BCS Standings: 10 Teams Who Got No Love, but Should Have

The first BCS standings for the 2011-12 college football season were released on Sunday night, and, as always, they are already stirring up plenty of controversy. 

While the majority of the list comes as no surprise, several teams seem to be out of place, if not completely missing from the first round of rankings.

Here are 10 teams who did not get the respect they deserve in the first BCS poll. 

USC Trojans

Current Record: 5-1

Notable Wins: Utah, California

Despite winning five of their first six games and putting up some awfully impressive numbers while doing so, the mighty USC Trojans are nowhere to be found in the first edition of the BCS standings.

Surprising? Definitely.

Fortunately, they'll have a chance to plead their case over the next few weeks.

The Trojans head to Notre Dame this Saturday before hosting No. 8 Stanford in a prime time Week 9 showdown.

Cincinnati Bearcats

Current Record: 5-1

Notable Wins: None

The Cincinnati Bearcats are off to a great start this season, but no one seems to care.

What's the problem?...They haven't played anyone.

Cincy certainly looks like a Top 25 team, but they didn't land a spot in this week's BCS rankings because of their lackluster schedule. Luckily, they'll have plenty of opportunities to prove themselves with games against Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Rutgers still left to play.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Current Record: 5-1

Notable Wins: Pittsburgh, Ohio

It's been a long time since Rutgers has been a force in the Big East, but this year's squad may just be the real deal.

The Scarlet Knights have already notched impressive victories over Pittsburgh and Ohio, and their only loss came in a hard-fought battle against North Carolina. 

While they didn't quite crack the BCS Top 25 this week, they have the potential to be one of the year's biggest surprises if they can keep things rolling.

Penn State Nittany Lions

Current Record: 6-1

Notable Wins: Temple, Iowa

Don't look now, but Penn State is on an absolute tear.

Since falling to No. 2 Alabama early in the season, the Nittany Lions have won four straight, including three Big Ten matchups.

They managed to snag the No. 21 spot in this week's poll, but Joe Pa's boys should be ranked even higher.

Oregon Ducks

Current Record: 5-1 

Notable Wins: Nevada, California, Arizona State

Oregon earned the No. 10 spot in the BCS standings this week which leads me to wonder...

Are there really nine teams in the nation that are better than the Ducks?

Not a chance.

Aside from a Week 1 loss to No. 1 LSU, Oregon has looked absolutely unstoppable. They may not be undefeated like eight of the nine teams ahead of them, but the Ducks are certainly deserving of a higher ranking.     

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Current Record: 4-2

Notable Wins: Michigan State, Pittsburgh

Their 4-2 record isn't outstanding, but the Irish are without a doubt one of the nation's most underrated programs.

Since dropping their first two games to USF and Michigan, Notre Dame has racked up four-straight wins against quality opponents in Pittsburgh, Michigan State, Purdue and Air Force.

They didn't get a BCS nod this week, but a win over USC this Saturday could certainly launch Brian Kelly's Irish up the charts and earn them the national respect that they deserve.

Michigan Wolverines

Current Record: 6-1 

Notable Wins: Notre Dame, San Diego State

A No. 18 BCS ranking probably seems like a breath of fresh air for Michigan fans, considering the misery they have had to endure over the past few seasons. 

That said, Brady Hoke's Wolverines are probably deserving of an even higher spot. 

Denard Robinson is hands down the most explosive athlete in the game, and as long as he is under center the Wolverines have the ability to knock off anyone in the nation.

Sure, they did suffer their first lost of the year last weekend, but there isn't much shame in losing a hard-fought battle to Michigan State.

Arizona State Sun Devils

Current Record: 5-2

Notable Wins: Missouri, USC, Utah

Not only have the Sun Devils played a grueling schedule so far this season, they have also beaten several very good teams.

An ugly loss to Oregon last weekend didn't do them any favors, but with impressive victories over Missouri, USC and Utah already under their belt, it's surprising to see ASU outside of the BCS Top 25. 

SMU Mustangs

Current Record: 5-1

Notable Wins: TCU, UCF

Texas A&M rocked SMU 46-14 in Week 1, but since then the Mustangs have done nothing but dominate.

They're just a small Conference USA program, but that hasn't stopped them from making some serious noise in the college football world.

Just ask TCU and Central Florida. 

It's still early, but SMU looks to have the all of the makings of a BCS buster this season.  

Wisconsin Badgers

Current Record: 6-0

Notable Wins: Nebraska

Wisconsin is No. 6? Really?

Sure, the Badger's schedule hasn't been particularly grueling, but they have absolutely DESTROYED each and every team they have faced this season.

It's hard to believe that there are really five better teams in the nation.