BCS Rankings 2011: Describing Every Top 25 Team in One Word

The old saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” is a powerful concept and, in some cases, oh so true. Today we’re going to take this age old adage and turn it on its head.

We’ll still be using full color pictures to bedazzle your visual palette. But instead of the image being the source of the many words, we’re going to just use one word to describe the photos.

The landmark slideshow that follows will defy the parameters of modern journalism and use one word to encapsulate a thousand. We’ll apply this cutting edge concept in minimalism to describe each of the top 25 ranked BCS teams.

Twenty-five great college football teams and 25 words to describe them. Provocative.

Then, of course we’ll screw the whole notion up by inserting a couple of lines of text under the one word to explain ourselves because in reality moderation has its limitations.

No. 25: Washington

Surprising

At No. 25 in the first BCS rankings, the Huskies are a fairly unexpected member of the 2011 elite “for now” club. 

With the turnover at QB and the overall youth of Washington’s 2011 product, Athlon predicted they’d finish third in their new division and No. 44 nationally.

Sporting News had them fourth in the new North and not on their national radar at all, while Phil Steele picked the Huskies third divisionally and No. 49  in his power rankings.

All this adds up to a bit of “shock and awe” regarding Washington’s 5-1 start (3-0 in conference) with Stanford and Oregon left to play. With the No. 116 ranked pass defense they’ll need to shore things up to stay in the mix.

No. 24: Texas

Better

Relative to expectations at Texas, 4-2 certainly isn’t reason to celebrate. Comparing the ’11 Horns to the 2010 product, the word “better” is well justified and probably a relief to burnt orange wearers.

They’re young and prone to the mistakes that accompany adolescence, but you can see just enough spirit, fire and pluck to make you believe that these kids will soon be ready to play Longhorn caliber football.

Want more stats to hang your hat on? Both losses thus far were to teams ranked in the top 10 and UT has managed to improve their No. 116 ranked turnover ratio in 2010 (minus-12) to No. 56. (an even zero).

The Longhorns have plenty of work left to do this season (K-State, Texas A&M and the balance of the Big 12 is still out there) but they are indeed better.

No. 23: Illinois

Hopeful

The Illini’s magnificent achievement of a 6-1 start shouldn’t be watered down with pessimistic talk. It deserves to be duly recognized as their best foray into a season since 2001, which was also the last time Illinois won a Big Ten title.

All affirmative dialogue aside, the Illini have to hope that the success they’ve earned in playing seven teams with a combined record of 21-20 (only one of which was ranked at the time) can spill over into the final five contests of the season that include three ranked teams.

How good are the Illini?

After October 29 at Penn State, November 12 versus Michigan and November 19 versus Wisconsin, we’ll be able to answer that question with a lot more certainty.

Illinois is hopeful.

No. 22: Georgia Tech

Dashing

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have run the option to near perfection on their way to a 6-1 start. Their No. 2 ranking in rushing yards (347.9 yards per game) makes their ability to dash better than anyone's in the FBS ranks other than Army.

The term “dashing” in this case has a double meaning since Georgia Tech has both lived and died by the ground game.

The Yellow Jackets only loss (to Virginia this past Saturday) wasn’t about an inability to run the ball, it was about the struggle to stop the ground game.

Georgia Tech ranks No. 81 nationally in rushing defense. Though they’ve allowed an average of 177.14 rushing yards thus far this season, the Cavaliers hung up 272 yards on the Yellow Jacket D.

They’re dashing, but let’s hope they stay on the upside of that label for the final six games of the season.

No. 21: Penn State

Barely

The word “barely” isn’t a poke at the Nitany Lions squeezing themselves into the initial BCS top 25. Instead, it’s about the way they’ve made it there.

Six wins is six wins no matter how you slice it. Those, plus a singular loss to perhaps the best team in the land, are nothing to snort at.

All disclaimers aside, Penn State’s total margin of victory over all six of the teams they’ve beaten (including a 41-7 win over FCS Indiana State) is 87 points, or 14.5 points per game.

If that doesn’t impress you, watch the number decrease when the calculation is limited to the five FBS opponents only (including Temple and Eastern Michigan, both from the MAC). It adds up to 53 total points, or 10.6 points per game.

The whopper is when you whittle the number down to the three BCS opponents only (all Big Ten foes, Purdue, Indiana and Iowa). The number drops to 21 points total, or a mere seven points per game.

Barely.

No. 20: Auburn

Scrappy

Auburn’s two-loss performance somewhat masks the huge achievement they’ve earned by virtue of their stupendous will to win.

