago

    'Amazing experience' | Indian Hill girls soccer team wins D-III state title

    The Indian Hill girls soccer team won the Division III state championship Saturday afternoon in Columbus.

  3. WKRC37 minutes ago

    Indian Hill wins OHSAA Division III state soccer title, finishes season unbeaten

    Indian Hill capped an unbeaten 19-0-4 season with a 2-1 state title win over Bay Village Bay at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Claire Frazier scored twice before a late Bay push fell short.

  4. The Columbus Dispatch47 minutes ago

    Despite the win, Ohio State has room to improve. See grades vs Northwestern

    See how the Buckeyes graded out against Northwestern after dropping back-to-back Big Ten games.

  5. The-Ozone1 hour ago

    Ohio State Gets Back on Track, Grinds Out 28-19 Win Over Northwestern

    COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State needed a win. It did not need to be pretty, and for much of Saturday afternoon, it wasn’t. The No. 20 Buckeyes ended their two-game losing streak with a 28-19 victory over Northwestern at Ohio Stadium, leaning on a productive afternoon from Bo Jackson, another record-setting performance from Jeremiah Smith, …

  6. The-Ozone1 hour ago

    Ohio State Defense Finds Its Pass Rush, Takes Step Forward Against Northwestern

    COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State’s defense had been searching for a way to make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable. Against Northwestern, the Buckeyes finally found one. Ohio State recorded five sacks in Saturday’s 28-19 win over the Wildcats, getting a pass rush that had been largely absent for much of the season. Kenyatta Jackson Jr. led the …