Midseason Grades: Who Are the Bevy of BCS Beauties?

College football is officially two-thirds of the way through regular season play this weekend. Can you believe it? It's almost over—and it's just begun. I need a crying towel.

One of the best things about late October is everyone should have a good feeling about the teams' makeup and where they probably will be in terms of postseason play. If the team is still bipolar in late October, then chances are it's not going to make up a lot a ground in the next six weeks.

A = superior, B = very good, C = average, D = not worthy of top 30.

The midseason grades, and where they are going, for the top 25...

1. Texas

Looks like nobody except Texas Tech stands in their way. Even if the Longhorns lose in a close game, don't expect them to drop much. They are one of three teams that deserve to be in the BCS title game based on overall performance this year. To maintain intensity and focus through a grueling schedule is a rarity in college football. A+

2. Alabama

The Tide has not looked up to the task in their last two games. Yes, they are undefeated, but look at their schedule: Clemson? Stinks. Tulane? Horrid. Arkansas State? Yuck. WKU? Who?

Even their conference schedule looks puny. Arkansas is bad, Kentucky is bad, Ole Miss is average, Tennessee stinks, LSU is average (yes, average—when you get blown out twice by two teams scoring 50-plus points on you, you are not a very good team), Missy State is average, and Auburn stinks.

Think the pollsters are going to reward Alabama for this schedule? Watch them drop like a hot potato unless they smoke the East Division winner in the conference championship, which looks dubious, at best, right now. B+

3. Penn State

If you're a Penn State fan, you have to be worried. Sure you're undefeated, but will that be enough? Let's face it, the Nits' non-conference schedule stinks. After regular season play, the Nits will lose points when the SOS is factored in, even if Oregon State wins out. The good news is at least PSU blew out most of their cupcakes and has played consistently the whole year. A

4. Oklahoma

They lost to a great team in the RRR that beat Mizzou, but then again, so did Oklahoma State. Unfortunately for the Sooners, they don't have control of their destiny. They have to hope Tech and another team beat Texas, Oklahoma State beats Tech, and then the Sooners have to beat Tech and Oklahoma State for a shot. Good luck in that scenario. A

5. USC

The Trojans are in almost the exact situation Alabama is in regards to conference schedule respect, but their non-conference schedule is actually gaining strength. Virginia and Notre Dame are primed to crack the top 25, and Ohio State is still ranked fairly high.

Still, USC hasn't looked championship-material in two straight weeks. By now, the D should be well-oiled and sharp. Florida should jump USC if they win big this Saturday, so Trojans fans might start making plans for a New Year's Day in Pasadena. Again. B+

6. Georgia

I see no hope in Georgia beating Florida in this week's WLOCP if both teams play to their abilities. Georgia looks good, but not in the same league as Florida. The O is spotty, especially on line play.

The Bulldogs' schedule's SOS has taken a hit: South Carolina, Arizona State, Tennessee, and LSU all turned out to be duds, and with Kentucky and Auburn left, there's not a very compelling reason why they should go to Miami if they win out. B

7. Texas Tech

If you watched the Red Raiders play last Saturday, be scared. Very scared. They are for real. Their D is questionable, but their O is so prolific and brilliant, it is nearly impossible to stop them. All eyes will be on Lubbock this Saturday. A+

8. Florida

The Gators' pilot light came on, and the team is running on all cylinders. The running game is there, the passing game is there, and Urban is still ticked at Mark Richt's stunt in the last WLOCP. The Gators should win by 12 points or more, and watch them jump to No. 2 when they do.

The Gators also have a much more difficult non-conf schedule—an FCS school, Hawaii (.500 team), Miami (5-3), and Florida State (6-1, first place in ACC Coastal Division)—so their SOS will boost their computer rankings. A+

9. Oklahoma State

They had a nice run, but the loss to Texas may have taken the wind out of their sails. The Cowboys are a very good team, and in any other year might have actually won the Big 12 South, but this was the wrong year in the wrong conference to have such a good team. With Texas Tech and Oklahoma still on their slate, they could be a spoiler, but don't count on it. A

10. Utah

What probably chaps a lot of fans' hides is that due to a conference only being able to send two teams to BCS Bowls, Utah may get the nod over a one-loss Oklahoma State or Oklahoma.

