BCS Rankings 2011: 5 Unranked Teams That Deserve to Make BCS Poll

The BCS Rankings drop tonight, and there are five teams not ranked in the AP Poll that deserve some recognition in the initial BCS Rankings.

Just because they're getting no love from AP voters doesn't mean they aren't deserving of cracking the Top 25 in the BCS Rankings.

Be it a soft schedule or an overvalued loss that has voters hesitant to buy in, there are a handful of promising teams who are going to be getting a lot more love in the BCS rankings than the AP Poll.

Penn State

Many people have doubted Penn State all season long. It's hard to write them off now. With a 6-1 record and their only loss coming at the hands of Alabama—who happens to be the best team in the nation—the Nittany Lions are heading into the thick of their schedule with a full head of stem.

They have Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio State and Wisconsin still lying ahead. It's a brutal lineup of opponents, but it's impossible to discount Penn State. They allow less than 11 points a game and though them taking down Wisconsin is a huge stretch, they are going to give the other three aforementioned teams a run for their money.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame has gained some legitimacy in recent weeks. Though they started off the season in an 0-2 hole, they've taken huge strides and are starting to look like the ranked team voters thought they were before the season began.

They take on USC this week, and if they can manage to come away with a win at home against the Trojans, it's tough to see them suffering another loss until they play Stanford to close out the season.

SMU

SMU has only one loss on the season and beat ranked TCU. They've got a lot of easy wins lying ahead of them and another chance to prove themselves when they play Houston, who has quietly creeped their way into the rankings.

SMU is largely discounted and under everyone's radar, but their stellar passing attack and favorable schedule are going to make for a great season that people can't continue to ignore.

Washington

Washington hasn't really beaten anyone of significance, but one loss to Nebraska shouldn't kick them out of voters' graces. They have a brutal schedule lying ahead with Stanford, USC and Oregon coming up in the next four weeks.

It's hard to imagine them surviving that stretch, but they can't be discounted because of what lies ahead. They're 5-1, and the way Washington is playing, nobody can discount them. With a mostly manageable Pac-12 schedule lying in front of them, the Huskies present a dangerous trap game for conference juggernauts.

Georgia

Georgia suffered two tough losses to two stellar opponents right out of the gate. Boise State and South Carolina took down the Bulldogs and put them in an 0-2 hole. They've since won five straight, including three SEC road games.

There take on Florida next week, and a win will almost certainly put them in the rankings. A rough start won't cripple Georgia forever. Since their two losses, they've allowed 14 or more points only once. Their defense is stepping up, and there isn't a game on their schedule that they don't have a fighting chance in.