College Football Rankings 2011: How Initial BCS Standings Will Look in October
Mid-October is always an exciting time for college football fans as the first batch of BCS rankings are released.
The AP and Coaches Polls are fun for a while, but the BCS rankings are the only measuring stick that truly matters.
The initial rankings are a clear indicator of which teams are in the hunt for the national championship as well as other BCS games.
What will this season's first round of BCS rankings look like?
Find out as we count down the projected Top 25 teams in the first BCS ranking to be released this October.
25. Missouri
1 of 25Projected Record: 4-2
The Tigers will be tested twice early in the season with trips to Oklahoma and Arizona State, both of which are projected as losses.
A young secondary and a new starter at quarterback in James Franklin will likely be a collective Achilles heel of Gary Pinkel's squad.
24. Arizona State
2 of 25Projected Record: 5-1
The Sun Devils won't be a ranked team at season's start, but will crack the BCS Top 25 after a hot start.
The only bump in the road to this point for Arizona State will be a home date with USC on September 24.
23. Texas
3 of 25Projected Record: 4-2
Mack Brown's squad will start off 4-0, but run into Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in Weeks 5 and 6.
It will be interesting to see how the Longhorns fare against the Cowboys after being blown out by Boomer Sooner in the Red River Shootout.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
22. Miami
4 of 25Projected Record: 5-1
First-year head coach Al Golden has the program headed in the right direction, but faces a tough test in Week 1 at Maryland and its own first-year head coach Randy Edsall.
The 'Canes will pull out the victory and will follow it up with an upset of Ohio State in Week 2.
However, Miami will suffer its first defeat at the hands of Virginia Tech at Lane Stadium.
21. Florida
5 of 25Projected Record: 4-2
Will Muschamp will get a rude reawakening to the SEC with back-to-back games against Alabama and LSU leading up to the release of the BCS rankings.
The biggest question surrounding the Gator is how well the offense will adapt to Charlie Weis' pro-style attack.
20. West Virginia
6 of 25Projected Record: 5-1
Despite taking over as head coach in June, Dana Holgorsen will have the Mountaineers ready to succeed this season.
The lone loss before the release of the BCS rankings will come to LSU in Morgantown on September 24.
19. TCU
7 of 25Projected Record: 5-1
It may be a stretch to say that the Horned Frogs will start off 5-1, but head coach Gary Patterson never rebuilds; he reloads.
If TCU can safely navigate the first two weeks of the season on the road against Baylor and Air Force, then the Frogs will be in good shape.
18. Arkansas
8 of 25Projected Record: 4-2
Bobby Petrino's Arkansas squad faces a rough patch in the schedule with back-to-back games against Alabama and Texas A&M on the road in Weeks 4 and 5.
Both are projected losses, but the Razorbacks have a great chance to run the table the rest of the way.
17. Wisconsin
9 of 25Projected Record: 5-1
Coming off a Rose Bowl appearance a year ago, the Wisconsin Badgers figure to be a BCS contender yet again this season.
The schedule is manageable through Week 6 with the only projected loss coming at the hands of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Week 5.
Watch out for the Badgers' matchup with Oregon State at Camp Randall. It could very well be a trap game.
16. South Carolina
10 of 25Projected Record: 6-1
This may finally be the year that Steve Spurrier and his Gamecocks make a serious run at claiming the SEC Championship.
Through seven games, South Carolina may be unscathed, but a game at Georgia in Week 2 is daunting.
15. USC
11 of 25Projected Record: 5-1
The Trojans won't be competing for a Pac-12 title or a bowl game this season, but USC must not be overlooked.
Lane Kiffin's squad will start off 5-1 with the lone loss coming at the hands of Arizona State in Tempe.
14. Oklahoma State
12 of 25Projected Record: 5-1
The Cowboys are a dark horse in the Big 12 this season, especially with Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon returning to Stillwater.
The schedule isn't too tough through six games, but the Cowboys will likely come up with the short end of the stick against Texas A&M on the road in Week 4.
13. Georgia
13 of 25Projected Record: 6-1
The Bulldogs face a huge test to start the season, taking on Boise State in Atlanta.
Kellen Moore and Co. will prove too much for Georgia, but Mark Richt's squad will remain unscathed until the release of the BCS rankings.
12. Notre Dame
14 of 25Projected Record: 5-1
With a much-improved defense this season, the Fighting Irish will be in contention for a BCS berth.
Those dreams will be threatened in Week 3 against Michigan State as the Spartans will steal another win in South Bend.
11. Stanford
15 of 25Projected Record: 6-0
The pollsters won't be showing the Cardinal much love this season due to Jim Harbaugh having bolted to the NFL in the offseason.
However, first-year head coach David Shaw is the real deal.
He'll have Stanford competing for a BCS berth this season and a 6-0 record to start the season will only help.
10. Michigan State
16 of 25Projected Record: 6-0
The Spartans will start the season undefeated with two statement road wins against Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Watch out for Sparty this season. A Rose Bowl invitation is certainly within the team's grasp.
9. Nebraska
17 of 25Projected Record: 6-0
The Huskers have a legitimate chance at running the table in the Big Ten this season and will start with wins over Wisconsin and Ohio State to begin the conference slate.
8. LSU
18 of 25Projected Record: 6-1
Les Miles' squad will drop a heartbreaker to Oregon at Cowboys Stadium to start the season, but will run the table up to the release of the BCS rankings.
7. Texas A&M
19 of 25Projected Record: 6-0
An undefeated start may be unlikely, but there's still a chance it may happen.
Back-to-back games against Oklahoma State and Arkansas in Weeks 3 and 4 will not be easy.
6. Virginia Tech
20 of 25Projected Record: 7-0
The Hokies have a very favorable schedule to this point in the season with the toughest matchup coming against Miami on October 8.
The success of Frank Beamer's squad will depend on the play of quarterback Logan Thomas, who steps in for the departed Tyrod Taylor.
5. Boise State
21 of 25Projected Record: 6-0
With Kellen Moore leading the offense, Boise State should be chasing its BCS dreams yet again.
A matchup with Georgia at the Georgia Dome to begin the season will make or break the Broncos' season.
4. Oklahoma
22 of 25Projected Record: 5-1
By no means will this be a popular prediction among readers, but the Sooners will have a very difficult time beating Florida State on the road in Week 2.
However, Oklahoma will bounce back and beat Texas in the Red River Shootout on October 8.
3. Oregon
23 of 25Projected Record: 6-0
The Ducks will be looking to make a return trip to the BCS National Championship Game this season and the schedule will allow for that.
The toughest test of the season will be Week 1 against LSU at Cowboys Stadium.
Chip Kelly's squad should come out on top.
2. Florida State
24 of 25Projected Record: 6-0
The Seminoles will start off with a bang by taking down Oklahoma in Tallahassee in Week 2.
After the matchup with the Sooners, Florida State's schedule is a breeze and may earn the 'Noles an invitation to the BCS National Championship.
1. Alabama
25 of 25Projected Record: 7-0
The Crimson Tide will look to run the table in the SEC and make a run at a national title.
A trip to Happy Valley to take on Penn State in Week 2 is the only questionable game on the non-conference slate.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
