BCS Rankings Week 8: Predicting the Biggest Roadblock for Every Top 25 Team

With tonight's release of the first BCS standings of the season, it gives us the first real opportunity to fast-forward ahead and project who will be the two teams left standing in the BCS Championship Game.

Only two can play for the title and there is plenty of football to be played between now and then, which gives us plenty of time to debate who will finish the season as the top two ranked teams.

Along the way, each team will hit a big roadblock they will have to overcome to get to the promise land.

Here is the biggest roadblock for each team in the BCS Top 25.

25. Washington

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Oct. 22 at Stanford

The Huskies crack the BCS Top 25 but it could be short lived. Three of their next four games are against Stanford, Oregon and USC.

If they somehow find a way to survive that gauntlet, Washington will be a team skyrocketing up the rankings.

24. Texas

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Nov. 19 vs. Kansas State

The Longhorns just came off of their toughest two games of the season, losing to both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in consecutive weeks.

They still have to face Texas A&M and Baylor, but a showdown with undefeated Kansas State is also still on the Texas schedule.

23. Illinois

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Nov. 19 vs. Wisconsin

The Illini are fresh off a disappointing first loss of the season. They can still make some noise in the Big Ten, but it will require back-to-back wins against both Michigan and Wisconsin.

If there is any good new there for Illinois, both games are at home.

22. Georgia Tech

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Oct. 29 vs. Clemson

Similar to Illinois, the Yellow Jackets suffered their first loss of the season Saturday, but have a couple big games still left on the schedule.

Georgia Tech still has back-to-back home games remaining against Clemson and Virginia Tech.

21. Penn State

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Nov. 26 at Wisconsin

Penn State survived Purdue to improve to 6-1 on the season, but they are about to enter the tough part of their schedule that features home games against Illinois and Nebraska and road games against Ohio State and Wisconsin.

20. Auburn

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Oct. 22 at LSU

The defending BCS Champions check in at No. 20, but it's brutal for them the rest of the way with games remaining against both LSU and Alabama.

19. Houston

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Nov. 19 vs. SMU

Case Keenum and the Cougars currently sit at 6-0 and have a legitimate chance to run the table this year. It will be interesting to see how far they rise up the standings if they do. It won't be a given that they crack the Top 10.

18. Michigan

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Nov 19. vs. Nebraska

The Wolverines were one of three previously unbeaten teams to suffer their first defeat over the weekend and all three paid a steep price in the BCS Standings.

Michigan's final three weeks will tell the story of the season as they head to Illinois and then return home to face Nebraska and longtime rival Ohio State.

17. Texas A&M

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Nov. 5 at Oklahoma

Where would the Aggies be sitting had they held on to beat Oklahoma State and Arkansas? Certainly with the quality of those wins, they would be no lower than No. 5 or No. 6.

They still have some big games remaining and can play spoiler for some teams, including Oklahoma.

16. Michigan State

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Oct. 22 vs. Wisconsin

Had the Spartans taken care of business against Notre Dame, they would be sitting prettier than No. 16 right now.

They get the opportunity to make up for that with back-to-back games against Wisconsin and Nebraska. If they survive that, the rest of their regular season schedule isn't very tough.

15. West Virginia

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Dec. 1 at South Florida

For West Virginia, any shot at rising up the BCS Standings essentially died when they lost to LSU.

Otherwise the Mountaineers don't have a non-conference win worth bragging about and even dominating the Big East won't help them out a great deal.

They should run the table the rest of the season. If there is anything to be concerned about it's their final three games which feature road trips to Cincinnati and South Florida with the Backyard Brawl sandwiched in between.

14. South Carolina

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Nov. 5 at Arkansas

For the Gamecocks, almost every game the rest of the season will be tough without the services of running back Marcus Lattimore.

South Carolina still has games with Arkansas and Clemson remaining, so a once promising season could go the other way real soon.

13. Nebraska

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Oct. 29 at Michigan State

Nebraska is a team that needs to beat some good teams to have any chance to move up the standings.