They’re the defending BCS champions, but this is a team that lost almost everyone from their title blasting squad. And I’m not just talking about the obvious skill players.

The Tigers returned not only the least experienced team in the SEC from last season, they returned the least experienced team in the nation in 2011.

This fact makes a total margin of victory of 43 points (8.6 points per game) over five opponents—including an FCS team and 0-6 FAU—a little easier to swallow. But even these numbers scream out the fact that Auburn is scrappy.

When you look at their statistical resume, absolutely nothing really jumps out and grabs you (with the exception of 449 yards of penalties).

It makes you wonder how they’ve managed to take the least experienced group of players in the land and beat two ranked teams, and only suffer losses to teams the caliber of Arkansas and undefeated Clemson.

I’ll tell you how, the Auburn Tigers are scrappy.

No. 19: Houston

Thankful

If the Houston Cougars can manage to knock down its five opponents that remain between now and Thanksgiving (Marshall, Rice, UAB, Tulane and SMU), they will sit down at the holiday buffet even more grateful than they are right now.

If they win those five contests, all that will stand between Houston and perfection is Tulsa and a C-USA title game.

Even if that doesn’t happen, the Houston Cougars have a lengthy list of reasons to be thankful right now.

The grateful inventory begins with the fact QB Case Keenum was rewarded his final year of eligibility and is leading the Cougs to a No. 1 national ranking in passing yards.

Houston has shown some spark defensively (allowing only 22.7 points per game), has one of the easiest schedules in college football and have earned a plus-seven turnover ranking, scoring 15 takeaways versus only eight turnovers.

So, should Houston be thankful that they’ve been mentioned in the top 20 of the master list? Absolutely not. 6-0 is 6-0.

No. 18: Michigan

Defensive

Perhaps underplayed in the Wolverines 6-1 start and No. 18 ranking in the BCS poll under first year head coach Brady Hoke is the huge leaps and bounds Michigan has made from a defensive standpoint.

This is a team that the experts had finishing near the bottom of their division and in the No. 40 range due to their lack of defense in 2010.

This is exactly why there is more than just a 6-1 start to celebrate in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines are finally improving on the other side of the ball, which is exactly what has prevented them from winning more games in the recent past.

How improved is Michigan’s D?

Last season they finished No. 108 overall in scoring defense (35.2 points per game), No. 95 in rushing defense (188.9 yards per game) and No. 112 in passing (261.9 yards per game). This season they are No. 10 in scoring (14.7 points per game), No. 56 in rushing defense (145.29 yards per game) and No. 25 in passing (190.7 yards per game).

Add it all up and you’ve got 20.5 points less per game, 43 rushing yards less per game and a whopping 71.2 fewer passing yards per game.

This turnaround has been achieved against teams who are 24-20 in 2011, two of which were ranked.

No. 17: Texas A&M

Healing

On the one hand, the Aggies have to feel good about being at No. 17 in the BCS rankings. It’s been quite a while since Texas A&M has found the polls only seven weeks into a season.

On the other hand the Aggies have to feel absolutely gutted they aren’t ranked higher on the big board.

2011 was rightly heralded as the year Texas A&M football would return in earnest—the year that the Aggies would climb out of their decade deep hole and vie for a Big 12 Championship, a BCS bid and a shot at that big, cheesy enchilada.

Then came the second half meltdowns versus Oklahoma State and Arkansas. The dreams became just that, visions of grandeur to be fulfilled in yet another campaign, the dreaded “next year” scenario.

Even though Texas A&M’s season is far from over, they will have to work very hard to therapeutically heal themselves from the nagging thoughts of what could have been.

No. 16: Michigan State

Stingy

After charging out of the gates to a dominating 2-0 start, Michigan State’s Week 3 loss at Notre Dame dropped Sparty off the radar like a hot potato that was only recovered from the ground for consumption after they knocked off No. 11 Michigan last weekend in East Lansing.

What's the big reason everyone’s favorite green and white skirt wielding warrior is 5-1 (2-0 in the Big Ten), leading the new Legends division and ranked No. 16 in the BCS standings?

The answer is a breathtakingly stingy defense.

Looking at the Spartans defense statistical resume, we find a No. 4 ranking in scoring (only allowing 10.8 points per game), a No. 3 ranking in rushing defense (allowing only 67 yards per game) and a pass defense that is No. 1 (allowing only 119.2 yards per game).

Let’s remember that these are national rankings.

If defense truly wins championships and old Sparty can manage enough points along the way, look for Michigan State to upset more than a few BCS apple carts.

