BCS Rankings 2011: Surprising Kansas St. Will Help Sooners' Case for Top Spot

Kansas St. is on a run right now and they have climbed to No. 12 on the media poll and No. 16 in the coaches poll. The latter is factored into the BCS standings, of which, the first of 2011 will be released this evening.

Oklahoma is chasing the two SEC juggernauts, LSU and Alabama, for the top spots in the polls and presumably the BCS. Although, the coaches poll still has Oklahoma No. 1 in the nation.

The Wildcats play should improve the Sooners' case as their surprising undefeated record does strengthen the perception of the conference. Is it enough to offset both Baylor and Texas falling from the polls after being thrashed by conference opponents, Oklahoma St and Texas A&M?

Six teams is certainly better than four, but if the Wildcats defeat the Kansas Jayhawks on the road next week and a team ahead of them stumbles, K-St. could be near the top 10 for their October 29th clash with the Sooners.

While Oklahoma will be heavily favored, it will be their third, of what will need to be, four victories over top 15 teams. The last one would presumably be in the regular season finale on December 3rd against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, who are currently ranked No. 6 in the nation.

All three of the major Big-12 contenders will play each other over the remainder of the season. That is a good thing considering the Big 12 is without a title game this year.

The Sooners hope the strength of those teams can help vault them into the National Championship game, provided they win out themselves.