COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Almost every major-college coach says he doesn't care about the polls, for fear others will think they're distracted.

Ohio State's Urban Meyer is not like most other coaches.

Meyer says he talks to his team about its ranking as a way to gauge how far the Buckeyes have come and where they have yet to go. Ohio State (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) is up to No. 8 this week after beating ranked opponents the past two games.

With Ohio State banned from playing in a bowl, being in the Bowl Championship Series picture or even listed in the coaches' poll due to NCAA sanctions, the Associated Press Top 25 offers a bit of incentive for a team with limited time to prove itself.