No. 15: West Virginia

Lurking

As the only member of the Big East to hit the BCS big board, West Virginia finds itself in perfect position to lie in wait and pounce on a BCS berth and possible meteoric rise up the charts.

It’s the ideal scenario, really. The Mountaineers are a sound ball club with a prolific passing attack (not so much in the ground game) and a solid, though not overwhelming, defense. They show no real signs of sloppy play (zero turnover margin, reasonable penalty yards).

Add to this a remaining schedule that includes no ranked teams (we could call it winnable but not at all imminent) and you’ve got the makings a BCS cocktail.

West Virginia is lurking about, even if nobody is talking about what they’re doing right now. If they win out (Syracuse, Rutgers, Louisville, Cincinnati, Pitt and USF) then suddenly, at the very least, the Mountaineers are saddled with a guaranteed BCS bid and only one loss.

Hmmm…

No. 14: South Carolina

Concerned

The Gamecocks are 6-1 and tied with Georgia (who they beat earlier this season) for first place in the SEC. It's really a good state of affairs for a program whose goal of winning an SEC title and earning a BCS bid is still in reach.

But as hope rises in the land of the Cock-a-boose, so does concern. That emotion was tremendously amped up when South Carolina lost star RB Marcus Lattimore for the season in last weekend’s win over Mississippi State.

This is a huge loss, especially given that the Gamecocks have been more successful on the ground than through the air. The problem is compounded by the fact that they are now led by a less experienced QB under center.

But the anxiety doesn’t end there. South Carolina is yet to play a team that was ranked when they met. Even though LSU and Alabama don’t figure into the regular season slate, the Gamecocks still have their only two ranked foes (Arkansas and Clemson) looming ahead.

This is a good squad that has found a way to win (bizarrely at times). But with mind blowing stats that include 18 total turnovers and 24 takeaways (both those numbers lead everyone in the BCS rankings), you have to wonder what’s next for the old ball coaches’ team.

No. 13: Nebraska

Mysterious

The road to the Cornhuskers 5-1 start in their first ever Big Ten season has been about as diverse as any team’s launch into the 2011 campaign.

In early season wins over Fresno State, Washington and Wyoming, the Huskers allowed 81 total points but scored 131 which made the victories seem big.

Then all hell broke loose when they got smashed by Wisconsin in their first ever Big Ten opener, giving up almost 500 yards and turning the ball over three times.

The passing game has been ineffective and the rushing defense has holes. Still, these guys have only lost one game and despite the mistakes, their turnover margin is only at minus 1.

Who is Nebraska?

For those of you waiting for the Huskers to play somebody other than Wisconsin (a valid point), you might be surprised to know that Cornhuskers' five BCS opponents combine for a 22-10 record thus far, tops among BCS ranked teams.

It’s difficult to pinpoint the identity of the 2011 Nebraska team. Are they young, are they good, are they mediocre or are they great?  Are they the team that got embarrassed in Madison or are they the team that came back against Ohio State and whipped a good Washington team?

The good news is the schedule will finally shore up and the answers will come rapidly with games against Michigan State, Penn State, Michigan and Iowa looming.

No. 12: Virginia Tech

Resilient

Frank Beamer has to be one of the most underappreciated coaches in the country. He’s a lot like Gary Patterson at TCU in his ability to consistently reload, year after year, and produce winning football teams when it looks like all the cards are stacked against him.

The Hokies ranked No. 89 in the nation and No. 9 in the ACC coming in to 2011 in terms of experience. Despite this huge rebuilding project from a team that played in the Orange Bowl last season, they are 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

It hasn’t necessarily always been rosy and pretty in 2011, but Virginia Tech has managed to get it done. Defensively speaking they’ve shined. The Hokies rank No. 14 nationally in scoring (holding opponents to a mere 16.4 points per game) and No. 8 in rushing defense (83.71 yards per game).

Virginia Tech’s shot at a fourth ACC crown in the last five seasons may well come down to their November 10 showdown at Georgia Tech. The winner could punch their ticket to the conference championship.

No. 11: Kansas State

Fortunate

It leaves a bad taste in the mouth to call a team lucky but that’s exactly what K-State has been on numerous occasions on the way to a 6-0 record.

That said, we all know that good fortune can only produced limited gains. Therefore the Wildcats have also played solid enough football to put themselves in a position for destiny to extend a helping hand.

First, Kansas State managed to stop Miami cold as time expired from what began as a first-and-goal from KSU's two-yard line in Week 4. Then there was the Wildcat fourth quarter pick against Baylor that set up a game winning field goal in a narrow 36-35 win in Week 5.

