BCS Standings 2012: Teams That Are in Position to Make Late-Season Moves

Time is running out for college football teams to move up the polls. As the regular season winds down, the number of chances to make an impact, both with the voters and the computers, begin to diminish and hopes are dashed on a weekly basis.

There are still a handful of squads in position to make their presence felt heading into Week 11, though. Let's take a look at three teams currently ranked outside the top five that are still worth keeping an eye on over the regular season's final month.

No. 8 South Carolina

Losing star running back Marcus Lattimore has caused a lot of people to write off the Gamecocks. They are actually in pretty good shape, though. South Carolina faces an Arkansas team that's underachieved all season and an overmatched Wofford squad in the next two weeks.

As long as the RB committee led by Kenny Miles can avoid a total meltdown of the rushing attack, the Gamecocks should be able to survive those two games unscathed. That would setup a huge road matchup against No. 13 Clemson in the finale.

By that point, the entire South Carolina offense should be settled into their post-Lattimore roles and prepared for the challenge. Having faced SEC competition will also work in the Gamecocks' favor against Clemson from the weaker ACC.

No. 10 Florida State

Florida State players probably still spend time thinking about what could have been if they didn't slip up against NC State last month, but they have to focus on the future because the outlook is still promising. All hope is certainly not lost.

The Seminoles, which rank third in both scoring offense and scoring defense, have road tests against Virginia Tech and Maryland over the next two weeks. They need to win both in order to maintain their stranglehold in the ACC Atlantic.

After that, they finish the season with a rivalry clash against No. 6 Florida. That's where Florida State can make a huge jump up the rankings. Even though a lot will depend on how other top teams finish, it's hard not to like the Seminoles' BCS chances.

No. 19 USC

Losses to Arizona and Oregon over the past two weeks have the Trojans reeling, but they must recover quickly because they aren't out of it yet. Between the Pac-12 race and finishing against Notre Dame, there's a lot left to play for.

First on the list, however, is a matchup with Arizona State. The Sun Devils are on a three-game losing streak, so USC should be catching them at the right time. A sizable victory is necessary so the Trojans can reestablish themselves as a threat.

A win in that game would give them a chance to claim the South division crown against UCLA, likely earning them another shot at No. 3 Oregon in the Pac-12 title game. Add in a game against No. 4 Notre Dame and the opportunities are readily available for USC to make a move.

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