College Football Rankings 2012: Teams That Will Soon Crack the Top 25

The Big 12 won't be able to control the bottom of the BCS Top 25 for long.

In the first edition of this year's controversial rankings, TCU checks in at No. 23, Iowa State at 24 and Texas at 25. None of those schools are ranked in the AP Top 25. 

As TCU begins to feel the effects from losing quarterback Casey Pachall (the team is already 1-1 without him) and Iowa State and Texas continue to fight through a daunting schedule, it's pretty clear all three teams won't be in the BCS picture for long.

Let's take a look at what teams will be the first to capitalize.

Note: A complete look at the Top 25 rankings can be found at the bottom of this page. 

Michigan Wolverines 

The Big Ten is down this year and it's understandable that the Wolverines, who are currently No. 23 in the AP Poll, didn't get enough love from the computers to crack the initial BCS Top 25. However, it won't take long for Brady Hoke's squad to move up a couple of spots.

Michigan hosts rival Michigan State this week and then travels to Lincoln to take on Nebraska, both of which it should be favored in. Again, while those aren't necessarily the wins they used to be, they also aren't wins against South East Northern State and the University of Western Maine. 

The Spartans are still a solid defensive team and while the Cornhuskers couldn't stop me from scoring a few touchdowns on them, Taylor Martinez and company are tough to stop on the other end.

Two straight wins for Michigan will undoubtedly have the Wolverines back in the Top 25. 

Ohio Bobcats

Speaking of teams that aren't going to get love from the computers...

Ohio, thanks to being a part of the MAC, barely cracked the AP Top 25 despite seven straight wins to start the season, but it won't be long before it also enters the BCS rankings.

As long as the Bobcats keep winning and slowly moving up the human polls, they should, at the very least, be able to pass up the fringe teams with three and four losses. The University of Houston—from the powerhouse that is the Conference USA—proved that theory last season.

Take that, robots!

Arizona State Sun Devils

The Sun Devils, who are No. 24 in the Coaches Poll but still unranked in the AP, feel like they've gotten a lack of respect after starting the season 5-1.

Well, they are about to get plenty of chances to prove their worth. 

After Todd Graham's team welcomes the No. 3 Oregon Ducks, they host UCLA and take off to Corvallis to battle Oregon State. If the Devils beat UCLA and find a way to upset one of the Oregon schools, they will be in good shape for the BCS.

Two losses isn't ideal, but a Top-10 win and a 5-1 record in a Pac-12 conference that ranks highly with the computers should be plenty.

Here are the season's first BCS standings after seven weeks of college football.

WEEK 8 BCS STANDINGS
1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Oregon
4. Kansas State
5. Notre Dame
6. LSU
7. South Carolina
8. Oregon State
9. Oklahoma
10. USC
11. Georgia
12. Mississippi State
13. West Virginia
14. Florida State
15. Rutgers
16. Louisville
17. Texas Tech
18. Texas A&M
19. Clemson
20. Stanford
21. Cincinnati
22. Boise State
23. TCU
24. Iowa State
25. Texas