BCS Rankings: How the BCS Rankings Compare To the AP, Coaches Polls

The BCS Rankings for 2010 are finally out after eight weeks of speculation.

Even before the shakeup at No. 1 that has occurred the past two weekends—there has been plenty of complaints about the positioning at the top. Mix in a third different ranking system and the landscape is even murkier.

Inside, we try to make some sense of the rankings.

Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1)

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MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 16: Terrelle Pryor #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rushes against Kevin Claxton #37 of the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin defeated Ohio State 31-18. (Photo by Jonathan Da

BCS: 10th

AP: 11th

Coaches/USA Today: 10th

Last Week: 31-18 loss at Wisconsin

Next Week: Vs. Purdue

Analysis: The Buckeyes blew an opportunity to open the BCS rankings season at the top. But, because the loss was on the road against a ranked conference opponent, they didn't fall that far.

Although they do have to travel next month to Iowa, Ohio State doesn't have to tangle with the undefeated Michigan State Spartans. At least a share of the Big 10 Title is still a possibility—if they win out and the Spartans lose twice.

But a BCS Title Game appearance would be a near-impossibility at this point. There just aren't enough big-time opponents left on their schedule.

Utah Utes (6-0)

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FORT WORTH, TX - NOVEMBER 14: Quarterback Jordan Wynn #3 of the Utah Utes reacts in the second quarter of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium on November 14, 2009 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

BCS: 9th

AP: 9th

Coaches/USA Today: 9th

Last Week: 30-6, win at Wyoming

Next Week: Vs. Colorado State

Analysis: With Boise State and TCU carrying the flag for the non-major conferences, the Utes have snuck well under the radar.

The silver lining, however, is that Utah will play the Horned Frogs on November 6th at home. A win there would put them in the drivers seat for the Mountain West title and give them a chance to climb in, assuming no other team finishes undefeated.

Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1)

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COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 9: Running back Trent Richardson #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide returns a kick against the South Carolina Gamecocks October 9, 2010 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

BCS: 8th

AP: 7th

Coaches/USA Today: 7th

Last Week: 23-10 Vs. Ole Miss

Next Week: at Tennessee

Analysis: The Crimson Tide are far from out of it, despite their loss to South Carolina. Unlike the one-loss Buckeyes, one-loss Alabama, still has two, possibly three, enormous ranked games left on their schedule.

Obviously, wins over No. 6 LSU and No. 4 Auburn would spring them inside the Top 3. That would be enough to earn the Tide a bid in the SEC Title Game. A repeat triumph there would assure them a spot in the BCS Championship.

Michigan State Spartans (7-0)

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ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 09: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Michigan State Spartans rolls out to pass as Ryan Van Bergen #53 of the Michigan Wolverines attempts to make the sack during the game on October 9, 2010 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Mi

BCS: 7th

AP:  8th

Coaches/USA Today: 8th

Last Week: 26-6 win vs. Illinois

Next Week: at Northwestern

Analysis: Although they don't play OSU, the Buckeyes loss will greatly help Michigan State in their bid for the most unlikely BCS title appearance of all time. Because they don't have to play OSU, the path is cleared for them to win the Big Ten title outright. That could be a factor in the season-ending polls.

The Spartans will still have to catch some help, however. It is unlikely that an undefeated Big Ten team supplants Pac-10 (Oregon) and SEC teams (LSU or Auburn) that are also undefeated. They should edge out any of the non-major conference teams (TCU, Boise State, or Utah) if they all finish without a loss.

LSU Tigers (7-0)

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BATON ROUGE, LA - SEPTEMBER 25: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State Univeristy Tigers runs for a touchdown against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Tiger Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Ima

BCS: 6th

AP: 6th

Coaches/USA Today: 6th

Last Week: 32-10 win vs. McNeese State

Next Week: at No. 4 Auburn

Analysis: LSU is the only case in which the Coaches, the AP and the BCS are all in sync, which is a bit ironic, considering that the Tigers are such a conundrum.

The Tigers do control their own destiny, they take on No. 4 Auburn next week then host No. 8 Alabama. It's always tough to leap frog teams, but wins in those games should be enough to push LSU into the 1st or 2nd spot.

TCU Horned Frogs (7-0)

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FORT WORTH, TX - OCTOBER 16: Cornerback Elisha Olabode #6 of the TCU Horned Frogs celebrates with starting quarterback Andy Dalton #14 after TCU beat the BYU Cougars 31-3 at Amon G. Carter Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom

BCS: 5th

AP: 3th

Coaches/USA Today: 4th

Last Week: 31-3 win vs. BYU

Next Week: Vs. Air Force

Analysis: TCU had been riding high in the polls, but slips a bit in the BCS. The Horned Frogs have done a fine job on defense, allowing just three points in the last three games and they've allowed 10 points or less  in all but two games this season. But, strength of schedule really hurts them in the BCS rankings.

Their only noteworthy victory this season came in the opener against then-24th-ranked Oregon State, who is now middle-of-road at 3-3. A win later this year over Utah should assure the Horned Frogs a BCS bowl berth, but not a title game appearance. Even an undefeated TCU team is less appealing to a one-loss team from the Pac-10, SEC, or Big 10.

Auburn Tigers (7-0)

Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

AUBURN, AL - OCTOBER 16: Quarterback Cam Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers throws a pass during the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)

BCS: 4th

AP: 5th

Coaches/USA Today: 5th

Last Week: 65-43 Vs. Arkansas

Next Week: Vs. No. 6 LSU

Analysis: The Tigers picked a great time to wow voters and viewers. They put up 65 points against a ranked SEC team and Cam Newton gives them the star power that makes them an appealing team in the BCS.

Although the top three teams in the BCS do not come from the SEC, by winning out the Tigers all by are assured of a spot in the BCS Title Game: wins over LSU, Alabama and whoever they would face in the SEC title game would be enough to spring them into the top one or two spots.

A one-loss Auburn: that is a much more difficult landscape to mitigate.

Boise State Broncos (6-0)

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BOISE, ID - SEPTEMBER 25: Wide receiver Titus Young #1 of the Boise State Broncos runs the ball against the Oregon State Beavers at Bronco Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Otto Kitsinger III/Getty Images)

BCS: 3rd

AP: 2nd

Coaches/USA Today: 2nd

Last Week: 48-0 at San Jose State

Next Week: at Louisiana Tech

Analysis: The Broncos number three spot in the BCS is the most curious of all the initial rankings. The undefeated WAC team is behind only an undefeated PAC-10 and an undefeated Big 12 team but ahead of two undefeated SEC teams.

It's almost as if the BCS computers split the difference. The Broncos can have the runner-up spot in the polls, but still have something to prove—maybe it's the other teams that have something to prove.

Not having another ranked opponent (ranked at this point) on their schedule will really hurt them, should two teams in the "power conferences" finish undefeated as well as the Broncos.

Oregon Ducks (6-0)

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EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 2: Wide receiver Jeff Maehl #23, quarterback Darron Thomas #1 and wide receiver Lavasier Tuinei #80 of the Oregon Ducks celebrate after Thomas scored a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Autzen

BCS: 2nd

AP: 1st

Coaches/USA Today: 1st

Last Week: Idle

Next Week: Vs. UCLA (Thursday)

Analysis: The Ducks reward for sitting this week: a first-ever number one ranking in the AP Poll. Still, the Ducks have reason to complain since they don't nail down the top spot in the BCS.

And while Oregon is certainly deserving of their number one ranking in the AP, their strength of schedule isn't strong enough to earn the top BCS spot. Aside from their impressive home win over No. 9 Stanford, the Ducks don't have a win over another team with a winning record.

Wins against Arizona (ranked No. 18 as of today) and at USC wouldn't exactly be earth-shattering. But since they currently hold down the No. 2 spot—it would be enough to lockup a national championship berth.

But, they better plan on finishing undefeated, because they don't have the resume to supplant a one loss-SEC team and/or an undefeated WAC or Mountain West team.

Oklahoma Sooners (6-0)

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DALLAS - OCTOBER 02: Quarterback Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners drops back to pass against the Texas Longhorns in the second quarter at the Cotton Bowl on October 2, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

BCS: 1st

AP: 3rd

Coaches/USA Today: 3rd

Last Week: 52-0 Vs. Iowa State

Next Week: at No. 11 Missouri

Analysis: This is a fairly stunning ranking. The Sooners greatly benefited from the Longhorns win over Nebraska and Florida State's comeback win over Boston College. If those two teams had lost in Week 8, there's a good chance the Sooners do not grab the top spot in the BCS polls.

The Sooners can validate their surprising spot next week however by defeating the Tigers.  Ironically, that win could hurt them in the long run. They may end up playing Mizzou again in the Big 12 title game.