BCS Rankings 2011: Labeling Every BCS Top 25 Team a Contender or Pretender

The first 2011 BCS rankings came out on Sunday.

Not surprisingly, two SEC teams, LSU and Alabama, lead the rankings.

Then, a couple of Big 12 teams follow in Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

Obviously, LSU and Alabama will play each other, as will Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, leaving an opportunity for teams like Wisconsin and Boise State to jump into the top three and create some BCS problems.

For now, though, let's take a look at each BCS Top 25 team and see if they are pretenders or contenders.

25. Washington Huskies (5-1)

Pretender

The Huskies have been a surprise this year, jumping out to a 5-1 record.

But, they haven't faced any real competition yet this year, losing their only true test against Nebraska.

The next three weeks, they play at Stanford and at home against Arizona and Oregon.

I wouldn't be surprised if they end up with a 5-4 record after this stretch.

24. Texas Longhorns (4-2)

Pretender

I'm not really sure why the Longhorns are even in the top 25 right now.

They beat up on a couple of weak non-conference opponents and Iowa State, then lost to the two Oklahoma teams.

They won't win consistently until their quarterback play improves, and that might not be until next season.

23. Illinois Fighting Illini (6-1)

Contender

Yes, the Illini just lost an ugly game to the Ohio State Buckeyes, but they can rebound from it.

They have a balanced offense and a strong defense that can pull a couple upsets.

After a game against Purdue this weekend, they play Penn State, Michigan and Wisconsin.

If they can win two of those games, they'll be in good shape for a BCS bowl berth.

22. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-1)

Contender

The Yellow Jackets have as good of a chance as anyone at winning the ACC.

They slipped up against Virginia on Saturday, so they made it harder on themselves.

But, with games against Clemson and Virginia Tech left on the schedule, anything can happen.

21. Penn State Nittany Lions (6-1)

Pretender

The Nittany Lions have a brutal schedule down the stretch.

This weekend, they play Northwestern. Then, the real test begins.

Their last four games are against Illinois, Nebraska, Ohio State and Wisconsin.

They'll probably lose at least three of those games.

20. Auburn Tigers (5-2)

Pretender

The Tigers have escaped with wins in a couple games they should have lost.

That won't continue to happen down the stretch.

With games against Alabama and LSU still to come, there won't be any comeback victories against two of college football's elite defenses.

They'll make a decent bowl game, but it won't be a BCS bowl.

19. Houston Cougars (6-0)

Contender

The Cougars have the top passing offense in the country, averaging more than 435 yards per game through the air.

With Case Keenum at quarterback, the Cougars have a legitimate shot of finishing the season at 12-0 heading into the Conference USA Championship game.

If they go 13-0, there's no reason they shouldn't be in a BCS bowl.

They won't have the resume to get into the championship, but an at-large bid isn't out of the question.

18. Michigan Wolverines (6-1)

Contender

The Wolverines don't have to play Wisconsin this season, and that will make a big difference.

They also don't have to take on the always tough Penn State defense.

So, that gives them a pretty easy road to the Big Ten Championship game from the Legends Division.

If they can beat Nebraska later this year, they'll be in control of their own destiny.

17. Texas A&M Aggies (4-2)

Pretender

The Aggies have failed their toughest tests this season against Oklahoma State and Arkansas.

With games against Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas State and Texas left on the schedule, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Aggies leave the Big 12 with a very mediocre 8-5 record. 

16. Michigan State Spartans (5-1)

Pretender

The Spartans passed their first test in a tough stretch of games against ranked opponents, beating Michigan 28-14.

They'll probably lose their next two games though, against Wisconsin and at Nebraska.

The schedule lightens up considerably after that, but it will be too late to make a difference for the Spartans.

15. West Virginia Mountaineers (5-1)

Contender

The Mountaineers definitely aren't the 15th-best team in the country.

But, in the comically weak Big East, they should run away with the championship.

That will earn them an automatic BCS berth, hopefully to the Orange Bowl against the ACC champion.

14. South Carolina Gamecocks (6-1)

Pretender

As recently as last weekend, I would have had the Gamecocks as contenders.

