BCS Rankings 2011: Top 25 in BCS Standings Heading into Week 9

Featuring the first slate of games since the 2011 BCS standings debuted, Saturday will begin college football's home stretch. Sunday's new BCS standings will bring us one step closer to the national championship.

Which teams will enter the BCS Top 25? Which teams will exit? And which Top 10 team will lose?

Read on to see what next week's BCS standings will look like.

Teams That Will Fall out of BCS Top 25

No. 25 Washington has one of the country's most underrated offenses, led by QB Keith Price, who has 21 TDs to only four INTs. The Huskies have some upset potential on the road against Stanford, but they will ultimately be nipped by the Cardinal.

No. 22 Georgia Tech suffered its first loss of the season last week against an unheralded Virginia team. Tech will suffer the same fate on the road against the Miami Hurricanes, who are much better than their 3-3 record suggests.

No. 20 Auburn is not a good team. The Tigers have been fortunate to win a few close games, but their luck will run out this week when they are pounded in LSU's Tiger Stadium.

No. 25: Georgia Bulldogs

Previous Ranking: NR

This Week: Idle

The Bulldogs have bounced back nicely from an 0-2 start, winning five straight.

Granted, they haven't played anyone good. Luckily, they'll be able to sneak into the top 25 as they rest to prepare for an ailing Florida team.

No. 24: Arizona State

Previous Ranking: NR

This Week: Idle

The Sun Devils put up a valiant effort against the Oregon Ducks on the road last week but ended up losing 41-27.

They are still in prime position for a rematch against Oregon (or a first crack at Stanford) in the PAC-12 title game.

No. 23: Texas Longhorns

Previous Ranking: 24

This Week: Idle

Many were outraged over Texas' inclusion in the initial BCS Standings, coming off the heels of two handy defeats.

Bad news for them—the Longhorns will actually move up a spot this week, as a few teams ahead of them lose.

No. 22 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Previous Ranking: NR

This Week: vs. USC

Just when we're starting to enjoy Notre Dame's budding irrelevance, the Irish bounce back.

The ND-USC rivalry has been diminished in recent years, as both teams have had recent struggles. However, this year's edition should be exciting, as both teams boast an excellent passing game.

As painful as it is to write, the Fighting Irish will edge the Trojans at South Bend. This would potentially put them in the position to play for a BCS berth against Stanford in their final game of the season.

No. 21: Illinois Fighting Illini

Previous Ranking: 23

This Week: at Purdue

The Illini dropped back to earth last week, losing their first game to the Ohio State Buckeyes.

This week, however, Nathan Scheelhaase and company should have no problem beating a mediocre Purdue team.

No. 20: Penn State Nittany Lions

Previous Ranking: 21

This Week: at Northwestern

Penn State has reeled off five straight following an early season loss to Alabama, though the quality of opponents leaves something to be desired.

The Nittany Lions will prey on another substandard team in Northwestern to make it six in a row.

No. 19: Michigan Wolverines

Previous Ranking: 18

This Week: Idle

The Wolverines have a week off after a disappointing loss to in-state rival Michigan State. Their next game will be at home against Purdue.

No. 18: Houston Cougars

Previous Ranking: 19

This Week: vs. Marshall

The undefeated Cougars should polish off the Thundering Herd to move to 7-0.

Houston has begun to receive more media coverage as Heisman dark horse Case Keenum chases records. Increased exposure with voters should help them climb a spot.

No. 17: Texas A&M Aggies

Previous Ranking: 17

This Week: at Iowa State

The nation's best two-loss team is coming off a blowout of Robert Griffin III and the Baylor Bears. There's no reason to believe they won't be able to handle the Cyclones, who are winless in Big 12 play.

No. 16: West Virginia Mountaineers

Previous Ranking: 15

This week: at Syracuse

The high-flying Mountaineers deserve better than No. 16, considering their only blemish was at the hands of LSU. The best team in the Big East will dispatch Syracuse this week to move to 6-1.

Unfortunately, a win against the Orange, much worse than their 4-2 record, won't impress pollsters or computers.

No. 15: South Carolina Gamecocks

Previous Ranking: 14

This Week: Idle

Steve Spurrier's club will stay in the top 15 during its bye week.

However, the future is not bright for these Gamecocks. RB Marcus Lattimore, the team's best player, is out for the season, and their current signal caller is the untested Connor Shaw.

South Carolina was spared of having LSU or Alabama on their schedule, but future games against Arkansas and Clemson look like certain losses.

No. 14: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Previous Ranking: 13

This Week: at Minnesota

The Cornhuskers are back in action, two weeks after their miracle comeback over Ohio State.

