BCS Rankings 2013 Week 14: Full Review After Poll-Rattling Week
Somehow, college football always finds a way to sort itself out. That annual process was kicked into high gear this past weekend.
Two teams in Week 13's top five fell on Saturday.
Baylor, previously undefeated and No. 4, was crushed by Oklahoma State, 49-17. Oregon, previously No. 5, was humbled, 42-16, by Arizona.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Baylor is now ninth in the BCS, and Oregon fell all the way to No. 13.
This certainly helps simplify the bowl picture at the top of the rankings.
| 1 | Alabama (11-0) | .988 |
| 2 | Florida State (11-0) | .970 |
| 3 | Ohio State (11-0) | .920 |
| 4 | Auburn (10-1) | .824 |
| 5 | Missouri (10-1) | .808 |
| 6 | Clemson (10-1) | .773 |
| 7 | Oklahoma State (10-1) | .762 |
| 8 | Stanford (9-2) | .667 |
| 9 | Baylor (9-1) | .646 |
| 10 | South Carolina (9-2) | .610 |
| 11 | Michigan State (10-1) | .578 |
| 12 | Airzona State (9-2) | .505 |
| 13 | Oregon (9-2) | .495 |
| 14 | Northern Illinois (11-0) | .462 |
| 15 | Wisconsin (9-2) | .445 |
| 16 | Fresno State (10-0) | .412 |
| 17 | LSU (8-3) | .374 |
| 18 | Oklahoma (9-2) | .338 |
| 19 | UCF (9-1) | .336 |
| 20 | Louisville (10-1) | .252 |
| 21 | Texas A&M (8-3) | .224 |
| 22 | UCLA (8-3) | .192 |
| 23 | USC (9-3) | .178 |
| 24 | Duke (9-2) | .089 |
| 25 | Notre Dame (8-3) | .067 |
It was just a couple of weeks ago when Alabama, Florida State, Oregon, Ohio State and Baylor were all undefeated and looking like legitimate contenders for the BCS title game. With Baylor and Oregon out of the running, the title game picture has simplified.
It will be No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Florida State if those two win out.
If Alabama loses to No. 4 Auburn in the Iron Bowl, though, things could get interesting. There is a chance that No. 3 Ohio State would get snubbed in favor of a one-loss team. Still, with the way things seem to work out, my guess is that Ohio State or Florida State will pick up a surprise loss to simplify this process.
Of course, it isn't safe to write Auburn out of the equation for the title game.
Auburn (10-1) was idle this past weekend but holds the distinction of being the highest-ranked one-loss team.
Next week, it is the Iron Bowl and a showdown with No. 1 Alabama for the Tigers.
If Auburn can pull off a victory over Alabama and then a win the SEC Championship game, it is far from out of the question that the Tigers could pass Ohio State even if the Buckeyes do not lose.
Meanwhile, after an uncharacteristic poor performance, reigning Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel and his Texas A&M Aggies can forget about getting a bid for a BCS game. The Aggies fell 34-10 to No. 17 LSU, and dropped to 21st in the rankings.
Moving right into the middle of the discussion for a BCS bowl game are the No. 12 Arizona State Sun Devils.
Since losing to Notre Dame, 37-34, on Nov. 23, the Sun Devils have won six straight. That includes an impressive 38-33 road win over UCLA this Saturday.
With the win, the Sun Devils clinched the Pac-12 South title.
Of course, before getting to the Pac-12 Championship game to battle for a berth in the Rose Bowl, the Sun Devils will have to take on Rich Rodriguez's Arizona team that just whooped on Oregon.
Arizona State can lose that game and still play in the Rose Bowl by winning the conference championship game, but beating Arizona could be enough to keep the Sun Devils in the top 14, which they need in order to be eligible to grab an at-large BCS bid even if they do fall in the championship game.
The college football season is winding down, but there are still some great matchups on tap that have the potential to alter the rankings in a big way.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