Unfortunately for them, their out of conference schedule wasn't that tough and then they were blown out by Wisconsin.

They still have the two Michigan schools remaining in Big Ten play, but that is about it.

12. Virginia Tech

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Nov. 10 at Georgia Tech

The Hokies have gone through the toughest part of their ACC schedule and conclude the season at Georgia Tech then home against North Carolina and Virginia.

If they get past the Yellow Jackets, their biggest challenge should come in the ACC Championship Game.

11. Kansas State

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Oct. 29 at Oklahoma

The biggest surprise so far in the BCS Standings is the fact that Bill Snyder's Wildcats are sitting undefeated at No.11.

To stay that way would be a remarkable feat though as they have a four game stretch against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas still remaining.

10. Oregon

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Nov. 12 at Stanford

Despite the injuries, Chip Kelly's Ducks just keep on going. They face a two-game stretch that includes games at Stanford and at home against USC.

From there on they have to watch the scoreboard and see what happens.

9. Arkansas

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Nov. 25 at LSU

Just a loss to Alabama prevents the Razorbacks from ranking much higher. The schedule softens up for them until the very end when they will have to travel to LSU.

8. Stanford

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Nov 12 vs. Oregon

The Cardinal got no love from the computers and similar to Wisconsin, their soft non-conference schedule hurt them right off the bat.

Stanford needs some high profile wins to rise up the standings and they get a big chance in mid-November against Oregon.

7. Clemson

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Oct. 29 at Georgia Tech

I keep waiting for Clemson to come back to earth, but they keep getting the job done and more importantly the Tigers keep winning.

They will need some dominoes to drop for them to reach the BCS Championship Game. In order to do that though they will have to survive a couple of tough road tests, including a trip to Georgia Tech in a couple of weeks.

6. Wisconsin

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Oct. 22 at Michigan State

Russell Wilson and the Badgers are off to a great start and already cleared one hurdle by dismantling Nebraska.

That leaves another big one to clear next week when the Badgers head to Michigan State.

The Spartans' tough defense handled Denard Robinson and Michigan last week and will be looking to do the same to Wisconsin.

5. Boise State

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Nov. 12 vs. TCU

Now here is the annual question about Boise State and the BCS Championship Game.

Starting out at No. 5 is not good for them. All they can do now is take care of business on the field and watch the scoreboard.

In their way is still a mid-November game against TCU. While this game looked better on paper before the season began, the Horned Frogs could still be a thorn in the Broncos' side.

4. Oklahoma State

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Dec. 3 vs. Oklahoma

Could this be the year for Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State?

Their offense says yes, but can their defense meet the challenge?

This is a theme among the top four teams as No. 1 and No. 2 as well as No. 3 and No. 4 still have to play each other, so the opportunity will be there for the Cowboys to move up.

In order to do that though, the Cowboys will have to prove that they can get by Oklahoma in their season finale.

3. Oklahoma

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Dec. 3 at Oklahoma State

The Sooners are upstaged for the moment by the two SEC powerhouses, but are still in a solid position to play for the BCS Championship.

Oklahoma has a lot of work still left in front of them though. The Sooners still have games remaining with the likes of Kansas State, Baylor and Texas A&M, with two of those on the road.

However, the ultimate test for the Sooners comes in their season finale when they travel to in-state rival Oklahoma State in a game that will likely have a whole lot riding on it.

2. Alabama

Biggest Roadblock: Nov. 5 vs. LSU

Trent Richardson and the Crimson Tide are on a roll, but it won't be an easy road for Nick Saban's bunch to finish the season at the top of the BCS Standings.

There is still a road game at Auburn and a possible SEC Championship Game to deal with but without a doubt the biggest obstacle standing between Alabama and a chance at playing for another championship is their much awaited SEC showdown with LSU.

1. LSU

Biggest Roadblock Remaining: Nov. 5 at Alabama

The Tigers have had a tremendous beginning to the season but that will be tested in early November when they have to hit the road to go to Alabama.

The old theory of what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable wall will be tested in that one, with the winner having a clear path to the BCS Championship Game.