BCS Standings 2011: Michigan State and 3 Teams That Should Crack Top 15

With plenty of upheaval in the rankings in Week 7, Michigan State leads a crop of teams ready to vault into the Top 15 in the BCS standings.

Losses from Georgia Tech, Illinois and Michigan opened the door. Wins by Michigan State, Kansas State and Texas A&M will push those teams through the opening.

Michigan State

After starting this week at No. 23, Michigan State has to leapfrog quite a few teams to make it to No. 15, but in addition to the three former undefeateds, Baylor and Arizona State also fell. That knocks five teams out of the Spartans’ way, leaving just three spots to be made up.

Statistically, Michigan State’s defense is right up there with the nation’s best. The Spartans have allowed just 3.3 yards per play this season, a mark bested only by Alabama’s nation-leading 3.2. Yet, going into this week, pollsters questioned whether those stats reflected the reality of Michigan State’s ability, or just the incapability of the Spartans’ opponents.

After plowing through more than their fair share of cupcakes early in the season, yesterday’s grudge match with Michigan was a great opportunity for Michigan State to prove its worth.

The Spartans shut down the previously unstoppable Denard Robinson, battering the Michigan quarterback. MSU held him to under 200 total yards and held the Wolverines’ previously prolific offense to just 14 points.

Michigan State’s only loss came against a Notre Dame team that is much better than its 4-2 record would indicate.

It’d be quite a leap to make in one week, but don’t be surprised if Michigan State jumps all the way into the Top 15 of the BCS standings.

Kansas State

Bill Snyder’s Kansas State Wildcats have flown below the radar in the early part of this season, locked in a battle with the Houston Cougars for supremacy among the irrelevant unbeatens.

After a solid road win against Texas Tech, it looks like Kansas State has finally earned a place among the big boys, an honor long overdue for the Wildcats.

The win in Lubbock is K-State’s second quality road win of the season, adding to a Week 4 win at Miami. With wins over Missouri and Baylor sandwiched in between those road victories, Kansas State has built a solid resume.

The Wildcats have their issues, specifically a pass offense that ranks 114th in the nation, but at this point in the season, the pollsters (and computers) can’t deny them a place in the Top 15.

Texas A&M

Most fans in Aggieland would call this season a disappointment, but somehow, Texas A&M may still find itself in the Top 15 of this week’s BCS rankings.

The computers love the Aggies’ strength of schedule. Even with two losses, Texas A&M is 12th in the Sagarin computer poll, ahead of undefeated Kansas State.

The human pollsters have seen the pass defense shredded by Oklahoma State and Arkansas, but they also see that the Aggies lost those two games by a combined total of just five points.

Texas A&M began this week at No. 21, but a convincing win over No. 20 Baylor, combined with a boost from the computers, will slingshot the two-loss Aggies all the way into the Top 15.