College Football Rankings: The 10 BCS Changing Games of 2010

Every season there are games that send shock waves through the BCS rankings.

This season will be no different.

These are the ten games that will have the biggest impact on who will be playing for the crystal football in 2011.

10. UCLA over Oregon Thursday Oct. 21

The Pac 10 may not have a legitimate BCS title contender, but Oregon appears to be the closest.

To say the Ducks have had a tumultuous offseason would be an understatement. They may still be trying to figure out who is going to play quarterback for them, but every other position has talent and depth.

However on this Thursday night game, the Bruins come into town and knock off the Ducks who are looking ahead to perennial power USC.

At this point of the season the Ducks will be undefeated and the talk of college football as a possible dark horse contender for the BCS. The Bruins have had a tough preseason and are not in the BCS title hunt, but with a win over the Ducks, the BCS rankings shift significantly away from any Pac-10 school.

The Ducks drop out of the top-15 and don’t ever establish themselves as a title contender the rest of the season, and end up finishing third in the conference behind Oregon State and Stanford.

9. West Virginia over Pittsburgh Nov. 26

The annual Backyard Brawl has BCS and Heisman implications this year when Pitt, led by sophomore sensation Dion Lewis takes on rival West Virginia and senior lightning bug Noel Devine.

At this point the BCS spot from the Big East is up for grabs and Pitt has a long shot at getting into the BCS title game, but it needs a win and a big day from Lewis to impress voters.

The one loss Panthers are ranked in the top-10 in the BCS and cannot afford another slip up, especially against such a hated rival.

However, on this day, the Mountaineers and Devin put on a show in Heinz Field and destroy any hopes the Panthers have at reaching the BCS title game.

8. Boise State over Virginia Tech Mon. Sept. 6

Boise State lost the BCS buster tag after it’s win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl in 2007. The 43-42 win went a long way towards convincing people that teams like the Broncos deserve a chance at a BCS championship.

Chris Petersen enters his fifth season as the head coach at Boise. The expectations this year are higher than they have ever been. The Broncos return 20 starters and are ranked number five in the opening USA today poll.

The Broncos face a test immediately taking on ACC powerhouse Virginia Tech. If the Broncos are going to live up the hype they need to shut down a well-coached VA Tech team, led by coaching legend Frank Beamer.

The Broncos look impressive in a decisive opening season win over the Hokies, beating Beamer with a physical gameplan. The win catapults the Broncos to number three in the BCS just behind Ohio State and Alabama.

7. Baylor over TCU Sept. 18

TCU is another possible non-automatic qualifier who could make some noise in the BCS.

The Horned Frogs are ranked seventh in the preseason USA today poll and come off a season that saw them play in a BCS bowl against Boise State. This season they are looking for more.

Baylor has not had a successful decade. But there is hope. Robert Griffin returns after missing all of last season due to injury.

Will this help the Bears? Yes. Will it change football at Baylor? No.

Robert Griffin puts on a show against the Horned Frogs and topples TCU’s BCS chances with a single game.

6. Georgia over Georgia Tech Nov. 27

Last season, Georgia Tech proved that the triple option is still relevant in modern college football. This season, they show it can thrive.

The Yellow Jackets return the most important player in college football; quarterback Josh Nesbitt. With the triple option running wild, Georgia Tech has run out to an undefeated season and need a win over Georgia to put themselves within an ACC championship game of a BCS championship.

Georgia has had a tough season, shuffling quarterbacks has shown that the Dawgs are vulnerable, but on this day everything clicks.

Georgia puts a hurting on Tech holding the team to under 100 yards for the first time all season and ruin the Yellow Jackets chances at a BCS title game.

5. Alabama over Florida Oct. 2

Alabama and Florida have won each of the last two BCS championships. The Gators, led by Tim Tebow won in 2009, the Tide and Heisman winner Mark Ingram won this January.

Florida may be breaking in a new quarterback, but their team depth and skill keep them in the discussion, much like USC from the past decade they seem to be able to plug in players and continue to compete for BCS titles.

Alabama is still extremely dangerous coming off their season last year.

The winner of this battle of SEC powers will cement itself with the inside track to reach the BCS championship game.

In the end, Bama proves it is ready to keep rolling and the Gators show that they are still a year away from being considered a favorite.

4. Nebraska over Texas Oct. 16

Texas lost a heartbreaker in the BCS title game a year ago because Colt McCoy got injured early. That single injury changed the complexion of the entire game. However, it did give the Long Horns a chance to get freshman Garrett Gilbert some action against the best talent in college football.

Gilbert didn’t disappoint, but he is still young and will face adversity.

Nebraska has one of the most fearsome defenses in the country, even with the loss of Ndamukong Suh.

Despite the fact that Texas is talented and highly ranked, this game goes a long way to showing the nation that Gilbert needs time.

Nebraska just about kills Gilbert and forces five turnovers from the sophomore. The loss drops Texas out of the top-10 BCS rankings and kills all momentum the Longhorns had.

3. Boise State over Oregon State Sept. 25

Boise State already proved earlier in the season that they can play with the big boys. Now is their chance to cement themselves as a clear-cut favorite for the BCS title game.

This time they take on Pac-10 dark horse Oregon State who is led by the Rodgers brothers; James and Jaquizz.

The offensive fireworks fly on both sides of this one, but in the end the experience of Boise quarterback Kellen Moore tips the scales in favor of the Broncos.

The win gives them an inside track at the BCS title game.

2. Penn State over Alabama Sept. 11

The reason Boise has an inside track at a BCS title game is because of the monumental upset in this September 11 matchup.

Penn State always seems to be a team that people count out, that surpasses expectations with a few big wins. This win is not just big, it’s huge.

The loss for Bama drops them out of the top-10 BCS rankings and opens the door for Boise to prove it deserves a chance to play for the crystal football.

1. Iowa over Ohio State Nov. 20

No game has more BCS implications than this matchup between the two best teams in the Big -10.

Iowa has not lived up to they hype so far this season, but they are still a very talented team led by quarterback Ricky Stanzi.

Ohio State has been considered the favorite ever since Alabama went down to Penn State (a team that the Buckeyes beat easily).

However, this game goes a long way to proving just how crazy college football is. Iowa forces four turnovers by Heisman favorite Terrell Pryor, including a pick six.

The loss for the Buckeyes means they are Rose Bowl bound instead of BCS championship bound.

Boise is headed to the title game against a team to be determined after the conference championships.