College Football Top 25: Toughest Road To BCS National Championship

The 2008 college football season is just around the corner.  It is time to look at the early top 25 teams.  Each team has a different path to a berth in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game in Miami.  Some are harder than others. 

Let's take a look at these teams and the opponents they play.  Who has the toughest road to Miami?  Who has control of their destiny?

The list below uses the ESPN Top 25 last updated on June 25.

25. BYU

Key Games: @ Washington, UCLA, @TCU, @ Utah

Perfect Scenario: Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, Florida, Clemson, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Missouri, Auburn, Texas, and LSU all lose at least one game. 

Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, and Florida lose two games.  BYU wins all games.

24. Fresno State

Key Games: Wisconsin, @UCLA

Perfect Scenario: All teams mentioned above lose at least one game as well as BYU, Tennessee, Arizona State, Wisconsin, Kansas, Illinois, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Oregon, and Wake Forest. 

Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, Florida, Clemson, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Missouri, and Auburn lose two games.  Fresno State wins all games including Wisconsin.

23. Pittsburgh

Key Games: @Notre Dame, West Virginia

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through Illinois all lose at least one game.  Georgia through Auburn lose two games.  Pittsburgh wins all games including West Virginia.

22. West Virginia

Key Games: @Colorado, Auburn, @Pittsburgh

Perfect Scenario: Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, Florida, and Clemson all lose at least one game.  West Virginia wins all games including Pittsburgh.

21. Wake Forest

Key Games: @Florida State, Clemson, @Miami(FL), Virginia

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through Oregon all lose at least one game.  Georgia through Auburn lose two games. Wake Forest wins all games including Clemson and ACC championship game.

20. Clemson

Key Games: Alabama, @Wake Forest, @Florida State, @Virginia

Perfect Scenario: Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, and Florida all lose at least one game.  Clemson wins all games and ACC championship game.

19. Virginia Tech

Key Games: @Florida State, @Miami(FL), Virginia

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through Pittsburgh all lose at least one game.  Georgia through Auburn lose two games.  Virginia Tech wins all games and ACC championship game.

18. USC

Key Games: Ohio State, Oregon, Arizona State, Notre Dame

Perfect Scenario: Georgia, Ohio State, and Oklahoma all lose at least one game.  USC wins all games including Ohio State.

17. Ohio State

Key Games: @USC, @Wisconsin, Penn State, @Illinois, Michigan

Perfect Scenario: Georgia loses a game.  Ohio State wins all games including USC and Michigan.

16. Notre Dame

Key Games: @Michigan State, Pittsburgh, @USC

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through Oregon all lose at least one game as well as Wake Forest, Fresno State, and Penn State.  Georgia through Auburn lose two games.  Notre Dame wins all games including Pittsburgh and USC.

15. Oregon

Key Games: @USC, @Arizona State, @California

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through Virginia Tech all lose at least one game.  Georgia through Auburn lose two games.  Oregon wins all games including USC and Arizona State.

14. Wisconsin

Key Games: @Fresno State, Ohio State, Penn State, Illinois

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through Arizona State all lose at least one game.  Georgia through Florida lose two games.  Wisconsin wins all games including Ohio State.

13. Penn State

Key Games: Illinois, @Wisconsin, Michigan, @Ohio State

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through Fresno State all lose at least one game.  Georgia through Auburn lose two games.  Penn State wins all games including Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ohio State.

12. Arizona State

Key Games: Georgia, @California, @USC, Oregon

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through Tennessee all lose at least one game.  Georgia through Florida lose two games.  Arizona State wins all games including Georgia and USC.

11. Missouri

Key Games: Illinois, @Texas, Kansas

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through Texas Tech all lose at least one game.  Missouri wins all games including Big 12 championship game.

10. Oklahoma

Key Games: Texas, Kansas, Texas Tech

Perfect Scenario: Georgia and Ohio State each lose one game.  Oklahoma wins all games including Big 12 championship game.

9. Illinois

Key Games: @Missouri, @Penn State, @Wisconsin, Ohio State

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through Kansas all lose at least one game.  Georgia through Auburn lose two games.  Illinois wins all games including Missouri, Wisconsin, and Ohio State.

8. Texas Tech

Key Games: @Kansas, Texas, @Oklahoma

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through West Virginia all lose one game.  Texas Tech wins all games including Oklahoma and Big 12 championship game.

7. Florida

Key Games: Miami(FL), @Tennessee, LSU, @Georgia, @Florida State

Perfect Scenario: Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and USC all lose one game.  Florida wins all games including Georgia and SEC championship game.

6. LSU

Key Games: @Auburn, @Florida, Georgia

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through Texas all lose at least one game.  Georgia through Florida lose two games.  LSU wins all games including Auburn, Florida, Georgia, and SEC championship game.

5. Auburn

Key Games: LSU, Tennessee, @West Virginia, Georgia

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through Missouri all lose at least one game.  Auburn wins all games including West Virginia, Georgia, and SEC championship game.

4. Tennessee

Key Games: Florida, @Auburn, @Georgia

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through BYU all lose at least one game.  Georgia through Florida lose two games.  Tennessee wins all games including Florida, Auburn, Georgia, and SEC championship game.

3. Texas

Key Games: @Oklahoma, Missouri, @Texas Tech, Kansas

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through Auburn all lose at least one game.  Texas wins all games including Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas Tech, and Big 12 championship game.

2. Kansas

Key Games: @Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas, @ Missouri

Perfect Scenario: Georgia through Wisconsin all lose at least one game.  Georgia through Auburn lose two games.  Kansas wins all games including Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas, Missouri, and Big 12 championship game.

And the toughest road to Miami is....

1. Georgia

Key Games: @Arizona State, Tennessee, @LSU, Florida, @Auburn

Perfect Scenario: Georgia wins all games including SEC championship game.