BCS Rankings: 5 Teams Poised to Top First BCS Rankings

Rankings rule college football. In the first few weeks, the Associated Press and coaches polls dominate headlines and speculation with every passing week.

As the season grows older, that talk switches to the BCS rankings, which for better or worse, determine which two teams play for the national championship. We still have some time before those first BCS rankings are released, but it's never too early to talk about who will be on top of the rankings when they arrive.

The following are the five teams that are the favorites to be on top of those rankings.

Oklahoma

As the top-ranked team in the major polls, the Sooners are in great position to be atop the BCS rankings. They have the talent to stay at the top of rankings all season and their schedule is strong enough to keep them buoyed in the computer polls that love that kind of thing. 

Alabama

The Crimson Tide are perennially at the top of these rankings and 2011 will be no different. Their SEC and non-conference schedule will be enough to keep them at the top of the computer polls and there's no reason to believe they will lose a game before the rankings are released. A late season game with LSU looms as a big factor in their rankings. 

LSU

The Tigers are in the same boat with Alabama. Their big test against Oregon will help them stay high in the computer polls early on and the SEC schedule will keep them there as the season wears on. LSU or Alabama will drop in the rankings after their matchup later in the season. It could end up being a play-in game for the national championship. 

Boise State

Just like in previous seasons, the key for Boise State will be to keep winning games. If they lose a game, they plummet in the rankings. Their early season win against Georgia will help their computer rankings. Boise State very well may go undefeated, but if the teams ahead of them don't lose, they don't stand a chance to end up atop these rankings.

Wisconsin

If the rankings were released today, the Badgers would be on the outside looking in, but losses by teams above them will put them in the position to crack the top five. Florida State, who would be ahead of them, will drop their next game against Oklahoma and Stanford's strength of schedule won't put them high enough in the computer polls.

Joseph Healy's Projected First BCS Rankings

1. Oklahoma

2. Alabama

3. LSU

4. Boise State

5. Wisconsin

6. Stanford

7. Oklahoma State

8. South Carolina

9. Oregon

10. Florida State