BCS Rankings Week 13: Oregon, Auburn Still on Top
In what has been one of the craziest college football seasons ever, the outcry for a playoff system is as loud as ever.
The BCS rankings have done it once again. Someone is bound to get it stuck to them in the end as always.
With currently four undefeated teams, strength of schedule again will play a big part and keep another deserving team out of the BCS National Championship Game.
At one point this season, the No. 1 team changed in five consecutive weeks. Thus, the ever-changing landscape of the college football rankings has been in full force and is not ready to be done just yet.
Now, Oregon is standing tall atop the rankings for another week and looks to take its ranking into the title game. But right behind them is a feverish Auburn Tiger team led by Cam Newton that is looking for a strong finish yet has a tough schedule facing it.
The BCS system needs to be blown up and started anew with a fairer, more balanced system, plain and simple. With a playoff system in place, the "true" champion may be able to be determined. Only in college football can a team (or various teams, for that matter) go undefeated and still not win or even play in the championship.
That was my rant, but here's how the BCS Top 10 currently looks.
10. Michigan St. Spartans
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"Spartans, what is your profession?!" Well, what a way to start this list.
In another one of college football's surprises this season, Michigan St. stands at No. 10. This is a team that oftentimes gets neglected for the basketball squad, but this team is very good and are looking at a big-time bowl.
Their thrilling overtime win against Notre Dame on a gutsy trick play call put them on the national map, and now they're there permanently. Another comeback win this weekend against Purdue kept their hopes of a BCS bowl alive.
Now, a date with Penn St. in what could be Joe Paterno's last home game as coach comes this weekend. Is this it for Joe? Eh, who knows?
Two running backs (Edwin Baker and Le'Veon Bell) have helped carry this team all season long, and their diverse running game has them atop the Big Ten. Baker, the sophomore, is the speed guy. The freshman Bell is the power behind this tandem.
Kirk Cousins has been solid at QB and has made a case for his team on a weekly basis. Cousins' statistics speak for themselves, as this junior has put up almost identical numbers to what he produced last season.
9. Oklahoma St. Cowboys
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Brandon Weeden is not your typical college junior. He's the 27-year-old QB of the Oklahoma St. Cowboys and is quietly putting up Heisman-worthy numbers in Stillwater.
With the many shootouts that occur almost on a weekly basis in the Big 12, it's safe to say that the 'Boys are well-equipped. This offense is deadly, and their defense is better than most in their conference.
Kendall Hunter, the Cowboys' 5'9" back, has come back strong from his injury and rediscovered his 2008 fortunes. He put up similar numbers as a sophomore in '08 to what he has this season, and his injury last year kept Dez Bryant and Co. from even bigger things.
The Cowboys' only loss was to the Nebraska Cornhuskers back a few weeks ago. Although that one stings, they are still in prime position to finish the season as Big 12 champs and go to a BCS bowl game. Saturday's showdown with the Oklahoma Sooners will be the tell-all game for them though. If they win this one, they will get an even deeper look from the BCS system.
8. Ohio St. Buckeyes
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Terrelle Pryor is college football's "Ultimate Weapon." The dynamic Pryor can throw the ball a country mile and has better running ability than many running backs. All this while he's stuck in a tight end's body.
Though inconsistent as of late, or consistently mediocre, Pryor remains the straw that stirs the Buckeyes' drink.
Their showdown with Michigan on Saturday afternoon in Columbus will make or break their season. The Buckeyes need this rivalry game now more than ever and will look to stop sensational sophomore Denard Robinson.
If Ohio St. is able to eke this one out over its great rival, it could win the Big Ten. The stars will have to align for them this weekend though.
Ohio St. started the year off much higher on the pecking order at No. 2. Their bump at the hands of Wisconsin, though, dashed their national title hopes.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Wisconsin Badgers
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Wisconsin can run the football effectively and they can light up a scoreboard. If what they've done so far is any indication, the rest of the BCS Top 10 better watch out. The Badgers have averaged 240 yards on the ground and about 41 points per game.
