College Football Rankings: Breaking Down the First BCS Rankings of the Season

Landry Jones has Oklahoma looking to regain Bob Stoops' reputation as a big game coach. In their only supposed challenge this season, the Sooners embarrassed the Texas Longhorns.

The Sooners still have some challenging games left, but they also have the team to handle those challenges. They must travel to Manhattan, Kan., to take on Kansas State, welcome Texas A&M to Norman and then battle Oklahoma State in what should be an excellent offensive matchup. 

The difference for Oklahoma this year is that their defense is just as solid as the offense. The Sooners will end the season by clashing with either LSU or Alabama for the crystal football.

10. Oregon Ducks

The Oregon Ducks started out the season much like they ended last season, with a loss to an SEC opponent. The LSU Tigers were much more convincing than Auburn was last year, forcing the Ducks to play catchup ever since.

The injury to Heisman hopeful LaMichael James shouldn't sideline him much longer, but junior Kenjon Barner has proven to be a more than capable backup as he rushed for 171 yards in Oregon's win Saturday. 

The biggest concerns moving forward is starting so low in the BCS rankings and having few quality opponents left on the schedule. If they can find a way to pull out the win at Stanford, they will have an outside chance of returning to the big game, but don't count on it.

9. Arkansas Razorbacks

The Arkansas Razorbacks debuted at No. 9, which seems appropriate considering their only loss is to SEC giant Alabama. 

The Razorbacks are in a much more advantageous position than most as their schedule provides opportunities to get back in the hunt. They currently have two ranked teams left on their schedule. Unfortunately for Arkansas, South Carolina will probably begin a free fall soon as the starting quarterback was recently dismissed from the team and stud running back Marcus Lattimore was lost for the season due to injury.

The LSU game to end the season is the perfect opportunity to impress the pollsters and the computers. If they are able to prevail there and make the SEC Championship game, then Arkansas will almost certainly be playing for a spot in the main event. 

8. Stanford Cardinal

Stanford has probably the best player in the nation with Heisman leader Andrew Luck. The Cardinal do not have many marquee games playing in the Pac-12 which will leave them on the outside looking in.

Stanford only has two ranked opponents on its entire schedule: No. 25 Washington State and No. 10 Oregon. The Oregon matchup will provide little to no boost because Oregon already has one loss, not to mention that it will be a difficult game despite being played in friendly confines.

Stanford is going to need more luck than Luck if they are to make the championship game. The Rose Bowl is a pretty decent consolation prize. 

7. Clemson Tigers

Clemson has been the surprise of the 2011 college football season. The Tigers were able to pull off three straight wins over ranked opponents when they took out Auburn, Florida State and Virginia Tech.

These wins did not vault the Tigers too far up the standings because they started out unranked in the preseason poll. If nothing else, this is an argument that there should not be any official preseason rankings because some teams are counted out before the first kickoff.

Clemson still has two ranked foes left on the schedule and a probable ACC Championship, but that will not be enough to get into the national title hunt.

6. Wisconsin Badgers

The Wisconsin Badgers have left very few points on the field as they have rolled over all opponents to date. They exposed Nebraska a couple weeks ago in a 48-17 shellacking and catapulted themselves into the national championship discussion.

Russell Wilson has been excellent since arriving, and the running game is as dominant as ever. The defense has matched the offense this season giving up just a little over nine points a game.

Their schedule does not provide the type of game to leapfrog either the SEC winner or one of the Oklahoma schools so they will need some help. But make no mistake about it, this Wisconsin team is indeed elite. 

5. Boise State Broncos

Boise State has been the thorn in the side of the BCS for the better part of a decade now. However, this will not be the year they finally break through and get the respect they deserve.

Kellen Moore has continued to impress while the Broncos have steamrolled everyone on their schedule. Just like prior years, that schedule will hold them back from getting into one of the top two spots as there are no ranked opponents left on the schedule.

Perhaps it is time to man up and compete in a big boy conference?

4. Oklahoma State Cowboys

There is no doubt that the Oklahoma State Cowboys have one of the most talented offenses in the country. They have been able to put up almost 50 points a game.

Yet something appears to be missing with this squad. They have looked dominant at times, but there was quite a bit of luck involved in their win over then-No.8 Texas A&M.

If they can find a way to beat Oklahoma in the final game of the regular season, they will have earned all the respect necessary to take on the SEC champ. Until then, they are a good team that lacks that little something extra necessary to be great.

3. Oklahoma Sooners

Landry Jones has Oklahoma looking to regain Bob Stoops reputation as a big game coach. In their only supposed challenge this season, the Sooners embarrassed the Texas Longhorns.

The Sooners still have some challenging games left but they also have the team to handle them. They must travel to Manhattan to take on Kansas State, welcome Texas A&M to Norman and then battle Oklahoma State in what should be an excellent offensive matchup. 

The difference for Oklahoma this year is that their defense is just a solid as the offense. The Sooners will end the season by clashing with either LSU or Alabama for the crystal football.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama is once again in the driver's seat in the BCS rankings. The Crimson Tide have decimated every team they have faced as evidenced by their lowest margin of victory being a 16-point win over Penn State.

Nick Saban is renowned for his defense, and this team is ranked first in the country in points allowed. The offense could remove their quarterback and replace him with another blocker because Trent Richardson is that good.

Saban has quite a few detractors in the general public, but in Alabama he is revered. His legacy is only going to expand this year when his team takes home another national championship.

1. LSU Tigers

LSU probably does not agree with the prior slide that Alabama is the best team in the country. The Tigers have a legitimate gripe considering they have started out ranked first in the BCS and have also mostly handled the competition with ease.

The defense is just as talented as Alabama's. Cornerback Tyrann Mathieu is an absolute beast and has already set the career record for forced fumbles in only his second year.

The problem could be the possible distractions that former starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson creates. He is making a comeback from an early season suspension and has already let it be known that he fully intends on becoming the starter again. While nothing is inherently wrong with that, one has to wonder if he could do more harm than good this season.

Either way, the entire college football landscape will get a little resolution when LSU meets Alabama in two weeks.