BCS Rankings Week 15: Projecting Top 25 After the Auburn and Oregon Victories
The BCS rankings for Week 15 are not likely to change a whole heck of a lot from their Week 14 arrangement.
Indeed, only a handful of the Top 25 teams are in action Saturday, and those that are merely have their hands full with meaningless things called 'Conference Championship Games.'
What we can tell you at this moment is that Oregon and Auburn have both won, so there will be no movement at the top.
Regardless, we're going to be hit with our final BCS rankings tomorrow evening. They might look a little something like this...
25. Connecticut Huskies
1 of 25
Current Rank: unranked
Why They're Here: The No. 25 spot is going to be wide open after this weekend's action, and the UConn Huskies are one of several teams that could claim it.
But the Huskies have one big advantage: they're now the Big East Champion. That will help them with the voters, who had them just outside the Top 25 for Week 14.
24. Hawaii Warriors
2 of 25
Current Rank: unranked
Why They're Here: The Warriors are just outside the Top 25 in the BCS rankings, and they beat up on UNLV in their final game of the season to improve to 10-3. They should be able to snag one of the spots left open by Arizona and Northern Illinois.
23. Florida State Seminoles
3 of 25
Current Rank: 21
Why They're Here: The Seminoles, playing without the services of starting quarterback Christian Ponder, fell to the Virginia Tech Hokies in the ACC Championship Game. It's hard to see that dropping them from the rankings altogether, but a drop to No. 23 seems fair.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
22. South Carolina Gamecocks
4 of 25
Current Rank: 19
Why They're Here: South Carolina lost the SEC Championship Game to Auburn and dropped to 9-4. A three-spot drop to No. 22 seems fair.
21. West Virginia Mountaineers
5 of 25
Current Rank: 24
Why They're Here: The Mountaineers ran their record to 9-3 by beating Rutgers on Saturday,which could have given them a BCS bid had UConn lost. Regardless, they should be able to move up to No. 21 thanks to South Carolina and Florida State.
20. Mississippi State Bulldogs
6 of 25
Current Rank: 22
Why They're Here: The Bulldogs finished up with an 8-4 record thanks to their win over Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl last weekend. They'll also benefit from losses by Florida State and South Carolina and jump up to No. 20.
19. Utah Utes
7 of 25
Current Rank: 20
Why They're Here: The Utes finished up their season with a 10-2 record, and the only reason they're here is because of South Carolina's loss in the SEC Championship Game and Florida State's likely loss in the ACC Championship Game.
And I once against stress "likely" because the game is still in progress.
18. Texas A&M Aggies
8 of 25
Current Rank: 18
Why They're Here: The Aggies finished their regular season by beating Texas in their sixth win in a row. It's hard to see them moving up or down in the rankings.
17. Nevada Wolf Pack
9 of 25
Current Rank: 17
Why They're Here: The Wolf Pack, fresh off their dizzying upset of Boise State last weekend, were not quite as crisp against Louisiana Tech on Saturday. But they were able to pull out a 35-17 win anyway. However, that won't be enough to boost them in the rankings.
16. Alabama Crimson Tide
10 of 25
Current Rank: 16
Why They're Here: They finished their regular season with a 9-3 record, and there's no reason why they would move from No. 16.
15. Nebraska Cornhuskers
11 of 25
Current Rank: 13
Why They're Here: The Cornhuskers faltered late in the Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma, going scoreless in the second half and losing 23-20. They'll drop, no doubt about that, but probably only a couple spots to No. 15.
14. Oklahoma State Cowboys
12 of 25
Current Rank: 14
Why They're Here: The Pokes missed out on the Big 12 Championship Game when they lost to Oklahoma last week and dropped down to No. 14 as a result. They should be safe there, even with all the calamity above and below them in the rankings.
13. Virginia Tech Hokies
13 of 25
Current Rank: 15
Why They're Here: The Hokies won the ACC Championship by beating Florida State on Saturday night. That should be good enough for at least a two-spot boost.
12. Missouri Tigers
14 of 25
Current Rank: 12
Why They're Here: The Tigers wrapped up their regular season with a big win over Kansas last weekend. They're safe at No. 12.
11. LSU Tigers
15 of 25
Current Rank: 10
Why They're Here: The Tigers finished their season with a loss at Arkansas last week and don't have much wiggle room with a one-loss Boise State team closely behind them in the Week 14 rankings. Because Boise won, they should switch places.
10. Boise State Broncos
16 of 25
Current Rank: 11
Why They're Here: The Broncos feel to No. 11 after their crushing defeat in Reno, but rebounded with a 50-14 win over Utah State. Because LSU has very slim lead on them in terms of their BCS average, their 11th win should be enough to bump them ahead of the two-loss Tigers.
9. Michigan State Spartans
17 of 25
Current Rank: 8
Why They're Here: The Spartans are one of three co-Big Ten champions and finished their regular season with an 11-1 record. But they'll drop to No. 9 so they can make room for a conference champion.
8. Arkansas Razorbacks
18 of 25
Current Rank: 7
Why They're Here: They finished their season on the strength of a six-game win streak, the last of which came over the then-No. 5 LSU Tigers. They're 10-2 and would appear to be a lock for the Sugar Bowl.
That being said, they will also drop to make room for a conference champion.
7. Oklahoma Sooners
19 of 25
Current Rank: 9
Why They're Here: The Sooners won the Big 12 Championship Game, and are Big 12 Champions for the seventh time.
A conference championship and a win over a ranked team should help them move from No. 9 to No. 7.
6. Ohio State Buckeyes
20 of 25
Current Rank: 6
Why They're Here: The Buckeyes are the second of the co-Big Ten champions and their regular season ended with a 37-7 win over Michigan. No movement up or down for them.
5. Wisconsin Badgers
21 of 25
Current Rank: 5
Why They're Here: The Badgers are the cream of the co-Big Ten champions, and they finished their regular season with a 70-23 win over Northwestern. They're good at No. 5.
4. Stanford Cardinal
22 of 25
Current Rank: 4
Why They're Here: The Cardinal finished up their regular season with a 38-0 win over Oregon State last week. They won't budge from No. 4.
3. TCU Horned Frogs
23 of 25
Current Rank: 3
Why They're Here: They wrapped up their regular season with a 66-17 win over New Mexico last week, and it's hard to see why they would move up or down in the rankings.
2. Oregon Ducks
24 of 25
Current Rank: 2
Why They're Here: The Ducks had their way with the Oregon State Beavers in the Civil War on Saturday, winning 37-20. They will head to Glendale for the BCS National Championship Game. That also means they won't budge from No. 2.
1. Auburn Tigers
25 of 25
Current Rank: 1
Why They're Here: They defeated No. 19 South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game and also punched their ticket to Glendale. Exactly why they would move is beyond me.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
