The Ohio State football program has pretty much been a perennial top-five program over the last couple of decades, and with all of the games now complete for the 2021 season, it looks like it’s that case again when it comes to the last USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll.
The last time the poll was released, the Buckeyes checked in at No. 7, but after the exhilarating win over Utah in the Rose Bowl, OSU moved up a couple of spots to finish the season at No. 5. So who finished ahead of Ohio State? You can probably guess the teams. Georgia finished No. 1, followed by Alabama (2), Michigan (3), and Cincinnati (4).
Rounding out the top ten behind Ohio State are Baylor (6), Oklahoma State (7), Michigan State (8), Notre Dame (9), and Oklahoma (10).
NEXT … Final USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll
Full USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll
| Rank | Team | Record | Points | Change |
| 1 | Georgia | 14-1 | 1,550 (62) | +2 |
| 2 | Alabama | 13-2 | 1,488 | -1 |
| 3 | Michigan | 12-2 | 1,398 | -1 |
| 4 | Cincinnati | 13-1 | 1,346 | – |
| 5 | Ohio State | 11-2 | 1,279 | +2 |
| 6 | Baylor | 12-2 | 1,275 | – |
| 7 | Oklahoma State | 12-2 | 1,197 | +2 |
| 8 | Michigan State | 11-2 | 1,066 | +2 |
| 9 | Notre Dame | 11-2 | 1,028 | -4 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 11-2 | 994 | +3 |
| 11 | Ole Miss | 10-3 | 909 | -3 |
| 12 | Utah | 10-4 | 877 | -1 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh | 11-3 | 742 | -1 |
| 14 | Wake Forest | 11-3 | 609 | +5 |
| 15 | Kentucky | 10-3 | 592 | +5 |
| 16 | Clemson | 10-3 | 528 | +6 |
| 17 | Houston | 12-2 | 510 | +4 |
| 18 | ULL | 13-1 | 502 | -1 |
| 19 | NC State | 9-3 | 453 | -1 |
| 20 | Arkansas | 9-4 | 354 | +4 |
| 21 | Oregon | 10-4 | 336 | -6 |
| 22 | BYU | 10-3 | 284 | -8 |
| 23 | Iowa | 10-4 | 276 | -7 |
| 24 | Utah State | 11-3 | 142 | +3 |
| 25 | Texas A&M | 8-4 | 133 | -2 |
Dropped from the rankings:
No. 25: Texas-San Antonio
Others receiving votes:
San Diego State 114; Wisconsin 75; Air Force 42; Minnesota 23; Texas-San Antonio 11; Coastal Carolina 7; Purdue 6; Fresno State 3; Army 1
