Inside Greg Luca's AP Top 25 ballot: Backup quarterback shortfall crushes would-be contenders

Even after Saturday's 30-18 loss at USC, Ohio State theoretically should still have a decent case at ranking in the top 15, or potentially the top 10. The Buckeyes' losses are to new No. 18 USC and by one point at No. 10 Texas, and they hold wins over No. 6 Indiana and No. 21 Iowa. But among some other cracks that have started to emerge in Ohio State's armor, one weakness stands out as the most glaring: the loss of starting quarterback Julian Sayin to a season-ending injury.