Projected BCS Rankings: Oklahoma Heads Big 12 Blitz on Top 10 Spots

The Big 12 may be at death’s door in the bigger picture, but don’t tell that to the conference’s football powers. Mighty Oklahoma (No. 1 in the USA Today polls) heads an impressive collection of gridiron talent in what’s now the smallest BCS conference.

With just over a week remaining until the initial BCS rankings come out, the Big 12 could lead all conferences with a potential trio of teams cracking the top 10 spots. Of course, there’s a lot of football to be played between next Sunday’s opening rankings and the BCS title game in January.

For the moment, read on for one look at how the initial top 10 in the BCS rankings will shake out next week.

10. Texas

At this writing, the Longhorns are getting pummeled by Oklahoma, but even a loss today won’t necessarily drop them out of the Top 10.

The computers love Texas right now, and they’re unlikely to fall that far in the human polls considering how highly ranked (and highly regarded) the Sooners are.

Of course, if the Texas-Oklahoma State showdown next week ends in the Longhorns being routed again, that second loss would cripple their BCS chances.

9. Stanford

The quietest team in the top 10 in the polls, the Cardinal hasn’t played as impressive a schedule as their competitors from the SEC or Big 12.

Andrew Luck, though, has been as good as advertised (11 TDs, one INT), and the defense has been devastating, allowing just 11.5 points a game.

Realistically, Stanford’s going to be hovering around the bottom of the BCS bowl range until their home showdown with Oregon. A win in that one will make them a lock for a top-tier bowl, but until then, their unimpressive schedule will continue to weigh them down.

8. Michigan

Surprisingly, mighty Wisconsin gets beaten out for the lone Big Ten spot on this list by the less-heralded Wolverines.

Neither team has played an eye-popping, non-conference schedule (or a road game), but for some reason the computers prefer a Michigan team currently ranked about seven spots lower in the human polls.

Michigan has a real chance to sweep its remaining games to win the Big Ten’s Legends division, setting up a potential showdown with the Badgers in the conference title game with a Rose Bowl bid on the line.

7. Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets’ option offense has steamrolled all comers so far, to the tune of a No. 1 national ranking in rushing yards (378.2 per game). With Maryland not looking like the team that will slow down that juggernaut, Tech should cruise into an early shot at a BCS berth.

Tune in again in a month, when the results of back-to-back games with Clemson and Virginia Tech will likely seal the Yellow Jackets’ bowl fate, for better or worse.

6. Boise State

It’ll take a miracle to get the Broncos to the national title game, but another spot in a BCS bowl is a realistic, even likely, outcome for Kellen Moore’s boys.

Assuming that TCU can’t upset their fellow BCS busters—in a game that will be played on the blue turf in Boise—the Broncos should cruise to an undefeated record.

No matter how well this team plays, though, BSU could easily finish with zero ranked teams on its schedule (thus far, only Georgia was even ranked at the time it played the Broncos). That will leave Boise with zero chance at a national title.

5. Oklahoma State

After escaping from Texas A&M by the skin of their collective teeth, the Cowboys are comfortably in as far as the initial BCS rankings.

With the country’s second-best passing offense (415.5 yards a game) and most of their remaining key games at home, don’t be surprised if Oklahoma State cracks the BCS bowls as well.

If the Cowboys can manage a split in their two biggest games (next week at Texas, and home to Oklahoma to close the season), a Fiesta Bowl berth is well within their reach.

4. Clemson

Three straight wins against ranked foes will get any team noticed, and Clemson will reap the benefits in the opening BCS rankings. Whether the Tigers can sustain that level of performance is another question, but both Tajh Boyd’s offense and the freshman-laden defense have already exceeded expectations.

The Tigers face Georgia Tech in three weeks in a likely conference championship preview, then close the regular season with dangerous South Carolina. It will probably take a win in both games to secure a BCS bowl bid.

3. Oklahoma

USA Today’s No. 1-ranked team is beating the daylights out of Texas at this writing. Presuming the Sooners complete their second win against a ranked foe in the first five games, they should continue to dominate the polls (and help their slightly-less-lofty computer positions).

The season-ending showdown between Oklahoma and OK State will be the de facto conference title game, and the winner has a very real shot at advancing to the national championship.

2. LSU

Whether the polls have them at No. 1 (AP) or No. 2 (USA Today), there’s little doubt that their season-opening beatdown of Oregon has left the Tigers in the driver’s seat for a national title shot.

The computers don’t place them quite as highly at the moment, but they’re still a lock for a high position in the initial BCS rankings.

For many fans, especially those south of the Mason-Dixon, the real national title game will be played when the Tigers face Alabama on November 5. The runner-up will still make a BCS bowl, but the winner is a virtual lock to play for the BCS trophy.

1. Alabama

Second fiddles to LSU in the polls for the moment, Alabama will still have a prominent place in the initial (and final) BCS standings. It’s a safe bet that the Tide won’t get a chance to overtake the Tigers until their head-to-head meeting in November, but they’ll still be among the top teams nationally.

With a defense that’s held three ranked opponents to 11, 14 and 10 points, Alabama is headed to a BCS bowl even with a loss to LSU. A win and the Tide could easily hand Nick Saban another national title.