Sure, they're undefeated, but for Pete's sake, there is no comparison between the teams above them and their team. While the Utes are playing New Mexico, the Longhorns are playing the Red Raiders, the Bulldogs are playing the Gators, and so on, and so on. B

11. BSU

The WAC is down this year due to the Fresno State Bulldogs and Hawaii Warriors not having the great years they are accustomed to. Yes, Hawaii lost a lot of talent, but what's FSU's excuse? Boise State will certainly offer a BCS conference team some challenges, but don't expect a repeat of that Fiesta Bowl a few years ago. B

12. Ohio State

They still have a shot, but it's slimski to noneski. They have to hope the Nittany Lions get blown out by Iowa so badly that the Nits drop below the Buckeyes. Don't see it happening. But hey, Pasadena in January is lovely that time of year. B-

13. TCU

Of all the BCS busters, the Horned Frogs look the most promising. They beat BYU and New Mexico (who beat Arizona) and still have Utah on their schedule. They could get a huge boost in their SOS, but they have to beat the Utes. A-

14. Missouri

Schedule timing is a nightmare sometimes. The Tigers lost to Oklahoma State by five, but it looked like they would be somewhat OK. Then they got pounded by Texas the next week, and the sky started falling.

The funny part is, they could still go to the BCS title game. All they have to do is beat the South champ in the conference championship. If that happens, the question is, will the pollsters pull "an Oklahoma" and send the South champ anyways, even though they lost the conference? B+

15. Florida State

What the heck are the Noles doing here? They jumped 10 spots in the poll because why? Beating TWO FCS teams? An unranked Va Tech? Miami? NC State? Colorado? And losing to Wake Forest, who is also not ranked? Demand a recount of votes. C-

16. Ball State

No chance of being a BCS buster due to their soft schedule, but it is nice to see a ranked MAC team. C+

17. Minnesota

Well, this is an interesting team. They only have one loss, and to be honest, they should be ranked higher than Florida State. Yeah, they don't have Penn State or Michigan State on their schedule, but still, it's respectable.

They lost to Ohio State, and their wins are pretty much over the bottom-feeders of the Big Ten, but they have Michigan and Iowa left on their schedule. If they win those, they are looking at a Capitol One Bowl berth. B-

18. Tulsa

They have a prolific offense and had their chance to shine on Sunday, but did you get the feeling that they let Central Florida hang around too much? Besides, I'm not sure Captain Cane is ready for prime time exposure—he's just too weird-looking. B+

19. LSU

I have maintained that LSU did not look like a title contender, and they didn't twice. Yes, they played Georgia and Florida, but they got blown out, which means that they aren't in the same league as the elite teams this year. Their wins are over Appalachian State, North Texas, Auburn, Missy State, and South Carolina—three marginal teams from the SEC, an FCS team, and the worst team in the nation, North Texas.

With Troy, Tulane, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Arkansas left on their schedule, this schedule isn't what a National Championship team should be flaunting as a reason for a two-loss season being rewarded. Next year, if they get their QB situation settled, they could be a lot better. C-

20. BYU

When you play in the Mountain West, there is a higher standard involved. You have to win big, and you can't get upset in a game you should win. There is no leeway. BYU is a very good team, but they lost their focus. C+

21. Michigan State

I like this team a lot. They are 7-2 and could spoil Penn State's undefeated season. Javon Ringer is the real deal and the best running back in the nation. It's good to see Sparty back in the thick of it. B+

22. North Carolina

It looks like the preseason hype behind Butch Davis' team was legit. But oh, how those losses to Va Tech and Virginia hurt them. Beating Boston College was a nice comeback, but the Tar Heels have to beat Georgia Tech this Saturday if they want a shot at a BCS game. If they beat Tech, their stock will go up huge. B

23. South Florida

This is where the pollsters lost a little logic. Losing to Louisville and Pitt, and they are still ranked? They had their losses late in the season, not early, and they really haven't been dinged for it. Top 30, yes, but not top 25. D+

24. Oregon

Well, it's amazing that the Ducks have clawed their way back up after having six different quarterbacks take snaps from center from less than a year ago. Their two losses are to two teams in the top 12. They should be ranked way higher. B-

25. UConn

West Virginia has a better conference record in a weak conference, and yet UConn is ranked higher? The debate will be settled this weekend when both teams meet. In the meantime, UConn is average. C-