One of the perks of Big Ten membership is having the Golden Gophers on your schedule—Minnesota may be the worst power conference team in football. Expect Nebraska to roll.

No. 13: Virginia Tech Hokies

Previous Ranking: 12

This Week: vs. Boston College

Frank Beamer's team has quietly been playing some pretty good ball.

Next up is Boston College, who has been plain awful in 2011. This is a cakewalk for the Hokies.

No. 12: Wisconsin Badgers

Previous Ranking: 6

This Week: at Michigan State

With help from Heisman candidate Russell Wilson, Wisconsin has been staggeringly efficient on offense. But the Badgers have yet to face a defense nearly as good as Michigan State. A swarming pass rush will lead to Wilson's worst game of the year.

For the second straight year, Wisconsin's national championship hopes will die in East Lansing. They will have a chance to avenge the loss in the new Big Ten title game, however.

No. 11: Kansas State Wildcats

Previous Ranking: 11

This Week: at Kansas

The Wildcats have a seriously underrated defense. That defense will let them take care of the Jayhawks.

Despite being undefeated, Kansas State has yet to attract national buzz; this will keep them out of the top 10.

No. 10: Michigan State Spartans

Previous Ranking: 16

This Week: vs. Wisconsin

The Spartans will soar up the human polls after pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the year.

The BCS computers, however, will continue to not be kind to them. As a result, they will rank behind a pair of one-loss teams.

No. 9: Oregon Ducks

Previous Ranking: 10

This Week: at Colorado

The success of Chip Kelly's spread offense is as much about the system as it is about the player. Therefore, the Ducks should make quick work of Colorado.

Oregon should cherish this victory; after a sure W over Washington State next week, they have stern road tests against Washington and Stanford.

No. 8: Arkansas Razorbacks

Previous Ranking: 9

This Week: at Ole Miss

Arkansas had a bye last week; they might as well have one again, as the Rebels won't provide much competition.

The Razorbacks are in a tricky position despite their high BCS rank. Because a conference can only have two BCS representatives, they'll need Alabama or LSU to stumble if they want to play a BCS game. They will have a chance to take on LSU on Nov. 25.

No. 7: Stanford Cardinal

Previous Ranking: 8

This Week: vs. Washington

The Cardinal has had a very easy schedule thus far. In their first true test of the year, they may struggle to fend off Washington.

Heisman front-runner Andrew Luck should be enough to give them the win, however.

No. 6: Clemson Tigers

Previous Ranking: 7

This Week: vs. North Carolina

Clemson's high powered offense sealed a shootout win over Maryland last week. A trio of offensive threats, QB Tajh Boyd, RB Andre Ellington and WR Sammy Watkins, have allowed the Tigers to become major players in the national title race.

North Carolina isn't a bad club, but Clemson will overpower them.

No. 5: Boise State Broncos

Previous Ranking: 5

This Week: vs. Air Force

This may be the best team in Boise State history. Kellen Moore and the Broncos often have games in the bag before intermission.

Boise will roll to an undefeated season, but a glut of undefeated teams leaves their national title hopes in peril.

No. 4: Oklahoma State Cowboys

Previous Ranking: 4

This Week: at Missouri

The Cowboys are in a great position right now. With their fate in their own hands, they know they'll have a berth in the BCS title game if they win out.

They won't experience a defeat this week, as Missouri is experiencing a down year. At this rate, the Bedlam game against Oklahoma may feature two 11-0 teams.

No. 3: Oklahoma Sooners

Previous Ranking: 3

This Week: vs. Texas Tech

The Sooners should take care of the Red Raiders, especially with Tech losing RB Eric Stephens to injury.

Oklahoma's best chance to stumble before Bedlam actually comes the following week at Kansas State.

No. 2: Alabama Crimson Tide

Previous Ranking: 2

This Week: vs. Tennessee

Alabama finished mere hundredths of a point out of the top spot in the BCS's first ranking. An easy win against the Tyler Bray-less Vols won't get them over the hump.

Not that it's all that important, as they'll be able to face No. 1 on the field Nov. 5.

1. LSU Tigers

Previous Ranking: 1

This Week: vs. Auburn

While LSU will retain the top spot, there's reason for concern in Baton Rouge. Stars Tyrann Mathieu and Spencer Ware were suspended for Auburn's game for drug test violations.

The Tigers can survive Auburn without them. But the suspensions could become multiple game sit outs. If Mathieu and Ware aren't available for Nov. 5's much hyped game against Alabama—which is in Tuscaloosa—their title hopes could take a major blow.