BCS Rankings: 10 Ranked Teams That Won't Be in Three Weeks
Like an oceanfront mansion, a spot on the BCS’s Top 25 rankings is coveted real estate.
But just like owners of these outlandishly priced properties, some teams holding onto this land could be closer to foreclosure than they would like to admit.
Most teams landing in the BCS’s fourth rankings of the season have stayed strong long enough to land on the BCS Rankings at season’s end.
However, there are those teams that fail to live up to their mid-season hype and struggle to keep up with their neighbors.
Since the BCS’s expanded their ranking from 15 to 25 in 2003, 16-percent of the teams ranked in the fourth week of rankings failed to make it to the BCS’s Final Rankings.
Throughout the history of the BCS, only one team ranked in the Top 10 after Week 4 failed to be listed in the BCS’s Final Rankings (Oregon- 2007).
With that said, let’s take a look at ten BCS ranked teams that could fall into the land of the forgotten in three weeks.
Nevada
1 of 10
Upcoming games:
- @ Fresno State
- vs. New Mexico
- vs. No. 4 Boise State
- @ Louisiana Tech
While Nevada still has a handful of games that could be detrimental to their BCS health, the toughest game of the lot will undoubtedly be against Boise State.
A two-loss WAC team has yet to break into the BCS’s Final Rankings and this battle with the points-hungry Broncos should mean the end of Nevada’s BCS life for the 2010 season.
Florida
2 of 10
Upcoming games:
- vs. No. 23 South Carolina
- vs. Appalachian State
- @ Florida State
Since the inception of the BCS, Florida has only failed to make the BCS’s Final Ranking once.
Back in 2002 when the BCS only posted their Top 15, the Gators dropped off the poll after a loss to in-state rival Florida State in their final game of the year.
While the Seminoles might get a chance to do it again this season, the Gators’ BCS life will rest in the hands of South Carolina this weekend.
If Florida can get past the Gamecocks, the Gators would clinch a SEC Championship bid and even a loss to Florida State or Auburn might not be enough to keep them off of the BCS’s Final Rankings.
South Carolina
3 of 10
Upcoming games:
- @ No. 22 Florida
- vs. Troy
- @ Clemson
A trip to the Swamp this weekend pencils in an expiration date for South Carolina’s tenure in the BCS polls.
While the Gamecocks are completely capable of beating Florida in Gainesville this year, it is a hurdle that might hit them square in the ankle.
Even a win against Florida doesn’t exactly mean South Carolina will end the season in the BCS’s Top 25.
The Gamecocks final game against Clemson could be a trap game, especially when you consider their 8-16-1 record in Memorial Stadium.
A loss to Clemson and either Auburn/Florida would most likely end any lingering BCS ranking hopes.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Texas A&M
4 of 10
Upcoming games:
- @ Baylor
- vs. No. 8 Nebraska
- @ Texas
With a 6-3 record going into this weekend, Texas A&M is one loss away from being permanently expelled from the BCS Rankings.
A bout with Nebraska still looms ahead, and the Black Shirts should easily seal the Aggies’ BCS fate.
If Texas A&M do find a way to get past the Cornhuskers, Texas will be waiting for them a week later in the Lone Star Showdown in Austin. Even in a Longhorn down-season, this will be a tough road to travel.
Mississippi State
5 of 10
Upcoming games:
- @ No. 12 Alabama
- vs. No. 15 Arkansas
- @ Ole Miss
Mississippi State has an extremely tough road ahead, facing Alabama and Arkansas in back to back weeks.
While the Bulldogs might send shockwaves through the FBS world by pulling off consecutive upsets, that most likely won’t be the case.
Mississippi State should drop a game to one of these ranked teams, but that might not be enough to drop them out of the BCS rankings.
The Egg Bowl against Ole Miss could determine their end of year BCS status. However, the Golden Egg has been awarded to the home team the past six years and this could mean trouble for the Bulldogs.
Virginia Tech
6 of 10
Upcoming games:
- @ North Carolina
- @ Miami
- vs. Virginia
Two tough road games for Virginia Tech could cost them the ACC Coastal division title and their current BCS ranking.
Back to back losses against North Carolina and Miami would definitely drive the final nail in the Hokies’ coffin.
While only one loss to these teams could extend their BCS life, Virginia Tech is seriously holding on by a thin piece of thread and could be on the outside looking in by the time this season is over.
Arizona
7 of 10
Upcoming games:
- vs. USC
- @ No. 1 Oregon
- vs. Arizona State
Arizona’s failure to launch against Stanford makes believing that they can hang with top ranked Oregon practically laughable.
Assuming that they fall to the Ducks as expected, the Wildcats could also easily get blindsided in the Duel in the Desert if they are not careful. Arizona State is maturing rapidly and anything can happen in this deep rooted rivalry.
If Arizona can’t stop the bleeding after Oregon, a BCS eviction notice will be waiting for the Wildcats.
Arkansas
8 of 10
Upcoming game:
- vs. UTEP
- @ No. 19 Mississippi State
- vs. No. 5 LSU
Two extremely tough games to finish the season off could be the demise of Arkansas’s stay on the BCS Rankings.
Arkansas’ visit to Starkville in 2008 didn’t end pretty and Mississippi State’s stifling defense will be looking to conjure up a repeat performance for the home crowd this year.
Falling to the Bulldogs would all but seal the Razorbacks’ BCS fate, especially with LSU coming into town the following week.
Utah
9 of 10
Upcoming games:
- @ Notre Dame
- @ San Diego State
- vs. BYU
While neither of the teams listed above really stand out as dangerous opponents, Utah’s limp offensive performance against TCU has to raise a concern or two.
Utah is definitely better than the Fighting Irish, but playing in Notre Dame can often be intimating for a young team.
San Diego State is not push over, as well. Ryan Lindley controls an explosive Aztec offense that is more than capable of hanging in a shootout with the Utes.
Two road stumbles would be enough to keep Utah off of any final polls.
Ohio State
10 of 10
Upcoming games:
- vs. Penn State
- @ No. 13 Iowa
- vs. Michigan
As mentioned in the intro slide, only one Top 10 BCS team from the fourth week of polling has completely fallen off of the BCS Final Rankings.
Of the teams currently ranked in the BCS Top 10, Ohio State is a team that could (and I use that word extremely lightly) take this ungraceful fall.
A loss to Iowa in Kinnick Stadium is not out of the question, but, it would not be a big enough upset to knock the Buckeyes out of the Top 25. It would take another loss against Michigan for this glorious tumble to occur.
Yes, the Wolverines have not won in the Horseshoe since 2000, and yes, they are currently riding a six game losing streak to Ohio State.
However, Denard Robinson is a game changer and could take advantage of some shell shocked Buckeyes.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
