Projected 2011 BCS Standings: How Top 25 Teams in College Football Shape Up

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As Saturday night concludes in college football, we are entering the stage of separating the contenders from the pretenders. 

With Sunday bringing out the first BCS standings, fans around the country will see where their teams rank and the projections of which bowl they may be going to.

So before the standings are released, here are the projected standings of the top-25 teams in college football. The bottom-15 teams are listed below with the top 10 teams following. 

 

Dropped from Rankings: Baylor 20, Illinois 16   

25.) Texas (4-2)

24.) Ohio State (4-3)

23.) Washington (5-1)

22.) Arizona State (5-2)

21.) Houston (6-0)

20.) Auburn (5-2)

19.) Texas A&M (4-2)

18.) Georgia Tech (6-1)

17.) Michigan (6-1)

16.) Michigan State (5-1)

15.) Virginia Tech (6-1)

14.) Kansas State (6-0)

13.) South Carolina (6-1)

12.) Nebraska (5-1)

11.) West Virginia (5-1)

10. Arkansas Razorbacks

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With no game this Saturday, the Razorbacks remain in the top 10. 

A loss to Alabama does hurt Arkansas' chances to get into a BCS bowl since they have to hope teams above them start losing. 

Their final game against LSU should give them a shot at changing their current position in the rankings and make a great case to enter a bowl game.

9. Oregon Ducks

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It wasn't pretty but the Oregon Ducks beat Arizona State on Saturday night. Perhaps more important is the status of quarterback Darron Thomas, who came out of the game in the third quarter. 

With LaMichael James already injured, the Ducks are still finding ways to win games. The true matchup against Stanford will decide the fate of both teams. 

8. Clemson Tigers

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The Clemson Tigers are on the rise. With wins against then-ranked Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech, the 7-0 Tigers control its own destiny to reach the ACC championship and possibly a BCS bowl.

The coaching staff at Clemson has done an extraordinary job of preparing the team each week. The comeback win at Maryland proved how this team is capable of winning football games.

Expect the Tigers to remain at the top of the ACC.

7. Stanford Cardinal

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With Andrew Luck still running the show, the Cardinals have had an easy first seven weeks.

Now that Jim Harbaugh is gone, Luck and company will have to face Washington, USC and Oregon in the upcoming weeks to prove whether or not they are a legitimate top-10 team. 

If they can go undefeated and have some teams fall ahead of them, expect the front-runner in the Heisman race to lead his team to the national championship.

6. Boise State Broncos

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As the same situation arises from the last couple of years, Boise State needs teams above them to lose in order to get to the national championship. 

Quarterback and Heisman candidate Kellen Moore has been amazing over the first seven weeks of the season. The Broncos' impressive win against then-No. 19 Georgia was perhaps their toughest matchup of the season.

Expect the Broncos to continue to score as many points to their opponents in hopes of moving up.

5. Oklahoma State Cowboys

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The Cowboys should move up after an impressive win against the Longhorns Saturday. With a win at then-No. 8 Texas A&M, the top offense in all of college football has demonstrated they know how to win.

A somewhat difficult schedule still holds Oklahoma State from where they might be come December, but if they continue to score more points than their opponents this team can go far.

4. Wisconsin Badgers

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The Badgers are the team that everyone should be afraid of. Currently on the bubble, Wisconsin needs to hope for any of the top-three teams to lose so they can move themselves up into consideration the BCS championship game.

With a 59-7 win Saturday against Indiana, Russell Wilson and that balanced offense seem to be on pace to go undefeated. A top-three offense and defense also helps the cause of perhaps jumping one of the teams above. 

If they can run up the score on opposing teams, the Badgers should be able to jump teams above them and reach the national championship. 

3. Oklahoma Sooners

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Although a 47-17 win at Kansas wasn't pretty, the Sooners control their own destiny to reach the BCS national championship.

They deserve the No. 3 spot with wins against then-No. 5 Florida State and the win in the Cotton bowl against then-No. 11 Texas.

If coach Bob Stoops keeps his team on pace, they can reach their matchup against Oklahoma State for a shot at playing for the national championship.  

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

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An easy 52-7 road win on Saturday against the Rebels only legitimized why the Crimson Tide should be ranked No. 2 in the land.

With 11 rushing touchdowns, the Heisman candidate Trent Richardson is on pace to have a monstrous year. At the same time, having allowed the fewest points over the first seven weeks in all of college football makes Nick Saban's team a contender for the BCS championship

Alabama should start setting their eyes on the matchup against the LSU Tigers.

1. LSU Tigers

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The No. 1 ranking in the country should belong to the Tigers. Coach Les Miles squad is 7-0 with road wins at Mississippi State, West Virginia and Tennessee. At the same time, LSU beat the then-No. 3 team in the country, the Oregon Ducks, on a neutral field and the Florida Gators at home.

Having a great defense doesn't hurt either. With star defensive cornerback Tyrann Mathieu leading the team, the Tigers are perhaps the best defensive unit in the country. 

It's seems Alabama and LSU are set to meet undefeated on Nov. 5 for the possible chance to represent the SEC in the BCS national championship game.