BCS Rankings 2011: What Remaining Games Have Biggest Impact on BCS Standings?

With the BCS Rankings posing as the most important polls leading up to bowl season, a number of teams are vying for position in hopes for a BCS bid.

We saw one BCS contender falter last night with Wisconsin dropping a heartbreaker in East Lansing to Michigan State in the final seconds.

As the 2011 college football regular season begins to wind down with five weeks remaining, only a handful opportunities exist for teams to solidify their places at the top of the polls.

Here is a look ahead at the remaining games that could shake up the BCS standings.

Oct. 29: Michigan State at Nebraska

Michigan State is no longer being overlooked.

After an astonishing last-second, Hail Mary victory over Wisconsin on Saturday night in East Lansing, the Spartans have made ripples in the polls as they emerge as a legitimate Big Ten title contender.

The Spartans undoubtedly will make some hurdles in this week's BCS rankings, but their climb should not stop there.

A statement win over the Badgers can be followed up by another when Michigan State goes to Lincoln to take on Nebraska, a road trip that never can be taken lightly.

The Huskers have the opportunity to unseat the lone undefeated in the Legends Division, and the Spartans have the chance to continue to build on their fantastic conference run.

Both teams are very much in the BCS picture, but should Nebraska successfully defend its home turf, the win will provide a shake up in the Big Ten.

Nov. 5: LSU at Alabama

Dubbed the "Game of the Century" by various members in the media, LSU's trip to Tuscaloosa on Nov. 5 will definitely shift the BCS landscape.

One of these teams has to lose, meaning there will either be a new No. 1, or the current occupier will have solidified its position as the top team in the country.

Both the Tigers and the Tide are coming off impressive defensive performances against Auburn and Tennessee, respectively, as their contest two weekends from now figures to be one of the best matchups of the season.

Nov. 5: Kansas State at Oklahoma State

Falling well under the shadows of the LSU-Alabama game is Kansas State's away game at Oklahoma State.

With the eyes of the country on Tuscaloosa, many may miss what could be a matchup of the only Big 12 undefeateds. While some could be doubtful of that type of matchup, the game will boil down to a very good defense in Bill Snyder's Wildcats against a very good offense in Mike Gundy's Cowboys.

Who will prevail: The stout Kansas State rushing attack featuring Collin Klein and Chris Hubert or the flashy Oklahoma State aerial threat with Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon?

Something will have to give in Stillwater.

Nov. 12: Stanford at Oregon

While much of the college football vision will be centralized out East, believe it or not, there are a few good teams playing out West.

In what should be a matchup of Pac-12 undefeateds on Nov. 12, Heisman hopeful Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinal will travel north to face off against Darron Thomas and the Oregon Ducks.

Both the Cardinal and the Ducks are top 10 teams right now, rankings that should hold firm in three weeks as the winner of this game most likely will go on to represent the Pac-12 North in the conference title game.

The pressure will be through the roof at this point in time, as a single slipup likely means missing out on the BCS.

Nov. 26: Clemson at South Carolina

Clemson is on the verge of running away with the ACC Atlantic, and by the time Nov. 26 rolls around, the Tigers could very well be huge favorites to claim the ACC crown.

Meanwhile, South Carolina is on pace to represent the SEC East in its conference title game. 

On Thanksgiving weekend, we will be looking at two non-conference rivals who could stake claims for their respective conference crowns.

The Gamecocks will have much more work ahead of them, especially without their star running back in Marcus Lattimore, but a shot at the BCS is not quite out of the picture. And a win in their final game of the season against the ACC favorite surely would not put a downer on their hopes.

As for Clemson, it is quite simple. Keep winning, and its in.

Make no mistake. This rivalry game will have much more on the line.