Then there was the Week 7 victory over Texas Tech in which the Red Raiders turned the ball over four times including two blocked field goal attempts.

Yes, they’ve won games and yes, they are good. But with four ranked opponents left to play (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas) good fortune will have to shine even brighter for the gritty yet young Wildcats to survive unblemished.

No. 10: Oregon

Covert

Since the Ducks dropped their opener to LSU in early September, it seems the only thing we’ve heard about Oregon is injuries, rushing yards and how deep their bench is.

They lost the big one, which may keep them out of the BCS title game, but after that they’ve reeled off five straight victories and rank No. 5 nationally in rushing yards (315 yards per game) and No. 3 in scoring (48.7 points per game).

At No. 10, Oregon is the second highest ranked one-loss team in the land. With a remaining slate that they can master, they could be in the Pac-12 title game and on their way back to the BCS before you can yell “QUACK!”

Nobody’s really talking about them as a part of the conversation and perhaps that’s exactly how the Ducks want to fly: camouflaged as a team that’s “out of it” but, in reality, all up in it.

No. 9: Arkansas

Trapped

At 5-1 and ranked No. 9 in the initial BCS calculations, the Razorbacks are a very good football team in a very bad spot.  Unfortunately it’s a place they can’t get out of.

Arkansas is a solid squad all the way across the board. They may lack balance offensively but they’ve played well enough to knock off two ranked teams (A&M and Auburn). Their only blemish was a valiantly played road loss to No. 2 Alabama.

If the Razorbacks played in any other division than the SEC West, they’d be looking at a realistic conference title game appearance and an equally pragmatic opportunity to repeat as BCS participants.

But it's not to be and Arkansas “is where they is,” meaning they have shoulder the burden of taking a road trip to LSU over Thanksgiving holiday. Not to mention the fact that the two best teams in the country play within the same division.

Arkansas is a good team trapped by its own circumstances which somewhat blur the fact that the Razorbacks are one of the best teams in the nation.

No. 8: Stanford

Untested

Boy, Stanford sure is attractive.

Seriously, it’s the All-American Heisman candidate who can throw the ball and make one handed catches. It’s a new head coach and it’s a smart school playing aggressive football that, with a few exceptions, has a statistical resume that reads like a guy who got his degree from Harvard.

But when you look under the designer clothing and part back the long flowing locks of hair, you find a team who has had the easiest road to perfection in the land (other than Houston from C-USA).

Stanford is the only Top 10 BCS team who is yet to play a ranked team. Their opponents combine for the poorest record out of any set of foes for any team in the BCS Top 25 (14-24 or 36.84 percent).

I’m not saying that Luck and the boys aren’t a fine football team, they are untested to this point in season.

All this changes for the singular Cardinal this coming weekend when they greet No. 25 Washington. On November 12, the Ducks fly in to Stanford for a game that will be well worth watching.

No. 7: Clemson

Astonishing

Clemson is in a similar situation as Washington, only the “shock and awe” campaign is amped up to an almost frenzied level.

In the preseason periodicals Athlon had the Tigers projected to finish No. 4 in the ACC Atlantic and No. 39 nationally.

The Sporting News had them at No. 4 divisionally and off the national radar, while the masterful Phil Steele projected Clemson to finish No. 2 in its division and No. 37 nationally.

No one had a set of scenarios that included 7-0 Clemson in at No. 7 in the initial BCS standings.

And there lies one of the truly scrumptious aspects of college football. Nobody really knows what they’re talking about until the teams hit the field and face each other.

Clemson’s rise from the ashes of a six-win season in 2010 are indeed astonishing. If they can win their next four games (Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, NC State and South Carolina) and the ACC title, then suddenly astonishing becomes astounding.

No. 6: Wisconsin

Primed

The Wisconsin team we saw demolish Nebraska in Week 6 looked like one of the most dominant teams in the entire country. From a statistical standpoint, they are indeed firing on all cylinders.

The Badgers have earned a top five ranking nationally in points scored, points against, pass defense and the fewest number of turnovers. They are No. 1 in the country in two of those categories (turnovers and points scored).

They look oh so good and the Nebraska game legitimized their rise to the top of the BCS charts.

But let’s not forget that this charged-up team has faced only one ranked team and in total have met FBS squads that combine for a 12-20 record. If you throw out the Huskers they are 7-19 as a group.

Wisconsin looks flat out ready to storm through the rest of their schedule (which includes three ranked foes) but it will be interesting to revisit their statistical portfolio once the dust settles on what could be a historic 2011 campaign.

