Cincinnati Threatening to Surpass Ohio State in Top 25

The Ohio State football squad is in a battle for Buckeye State supremacy. The upstart Cincinnati Bearcats out of the Big East is flying up the polls, sitting just one spot below Jim Tressel and OSU. The Bearcats are currently ranked #14 in the AP poll with the Buckeyes one notch better at #13. In the USA Today coaches poll, Ohio State (2-1) is ranked 11th with the undefeated southern Ohio team at #15.

While covering the Buckeyes game at Cleveland Browns Stadium this weekend, I had a really interesting thought that I brought up to some other media members. If Cincinnati continues to win, how intriguing would it be to see Ohio State versus Cincinnati in a BCS game this winter. Of course it is a long way off with a lot more football to played, but that game would be very marketable.

Ohio State has not lost a game to an in-state rival since 1921 when Oberlin (yes, Oberlin) knocked off the Buckeyes in a 7-6 nailbiter. Don't look now, Buckeye fans, but the Bearcats may want to snap that long streak a few months from now if they are given the chance.