BCS Rankings 2011: Clemson Tigers Deserve Respect From Computers

When the Clemson Tigers started the season, there were not a lot of expectations surrounding them. They had built a reputation as a solid but underachieving program.

Now, with the first BCS rankings just four days from being released, they have earned the right to be among the top five teams in the country.

Head coach Dabo Swinney has been urging analysts all season to notice his team, because they are better than we think.

After a 6-0 start, including three straight victories over teams who were ranked in the AP and Coaches Polls, it is safe to say the Tigers officially have our attention.

More important than having our attention, though, the Tigers have the attention of the voters.

They are ranked No. 8 in both polls right now, but they should move up in the computer rankings thanks to their strength of schedule and the teams ahead of them not having strong resumes.

The teams ranked ahead of the Tigers are LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama, Wisconsin, Boise State, Stanford and Oklahoma State.

LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama and Wisconsin are going to be the top four teams in the BCS, and deservedly so.

After them, the picture gets cloudy.

Boise State and Stanford have played incredibly soft schedules up to this point, which is likely going to drive them down the rankings.

Oklahoma State could make a case for being No. 5 when the BCS rankings come out. The Cowboys have not played a rough schedule thus far, but they did beat Texas A&M in College Station in Week 4.

They have another game against No. 22 Texas this week.

But of all the teams that will make a claim to the No. 5 spot in the initial rankings, Clemson has the strongest case to make.

The Tigers have beaten three teams that have been ranked in the Top 25, including Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech.

They went into Virginia Tech and dominated the Hokies in prime time, which is always good for a few bonus points from the BCS.

At the end of the day, does it matter which team is ranked No. 5 or 6?

No, the system was created to determine No. 1 and No. 2. Everything else is irrelevant.

But if you start out high in the rankings, it is easy to move into one of those top two spots later down the road.

Clemson still has work to do before they can be called one of the two best teams in the country, but as things stand right now they belong in the top five.