BCS Rankings: Teams That Will Continue to Climb in Standings

If I could think of a way for Alabama to rise past No. 1, they would be on this list as the Crimson Tide do nothing but continue to impress. 

As it is, they are getting enough accolades. This list will be for teams that are creeping up the rankings, and there are certainly a few of those—like the following three. 

*Full BCS Week 9 standings can be found on ESPN, and the Top 25 can be viewed below. 

No. 8 Oklahoma

The Sooners are rolling. Since suffering a 24-19 loss to Kansas State, Oklahoma has rattled off three-straight wins by the combined score of 156-48. Sure, there most recent win was a 52-7 laugher over lowly Kansas, but the two wins prior came against Texas Tech and Texas. 

Oklahoma is putting up some huge offensive numbers. Quarterback Landry Jones has been playing brilliantly and he carries a quarterback rating of 143.7, but it is the defense that guarantees this team will continue to roll. 

Oklahoma is 12th in the nation in points allowed with a 15.3 points per game average. That defense is playing solid against the rush and pass. They are allowing just 3.8 yards per carry and opposing quarterbacks have thrown eight interceptions to just three touchdowns. 

Next up for Oklahoma is undefeated Notre Dame, but Oklahoma will get this game at home and I am calling for the upset as the struggling Irish offense will not be able to keep up with the Sooners.

At that point, the Sooners will be in position to run the table to finish the regular season. 

No. 15 Rutgers

Playing in the terrible Big East, it is hard to know just how good this undefeated Rutgers team is. 

However, their schedule is full of more weak Big East foes. Rutgers' biggest test will come at the end of the year as two of their last three games come against the other two teams undefeated in conference play: Cincinnati and Louisville. 

I like Rutgers in both those contests because the Scarlet Knights are third in the nation in points allowed, surrendering just 2.4 yards per carry and they have 13 interceptions to just six touchdown passes allowed.

That defense will pave the way in the big showdowns, and Rutgers should cruise in their two games leading up to that big stretch with contests against Kent State and Army. All of which could set up for a potentially messy situation at the end of the year, as this team would be undefeated in the just stated scenario, but likely still on the outside looking in at the BCS title game. 

No. 21 Boise State

This is not the high-flying Broncos we've all grown accustomed to in recent years, but this is a solid and complete team that is on a six-game winning streak. 

While this Broncos' offense is competent, it is the defense that is really leading the way. They are sixth in the nation in points allowed, and they would have had a shutout last week against UNLV were it not for a late fumble that the Rebels returned for an otherwise meaningless score. 

That contest was actually the fifth straight game where the Broncos held their opponents scoreless for the entire first half. 

Boise State has nothing but winnable games remaining in its regular season and it would be a surprise if they did not run the table. 

Week 9 BCS Standings

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