BCS Rankings Week 11: Arkansas and Teams That Deserve More Attention

With all the love that LSU, Alabama, Stanford, Oklahoma State and Boise State have gotten from BCS in pursuit of the national championship this year, it's been tough for the best of the rest in college football to get a word in edgewise in the prevailing conversation.

Those circumstances will continue to hold true for a number of quality teams around the country, these three included.

Arkansas

There's not much more Arkansas can do right now to boost its BCS status short of going back in time and beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

The Razorbacks have won every game except that one, including a solid 44-28 win over SEC East leader South Carolina in a matchup of Top 10 teams on Saturday. The Hogs boast the most dynamic offense in the SEC behind quarterback Tyler Wilson and a studly corps of wide receivers, led by Joe Adams and Jarius Wright.

A win over LSU in the regular season finale would go a long way toward getting Arkansas back in the national title hunt, especially if such a victory nets the team a berth in the SEC Championship Game.

Clemson

As disappointing as Clemson's 31-17 loss to Georgia Tech was last week, it should hardly be damning to its chances of cracking the BCS. The Tigers are guaranteed to represent the Atlantic Division in the ACC Championship Game if they beat Wake Forest and Georgia Tech and would strengthen their case even more with a win over South Carolina to close out the campaign.

For now, though, the "freshness" of Clemson's lone defeat may condemn it to looking up in the rankings to Virginia Tech, even though the Tigers tore apart the Hokies in Blacksburg by a score of 23-3.

That being said, Tajh Boyd and company will be in good shape to crack the BCS so long as they just keep winning.

Houston

Thanks to Houston's unbeaten run, the college football gods can comfortably claim two Rodney Dangerfield teams this season, joining Boise State in that regard.

Of course, the Cougars, as entertaining a team as they are with Heisman Trophy contender Case Keenum under center, don't really have a dog in the fight for the national title, even if they do, indeed, run the table through Conference USA and finish the season undefeated.

Should that happen, the BCS will have no choice but to extend a bid Houston's way, though the Cougs could very well get shafted with a berth in, say, the Fiesta Bowl against whatever dreck emerges from the Big East.

Not much of a proving ground, to say the least.