College Football Rankings: Evaluating National Title Chances of AP Top 8

After an exciting Week 5, it is time to start looking at the BCS National Championship game and which of the undefeated teams in the top eight of the AP Top 25 poll could possibly make it.

I really believe that these are the consensus best eight teams in the nation right now and they have proven it by winning big games in tough situations.

Let’s take a look at them in reverse-ranking order and what they’ll need to do to get into the big game.

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No. 8: Clemson

The Tigers were not even ranked in the beginning of the season and that is likely going to be their downfall.

They have big wins against Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech and still have to face Georgia Tech and South Carolina before the season is over.

If they do somehow manage to go undefeated, they will have to prove that they are the only ones to run the table. 

No. 7: Stanford

The Cardinal actually have a great chance of making the national title game. They have a very easy Pac-12 schedule if they can get past Oregon, with their toughest games besides that being USC and Notre Dame.

Oregon is currently ranked No. 9, but by the time they play on Nov. 12, they should be even higher because of how good they have turned out to be.

A huge win over them and a win in the Pac-12 championship game should get them into the title game over a one-loss SEC or other conference team.

No. 6: Oklahoma State

The Cowboys got a very big win over Texas A&M on the road as underdogs and are going to be neck-and-neck with Oklahoma until one of them stumbles this season in the Big 12.

The Pokes have Texas, Baylor, Kansas State as ranked opponents they must face up until the Dec. 3 matchup against Oklahoma.

If they are both undefeated at that point, the Oklahoma/OK State game is going to be the de facto Big 12 title match since they no longer have divisions. The winner could very possibly end up in the national championship game.

No. 5: Boise State

With TCU falling to SMU on Saturday, SMU pretty much delivered a crippling blow to Boise State’s national championship hopes.

Boise won a solid game against Georgia on the road in Atlanta to open the season, but they simply don’t have another worthy opponent for the rest of the season.

TCU was primed to be that ranked opponent late in the season to remind people that they were legit, but have since proven to be awful.

The Broncos need a number of teams at the top to lose and get some luck to be considered for the national title game.

No. 4: Wisconsin

Wisconsin has very similar chances as Stanford this year if they run the table to make the national championship game.

With the Big Ten having a title game and Wisconsin looking very good, I can see them facing the winner of the SEC Championship game.

This all hinges on them getting past Ohio State, Illinois and Penn State, but the team is good enough to beat all of them.

If they convincingly win in their conference title game they should prove they have every right to compete for the national championship.

No. 3: Oklahoma

The Sooners fate is tied with the Pokes as Big 12 foes without a title game.

They do not have an easy road whatsoever up until their match against OK State on Dec. 3, as they have to take on ranked teams like Texas, K-State, Texas A&M and Baylor.

That is no joke of a schedule but would easily prove they belong in the BCS National Title game with a run through that and a win over their in-state rivals.

No. 2: Alabama

Remember this day. Nov. 5. The Crimson Tide just made it the most important day of the college season for themselves and LSU by knocking out Florida and their QB, John Brantley.

The team has a relatively easy road to their highly anticipated matchup with LSU and also made it less harrowing for the Tigers to get there unscathed as well.

Whoever wins that has the inside track in the SEC West to the championship game and then the national title game.

No. 1: LSU

Again, this team's fate is tied with Alabama’s. They have a tougher road than Alabama until their matchup, but should get by an overrated Florida team who won’t have their starting QB.

Auburn is next for them and that could get wild, as one of the highest-powered offenses will be taking on a stifling defense.

Again, it should all come down to that November 5 matchup against Alabama as one of these teams is going to be making the national title game this year.