BYU Ranking Discussion: How Cougars Can Jump to No. 5 Next Week

I guess this is becoming somewhat of a tradition. I want to give my two cents about the rankings, and I also want to hear what everyone else is thinking. It is always good to bounce ideas off of people to reassure yourself of your own opinion.

I am basing my opinions solely off the AP poll.

The Cougars dropped one spot due to the USC Trojans beating the 23rd-ranked Ducks. No matter how much I hate USC and the Pac-10, the jump is warranted. USC has played a tougher schedule, and while the stumble against the Beavers was tragic for their National Championship hopes, they have few question marks left on their schedule.

The Cougars remained unbeaten after an ugly, lopsided victory in Logan. I know what you are saying. That’s like the old “she’s pretty from here” adage, but a win is a win, and our team is still very much in the hunt for a BCS game—and if the stars are being kind, a possible NC nod.

I am telling you all right now, the BCS is going to take a lot of crap-ola if we go undefeated and they prevent us from competing for a National Championship. (Either they will let us in the NC game, or next year zero non-BCS schools will be in the Top 20 preseason. They will have learned their lesson after giving BYU a Top 15 preseason ranking—you just watch.)

As far as next week goes, there will be some pot stirring to be done...but mostly for the Utes.

We will have a chance of possibly moving up a spot if the LSU Tigers are knocked off by the Florida Gators. If the Tigers beat Florida, then the Utes could possibly advance another spot, but they really need Vandy to lose.

Another highly unlikely upset that would benefit the Utes and the Cougars would be if Ohio State were to lose to Purdue, but after seeing Purdue against Notre Dame, your best bet would be on the Buckeyes.

The big games to watch will be on Saturday. We desperately need Wisconsin to upset Penn State, and then the Big 12 race will start to open up as Oklahoma plays Texas.

The loser of the Red River shootout will drop behind us, or a one-loss USC/Florida team could possible bunny hop just in front of us (once again the importance of the LSU/Florida game).

Here's the best-case scenario, but I could be wrong.

Texas and Penn State lose, LSU wins, leaving Florida with two losses, USC loses to a capable Arizona State team, and if the stars and moons are on our side, Missouri loses to a solid Oklahoma State team, moving the Cougars of Brigham Young into the No. 6, possibly No. 5 slot.

Take a look at it folks, and let me know. I understand I am hoping for a lot, but come on...let’s enjoy it while we can.