BCS Standings 2011: How Will Strength Of Schedule Impact the Rankings?

Next week, we’ll finally get our first taste of the 2011 BCS rankings, which are set to be released on Sunday.

Up until now, it’s all just been guesswork and prognostication, but soon enough, the rankings will be unveiled and the debate can officially begin.

Who’s too high?

Who’s too low?

It’s only just a matter of time before those arguments start flooding the college football world.

As always, it will all play itself out over time. Definitive victors will emerge from the key matchups like LSU-Alabama, Oklahoma-Oklahoma State and Stanford-Oregon.

Nevertheless, the debate over who belongs and who doesn’t is still such a big part of college football.

Right now, there are eight teams that appear to be vying for the top spots, so let’s have a look at which teams have a worthy resume and which don’t.

LSU Tigers

It’s easy to say that LSU has the strongest resume out of any team in college football right now.

The Tigers already have four wins over ranked teams, three of them coming away from home.

Even though Mississippi State has taken a slide, Les Miles’ crew still has wins over Oregon, West Virginia and Florida to brag about.

They’ve also got respected opponents like Auburn, Alabama and Arkansas remaining on the docket.

If the Tigers take care of business at Tennessee on Saturday, there’s no reason they shouldn’t be the No. 1 team in the first BCS rankings.

Alabama Crimson Tide

It’s obvious that if Alabama beats LSU, wins the SEC championship and runs the table that the Tide will make it to New Orleans for the big game.

But where will Alabama be ranked in the initial BCS standings when they come out next week?

With wins over Penn State, Arkansas, and Florida, who were all ranked at the time the Tide beat them, it’s easy to say Alabama deserves a high position.

Still, we all know the real game that Alabama is going to hang its hat on is the Nov. 5 showdown with LSU.

Besides that and the big Iron Bowl matchup with Auburn, it seems like the rest of the season is just window dressing.

Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma’s win over Florida State back in Week 3 has been decreasing in value since the Seminoles decided to subsequently throw away their season after the loss.

But the Sooners did pick up a nice resume booster with this past weekend’s dominating showing at the Cotton Bowl.

The 55-17 obliteration of Texas certainly solidifies Bob Stoops’ squad as a true title contender.

We’re going to have to wait until the final week of the season to see what this team is really made of.

Sure, Kansas State, Baylor and Texas A&M might give the Sooners their best shot.

It’s the Bedlam game against Oklahoma State on Dec. 3 that’s really going to determine if this team is headed to the big dance or not.

Oklahoma hasn’t done enough to overtake either LSU or Alabama in the initial BCS rankings just yet.

The Sooners aren’t too far behind and as long as they keep winning, they’ll stay on pace to make it to New Orleans.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

It was nice to see Oklahoma State put up a 70 spot on Kansas this past weekend. But still remember, it’s just Kansas.

Putting up 70 on the Jayhawks is like putting up 40 on an average college defense.

At this point, the only real win of note that the Cowboys have on their resume is a come from behind victory at Texas A&M, but that will change in the coming weeks.

Texas, Missouri, Baylor and Kansas State are all waiting around the corner, oh, and let’s not forget about that little matchup with Oklahoma at the end of the year.

If Mike Gundy can get his team to December unscathed, they will likely control their own destiny in the showcase game with the Sooners.

Boise State Broncos

Boise State’s opening-season win over Georgia looks a little better now that the Bulldogs have rallied to win four straight games, but still, what other victory is there to get excited about?

Yay, you went out and embarrassed Fresno State again, what is that supposed to do for me?

I’ve seen this story already.

I like the Broncos. I think they’re a well coached group and you have to respect all that they’ve accomplished recently. 

But, the whole ‘let’s get a big win early and then cruise the rest of the way’ thing isn’t going to fly this year.

College Football is too top-heavy this season.

Boise State has a great shot to run the table, but getting people to care is a whole different challenge all together.

Clemson Tigers

I’ve been asking this a lot recently, but I like to repeat myself, so I’ll ask it again.

How is Boise State ranked ahead of Clemson?

Boise State has one win over a ranked opponent, Clemson has three.

What formula are we using here, folks?

If Boise State is ranked ahead of Clemson in the first BCS rankings, which will probably be the case, there’s simply no way to justify that.

Outside of LSU and Alabama, this Clemson team has the strongest resume out of any of the Top 10 teams in college football.

Yet, they’re probably the least respected and appreciated.

It’s not their fault that the voters were neglectful and failed to put them in the preseason Top 25, but the Tigers don’t seem to care.

They just simply keep going out there getting the job done on a routine basis and they continue to work their way up the college football food chain.

Wisconsin Badgers

I like this Wisconsin team a whole heck of a lot.

I believe QB Russell Wilson has to be on the short list for Heisman contenders, but let’s be honest, Wisconsin’s September schedule was an absolute joke.

Wisconsin has been notorious for scheduling soft September slates and this year was no different.

UNLV, Oregon State, Northern Illinois and South Dakota?

Come on Badgers, when LSU’s out there playing Oregon, Alabama’s taking a trip up to Happy Valley and Oklahoma’s heading down to Tallahassee.

You’ve got to do better than that with your nonconference schedule.

I know you probably expected Oregon State to be better when you initially scheduled the game but that’s pathetic.

The dominating win over Nebraska certainly helps, but this team still has a lot to prove in conference play.

If they run the table and beat Michigan State, Ohio State and Illinois on the road, then you can start putting them in the same breath as the big three.

Until then, the computers are not going to look favorably on that early schedule.

Stanford Cardinal

I know Andrew Luck is great and all, but to be perfectly honest, if I were quarterbacking for the Cardinal this season, they would in all likelihood still be 5-0 at this point.

San Jose State, Duke, Arizona, UCLA and Colorado?

What, was Cal Poly booked?

Stanford has three notable games left on its schedule against USC, Oregon and Notre Dame.

However, with zero wins over ranked opponents, there’s just no way to accurately judge this team yet.

Stanford might just be college football’s biggest mystery team.