No. 5: Boise State

Predestined

At 6-0 the Broncos look primed to make another perfect run through what’s left of their season. A game against TCU looms but the Frogs' rebuilding efforts may prevent them from being the dangerous foe they’ve been in years past.

Though Boise State opened the season by soundly beating then No. 19 Georgia (who has just now climbed back in to the bottom of the AP Top 25), they went on to face foes that are 15-18 and will next line up against squads who are currently 13-17.

Even if Boise State wins every single game that remains, they won’t likely have the points necessary to bypass other potential undefeated teams who have faced more dangerous opponents.

Boise State is predestined (if undefeated) to vie for another BCS at-large bid and attend another BCS contest.

The only outside chance the Broncos have of zapping their appointment with fate and playing for a national title is if all the perfect teams who have BCS conference addresses tank.

It could happen. Maybe.

No. 4: Oklahoma State

Opportunistic

ESPN ran a headline piece on their college football page earlier this week entitled “The BCS Bunch,” which featured a Brady Bunch-like grid that featured several prominent 2011 BCS images.

Landry Jones from Oklahoma was there, Les Miles made an appearance, Kellen Moore played Marsha, Nick Saban was Alice. The Stanford tree, Wisconsin’s Badger and Clemson’s Tajh Boyd were anchored by a stunning photo of everyone’s ultimate aim, the Coaches’ Trophy.

The entire top eight was there except for, well…Oklahoma State.

In what seems like a bit of a kick in the teeth, the Cowboys—who’ve beaten two ranked teams—faced foes who are 20-17 this season.

Seriously?

We hang the label of “opportunistic” on Mike Gundy and his mighty undefeated Cowboys because they can take this slight as a motivator to win every game remaining on their schedule.

The second reason we think Oklahoma State is opportunistic?

The Pokes are tied for the No. 3 spot in the nation in turnover margin with plus 12. That stat is set up by the fact that they are also No. 3 in takeaways (with a whopping 20), combined with a total turnover mark of a mere eight (2 fumbles, 6 INTs), which ranks No. 20 in the land.

No. 3: Oklahoma

Closers

Bob Stoops’ Sooners have proved time after time that they can close deals.

Where other teams leave doors, windows or vents ajar, allowing other teams to edge their way back in, experienced Oklahoma squads caulk everything shut and go forward on turbo drive.

These guys haven’t lost at home since 2005 and they’ve managed, despite the burnt orange colored rise of Texas, to win seven Big 12 titles since 2000 and eight divisional crowns in that same time period.

Even though games at Kansas State, vs. Texas A&M and the big whopper called Bedlam in Stillwater loom on the horizon for the Sooners, no one has knocked them off their lofty perch when they’ve got a team as experienced and talented as this one.

They’re deal closers for sure but the only question is if can they win the next game. They’re 3-5 all-time in BCS play and 1-2 in games for the whole cheesy enchilada.

No. 2: Alabama

Daunting

If my team had Alabama on their schedule this season I’d be flat scared to death of that weekend.

The sick, over-the-top fanatic in me would be a little excited about the opportunity to knock the Tide off, but the other 75 percent would be petrified about lining up against the 2011 Alabama product.

The Crimson Tide are statistically scary, No. 15 in points scored (39.7 points per game) and No. 1 in points against (allowing a mere seven points per game). Let’s remember that these guys have already played three ranked teams.

The list goes on: No. 5 in pass defense (146 yards per game), sickeningly balanced offensively (219 yards per game rushing offense and 241 yards per game through the air), No. 4 in penalty yards (only 146), No. 11 in turnovers (only seven total) and No. 44 in take aways (12).

But perhaps the most fearful number of them all is a No. 1 ranking in rushing defense. Let’s put that into perspective by saying that the last two BCS national champions have led the SEC in rush defense…the Tide lead the nation.

Holy crap.

No. 1: LSU

Fearless

You can say what you want to about the Bayou Bengals and their grass-eating coach, Les Miles. But this program has some church bells.

“Hey! We play in the SEC West, so why not schedule a couple of other national powerhouses to play as non-conference games!”

Seriously…LSU is fearless.

Add to this their unwritten policy of “NCAA sanctions, arrests, tremendous pressure and suspensions, no problem” and you’ve got the pluckiest team in the land.

The bottom line about LSU is that they are the only team on this list that has already played four ranked teams with three left to play. That’s seven ranked foes in all out of a schedule with 12 total teams.

This is a number that only Texas A&M comes close to. They have six total (three played and three left to go) and they’re 4-2 instead of 7-0.

Fearless.