Ohio State put together a strong finish -- one that saw the Buckeyes dismantle a surging Michigan team, then claim the Big Ten championship with a convincing win over Northwestern.
But I still don't think it was enough to leapfrog Oklahoma. The Sooners did just the same, winning their regular-season finale over West Virginia and avenging their only loss in the Big 12 title game.
Does Oklahoma stand a chance against Alabama? Probably not, but it's hard to forget OSU's 29-point loss to a 7-win Purdue team.
Which is why my ballot this week included Oklahoma at No.