But, the loss of Marcus Lattimore for the season really hurts this team.

After the dismissal of quarterback Stephen Garcia, they were relying on Lattimore to carry the team.

Now, they will probably lost the SEC East to Georgia.

13. Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1)

Contender

It won't be easy, but the Cornhuskers could make it to a BCS bowl by winning the Big Ten Championship game.

To do that, they'll probably have to beat Wisconsin, a team that killed them earlier this season, 48-17.

The more immediate problem is their remaining schedule, which still features Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State.

12. Virginia Tech Hokies (6-1)

Contenders

Anything can happen in the ACC, which has three teams with a shot at the championship.

In order to get into the championship, they'll have to beat Georgia Tech, who feature the No. 2 rushing attack in the country.

But, it could happen and the Hokies could end up getting a rematch against Clemson to see who goes to a BCS bowl game.

11. Kansas State Wildcats (6-0)

Pretenders

Enjoy this high ranking while you can, Wildcat fans.

After a guaranteed victory agains the Kansas Jayhawks this weekend, K-State's schedule gets absolutely brutal.

In a span of four weeks, they play Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas.

There's no way they win more than one of those games.

10. Oregon Ducks (5-1)

Contender

A Rose Bowl berth isn't out of the question for the Ducks.

They still control their destiny, as a game against Stanford on November 12 will probably decide the winner of the Pac-12 North.

If the Ducks get LaMichael James back before that game, they have a great chance of winning.

9. Arkansas Razorbacks (5-1)

Pretenders

Yes, the Razorbacks are good.

But, they end the year with a game against LSU and won't make it to the SEC Championship game.

Alabama and LSU will probably make BCS bowls, leaving the Razorbacks to head to the Cotton Bowl. 

8. Stanford Cardinal (6-0)

Contenders

While Oregon will be playing for a potential Rose Bowl berth on November 12, the Cardinal could be playing to keep their national championship hopes alive.

With Andrew Luck at quarterback, it's possible for Stanford to have an undefeated season.

Then, it will be up to the BCS computers whether they get in to the championship game.

7. Clemson Tigers (7-0)

Contender

The Tigers are the biggest surprise of the college football season so far.

They have a clear path to the ACC Championship game and if they win that, a BCS National Championship berth isn't out of the question.

They'll need an SEC team and a Big 12 team to slip up a bit, but it's not impossible.

6. Wisconsin Badgers (6-0)

Contender

Getting Russell Wilson before the start of this season was huge for the Badgers.

It vaulted them from a good team to a great team.

With Montee Ball and James White in the backfield to help Wilson, this team has no excuse for not going undefeated this season.

5. Boise State Broncos (6-0)

Contender

The Broncos are always contenders for the BCS Championship, but they never get in.

That will probably hold true this season too, but they'll earn another BCS at-large bid.

That would likely put them in the Sugar or Fiesta Bowl.

First though, they have to get by TCU on November 12.

4. Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-0)

Contender

The Cowboys have a manageable remaining schedule up until the final week of the season.

They play Oklahoma on December 3, which will probably end up being a de facto Big 12 Championship game.

The winner should be undefeated and should go on to the BCS Championship game.

And with an offense led by Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden, the Cowboys have a reasonable shot of beating Oklahoma.

3. Oklahoma Sooners (6-0)

Contender

Oklahoma State has Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon.

But, Oklahoma also has a pretty great offensive combo in Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles.

The Sooners also have a better defense, so they should be favored when the Cowboys and Sooners play on December 3 with a BCS title berth likely on the line.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-0)

Contender

The LSU-Alabama game on November 5 is probably going to be the most important game of the college football regular season.

It will decide who goes to the SEC Championship game, a game that will probably send the winner to the BCS Championship game.

With the No. 1 defense in the country, allowing only seven points per game, the Tide will be in good shape against LSU.

1. LSU Tigers (7-0)

Contender

Alabama's defense only allows seven points a game, but the Tigers defense isn't much worse, allowing less than 12 points per game.

The November 5 game between these two clubs should be a defensive struggle.

But, when it comes to quarterback play, LSU has a slight edge against the Tide.

It should be a great matchup and it should decide which team goes to the BCS Championship game.