BCS Standings: Most Influential Matchups of Week 12

If a college football team isn’t ranked, it isn’t watched.

Only ballclubs favored by the BCS standings create must-watch matchups, especially at the end of the season. With the latest Top 25 released, here are the showdowns that possess the most potential to shake up the nation in Week 12.

No. 18 USC at No. 17 UCLA

This year’s Battle of LA will feature two teams still vying for a Pac-12 title and automatic BCS bid. The Trojans have come out on top in the rivals’ last five meetings and 12 of the last 13.

But while history is on USC’s side, UCLA is the hotter club riding a four-game winning streak. The Trojans, who were once national championship contenders, have lost two out of the last three.

No. 1 Kansas State at Baylor

Baylor isn’t ranked. It’s also a losing team. But if the Wildcats don’t take it seriously, their perfect record will be in jeopardy.

Collin Klein and company look well on their way to a BCS title bid. The Bears, though, will make them work for it. Sure, their defense is pitiful, but they boast the second-ranked passing attack and seventh-most points per game in the nation.

No. 13 Stanford at No. 2 Oregon

According to the Associated Press and USA Today, the Ducks are the best club in the country. They haven’t faced a team ranked as high as the Cardinal this year, though.

If it weren’t for a 17-13 hiccup at Washington, Stanford’s lone loss—and a controversial one, no less—would be to an undefeated Notre Dame in overtime. It just beat No. 11 Oregon State last week 27-23. If the Cardinal’s 12th-ranked stop unit holds Oregon to under 40 points (something that has yet to happen this year), that’d be enough to give the Ducks a scare. 

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

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels