BCS Rankings: 10 1-Loss Teams That Still Have a Prime Chance at a BCS Title
As it stands today, 12 one-loss teams still stand in the BCS poll. Only 10 have a realistic chance at claiming a spot in one of the most prestigious bowls.
It’s been a wild college football season, which seems to be the trend anymore. So let’s review which of these one-loss wonders might look the best overall once the dust settles.
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No. 10: Michigan State
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Sorry, Sparty. We all enjoyed the ride, but after running into the Iowa buzzsaw, Michigan State is on the outside looking in. The good news is that, if the Spartans win out, there still is hope.
None of MSU’s remaining opposition is ranked in the BCS poll (Minnesota, Purdue, Penn State), but if the Spartans can win out, they’ll be sitting at 11-1. That’s a solid resume for an at-large BCS pick, if not the conference champion.
No. 9: Arizona
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The Wildcats’ only blemish is a two-point squeaker versus Oregon State. To this point, Arizona owns a win over BCS No. 16 Iowa and has the opportunity to knock off No. 13 Stanford this weekend.
To be the man, you gotta beat the man. If Arizona wants to soar, it has the ultimate opportunity.
The Wildcats take on No. 1 Oregon. But they have to travel to Auzten Stadium in an attempt to do the unthinkable and knock off the Ducks.
No. 8: Stanford
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The Cardinal have rebounded from their tangle with Oregon well enough, including last weekend’s pasting of the Washington Huskies.
If they’re going to make a statement for the BCS, then they need to do it now.
No. 15 Arizona comes to town this weekend. If the Wildcats can be tamed and the Cardinal win out, an Oregon loss might just push the right buttons for Jim Harbaugh’s bunch.
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No. 7: Wisconsin
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Wisconsin knows a little something about knocking off No. 1.
Wisky’s 31-18 win over Ohio State provided back-to-back losses for the team at the top of the polls.
A win over No. 16 Iowa certainly didn’t damage their reputation at all.
That nasty 34-24 loss to Michigan State, when the Spartans were red hot earlier in the season, did.
What’s a Badger to do?
No currently-ranked BCS teams are on the schedule, but Wisconsin is in a dead-heat race with Michigan State and Ohio State for the Big Ten crown.
Win out and the Badgers can be proud of their BCS slate, even short of perfection.
No. 6: Ohio State
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Ohio State was at the top of the polls, things were running just fine and then, bam, another solid Big Ten team comes along and drops the Buckeyes.
Same song, different verse, no?
The Buckeyes’ most notable win is over the Miami Hurricanes. That looked a lot better when Miami was ranked No. 12, rather than being, well, just rank.
Ohio State has faced only one BCS-ranked opponent (Wisconsin) and lost.
OSU has a chance for a little redemption taking on Iowa in Iowa City. But if the Hawkeyes topple the Bucks, then Ohio State can kiss the BCS and the conference title goodbye.
No. 5: Missouri
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Did someone get the name of that truck?
While Blaine Gabbert is still shaking the cobwebs loose from Missouri’s recent tumble, the Tigers still have an impressive BCS resume.
The computers love Missouri and what’s not to love? Blowout wins dot the schedule, along with a 27-24 struggle with a solid San Diego State team (currently 6-2).
Knocking off then-No. 1 Oklahoma in Columbia was a treat.
Despite the Cornhuskers taking out their frustrations on the Tigers, they still have a path to glory.
If Nebraska stumbles, thanks to a Big Red loss to Texas, Missouri sneaks into the Big 12 championship game. With a title in hand, a major BCS bid would await.
No. 4: LSU
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If you’re headed to Las Vegas, take Les Miles.
“The Hat” has easily been the luckiest man in college football, as LSU continues to conjure up one minor miracle after another.
The wins over ranked teams piled up, but the teams themselves continued to tank. Thus, no BCS-ranked teams are working in the Tigers’ favor.
Miles couldn’t luck his way past BCS-No. 2 Auburn last week, but there’s good news…kinda.
No. 6 Alabama comes to town and if LSU beats Bama and then wins out, a likely BCS-ranked team awaits in the SEC championship.
As we all know, the SEC champion is treated royally in the BCS court.
No. 3: Oklahoma
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While the Sooners do have a loss to their name, it couldn’t have been to a better team.
The computers love Missouri and if Oklahoma wins out, it will have toppled BCS No. 18 Oklahoma State and No. 22 Baylor.
Beating Baylor is no small task anymore and Bedlam is always a toss-up.
For the Sooners to have a chance at BCS glory, nothing short of perfection is key from here on out. That includes another Big 12 championship trophy.
No. 2: Nebraska
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Welcome back to the conversation, Cornhuskers.
Nebraska’s win over the Missouri Tigers gave the Cornhuskers major BCS credibility, causing them to leap from No. 14 to No. 7 in one week.
If Nebraska wins out and takes home its first Big 12 championship since 1999, the Cornhuskers would have a prime BCS spot waiting for them.
If the chips fall correctly, the Huskers may even sneak into the title game a la 2001.
That would be a nice way to say “sayonara” to the Big 12, wouldn’t it?
No. 1: Alabama
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Alabama clinches a spot in the title game if it wins out. Wins over No. 10 LSU, No. 2 Auburn and the SEC East champion would easily vault the Crimson Tide into the BCS championship game.
If Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide can weather Les Miles’ luck, Cam Newton’s Heisman campaign and the SEC title game, they deserve to defend their crown—and will.
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