CINCINNATI— While Ohio State fans up in Columbus debate whether their team is the best in the Big 10, folks down south are asking a much different question three games into the season: Who’s the best team in Ohio?

Buckeyes? Or Bearcats?
In years past, it would have been a ludicrous question. But Cincinnati’s impressive 3-0 record and Ohio State’s 2-1 start have left the two teams nearly dead-even in this week’s Top 25 poll. Ohio State is No. 13, followed by Cincinnati.
Bearcats running back Isaiah Pead grew up in Columbus, broke Archie Griffin’s rushing records at his high school there, and chose Cincinnati over Ohio State. Pead said on Tuesday that the Bearcats are the state’s best right now and would win a head-to-head game.