John Clay, their budding power back, and freshman burner James White, about as generic of a name as you can get, have led the way. In the process, they've made up for their low-key senior QB Scott Tolzien.
The Badgers remain in the mix in the Big Ten, yet they too need their chips to fall into place if they are to win the conference. Looks like the days of old—those Ron Dayne days are back in style in Madison.
6. Stanford Cardinal
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The Stanford Cardinal are one of the most underrated teams in college football.
Led by Andrew Luck, the current consensus No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Cardinal are approaching the Top Five. With two games left on their slate, they might just sneak in there.
Luck doesn't have the best receivers to throw to but has made the most of it and put the Cardinal in the national spotlight again. The big junior with a dynamic style is what's kept Stanford relevant in the college football scene.
All in all, this is the best-kept secret in all of college sports right now. They may not play a very difficult schedule, but there's always that BCS factor that plays into the equation as an assistant, or in some cases a detriment.
The Pac-10 has made great strides this season with two top six teams, including the No. 1 squad, but still isn't as respectable as the other conferences.
5. LSU Tigers
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How does LSU do it? Seriously, they have little if any offense and no QB situation at all yet are still No. 5.
Jordan Jefferson and his lack of development might be holding LSU back from playing for the national title. Jefferson just doesn't seem to get "it."
Stevan Ridley and Josh Jasper (the kicker) have been their only consistent players offensively. This ultimately never bodes well for a team playing in the tough SEC trying to remain relevant in the national title scene.
The Tigers' defense needs to be applauded here, as they've held on to some big games for this team all season long. This defense is nasty and has been tenacious for Les Miles en route to another high-water mark in 2010.
4. Boise State Broncos
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Kellen Moore is such a great QB for Boise State's style and has propelled them to the top of the heap of BCS controversy once again. Despite their weak schedule, this team will once again get lost in the shuffle and bow down to big-time conferences like the SEC and Pac-10.
Interesting stat on Moore here: He's been sacked only 21 times in his college career thus far (only three this season). Moore's the catalyst of another very good Bronco team that will be shunned from the spotlight.
The Broncos are second in both points for and against this season. On average, they've outscored the opponent by a score of 48-12 this season. Wow! Someone give Boise St. some respect right now!
3. TCU Horned Frogs
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Andy Dalton puts up another solid season, and again the BCS sticks it to another team. This time, the TCU Horned Frogs squad will most likely go undefeated without even playing for a national championship in 2010.
This is a multidimensional TCU team that relies on both the run and pass to succeed. Their balance on offense has helped them to an 11-win season and another Mountain West title. Yet ultimately, again, no BCS title game is in sight barring some help.
Ed Wesley will gain over 1,000 yards this season, and his work on the ground has helped diversify the offense. Pair him with running partner Matthew Tucker and we're looking at another dynamic running duo.
2. Auburn Tigers
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Cam Newton is the most exciting player in all of college sports right now. His amazingly dynamic play has helped put the Auburn Tigers on top of the SEC again. They are now just a few wins away from a perfect 14-0 season.
An undefeated season in 2010 will avenge their 2004 finish, when they were the undefeated "odd man out" in the BCS. Newton is a major part of their success and now leads them into the "Iron Bowl" against rival Alabama on Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa.
They then face South Carolina the following week in the SEC title game at the Georgia Dome.
The Tigers are looking to finish out strong and be crowned national champions this season. This would be an incredible feat and a long time coming for Newton, who has faced legal issues in 2010.
1. Oregon Ducks
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Not only are the Oregon Ducks' Nike Combat uniforms the best, their team is too this season. Well, I suppose the former is a sense of style and opinion, but they are cool uniforms.
The Ducks have faced a lot of adversity this season and look for it to end in national title glory in early January. Coming from the Pac-10 and representing it on a national platform is adversity in and of itself.
Darron Thomas has been the leader that the team's needed him to be, and this may catapult them to a title.
Sophomore LaMichael James is among the top running backs in all of college football. His burner speed has gotten him 1,422 yards and 17 TDs this season. Oregon's on-edge win against Cal a few weekends ago is another example of their championship pedigree.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
