AP Poll College Football 2011: Make or Break Game for Each of AP Top 10

Beginning the season in the top 10 gives a team a distinct advantage of playing for a National Championship.

Every one of the top 10 teams has the talent to go undefeated and make a run at the BCS, but they'll have to get through their regular season schedules before they can stake any claim to the title.

There will be multiple close calls, a lot of tough games, but there will be one “make or break” game.

Here is a look at the "make or break" games for each top 10 team.

1. Oklahoma at Oklahoma State - Dec. 3

The Sooners are good enough to go through their entire schedule undefeated, and could blow it all on their trip to Stillwater at season's end. Their in-state rivals are a talented top 10 team in their own right and could be playing for BCS rights as well. 

2. Alabama vs. LSU - Nov. 5

The Tide have a tough schedule as they always do, and while it is hard to choose any game over season ending Iron Bowl, the Tide have to beat the Tigers before any of that matters. A year ago, this was the game that truly undid Nick Saban's team and that cannot happen again.

3. Oregon vs. LSU (played in Dallas) - Sept. 3

It is truly difficult to list a Week 1 game as a "make or break" scenario, but the Ducks can't afford a loss here. Oregon's schedule is nowhere near as difficult as LSU's and the few opportunities they have against ranked opponents are extremely important. There is no bigger game on their schedule this season.

4. LSU at Alabama - Nov. 5

If they Tigers lose the neutral site rumble with the Ducks to open the season they can bank on the Alabama game is a bail out card. They have a tough schedule in between the two games - including an out of conference trip to West Virginia - but their season (if they are good as should be) will come down to beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

5. Boise State at Georgia - Sept. 3

Another Week 1 game "make or break" game, on the same day as Oregon-LSU in fact, is a tough call to make but a necessary one.

The Broncos will play TCU later in the year, but the Horned Frogs won't be as good as a year ago and the Bulldogs are one of the teams that should rise up quickly.

If Kellen Moore and Chris Peterson want to be taken seriously for Heisman Trophy and National Championship consideration, they have to set the tone in Week 1.

6. Florida State vs. Oklahoma - Sept. 17

If the Seminoles want to prove a point to the voters that they deserve National Championship credibility this will be the best opportunity to do it.

Unlike most top 10 teams, the Florida State has a weak conference schedule and needs to make the most of this opportunity. They can win every other game on their schedule, but the one matchup with a top 10 team will ultimately define their season.

7. Stanford vs. Oregon - Nov. 12

Unlike the Ducks, the Cardinal doesn't have a ridiculous out of conference battle to build their season on. The trip to the Coliseum to play USC will be big, but Stanford's only loss last year came at the hands of the Ducks.

Andrew Luck has his work cut out for him if he wants to be back in the title hunt and this will be the game that decides it all.

8 and 9. Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma State - Sep. 24

The Aggies have three huge games on their schedule but this the first of the three and will set the tone for entire season. The Aggies and Pokes are ranked back-to-back at Nos. 8 and 9 in the pole and very little separates them.

The best chance for them to do so will be in this matchup before either has to deal with the Sooners later in the year.

10. Nebraska at Wisconsin - Oct. 1

New Big Ten rivals will meet for the first time at the start of October and it could very well decide the entire conference. The Cornhuskers received only 10 more points in the poll than the No. 11 Badgers and this game should be decided by even less to determine their BCS fates.

- Wes O'Donnell

Rank	Team
1	Oklahoma (Big 12)
2	Alabama (SEC)
3	Oregon (PAC-12)
4	LSU (SEC)
5	Boise State (Mountain West)
6	Florida State (ACC)
7	Stanford (PAC-12)
8	Texas A&M (Big 12)
9	Oklahoma State (Big 12)
10	Nebraska (Big Ten)
11	Wisconsin (Big Ten)
12	South Carolina (SEC)
13	Virginia Tech (ACC)
14	TCU (Mountain West)
15	Arkansas (SEC)
16	Notre Dame (Independent)
17	Michigan State (Big Ten)
18	Ohio State (Big Ten)
19	Georgia (SEC)
20	Mississippi State (SEC)
21	Missouri (Big 12)
22	Florida (SEC)
23	Auburn (SEC)
24	West Virginia (Big East)
25	USC (Pac-12)