BCS Rankings: 5 Teams on the Rise After Latest USA Today and AP Poll

The new AP and USA Today Polls released earlier today have shown a lot of movement in the Top 25.

New hope has been given to teams who previously had no shot at making a BCS Bowl game.

The losses for Oklahoma and Wisconsin have allowed many teams to rise in the recent releases of the latest college football polls. 

Stanford Cardinal

Current ranking: No. 4 AP Poll/No. 3 USA Today Poll

Last week: No. 8 AP Poll/No. 7 USA Today Poll

The Stanford Cardinal saw a jump up in the rankings after a blowout victory over Washington, in large part due to losses by Oklahoma and Wisconsin.

If they can win out, the Cardinal could possibly play for the BCS National Championship game but as we saw last night, anything can happen in college football.

Clemson Tigers

Current ranking: No. 6 AP Poll/No. 6 USA Today Poll

Last week: No. 7 AP Poll/No. 8 USA Today Poll

Although they didn't jump as much as I expected in the rankings, the Clemson Tigers certainly are trending upward.

They have more impressive victories to their credit than Boise State and Stanford, both ranked ahead of them. 

Look for the Tigers to continue to climb in the rankings in the coming weeks and possibly challenge for a BCS National Championship berth. 

Michigan State Spartans

Current ranking: No. 9 AP Poll/No. 10 USA Today Poll

Last week: No. 16  AP Poll/No. 15 USA Today Poll

With their last second win against Wisconsin, the Michigan State Spartans saw a huge jump in the rankings in the latest poll.

Here's to hoping both the Spartans and Badgers win out and face each other again in the inaugural Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis. 

USC Trojans

Current ranking: No. 20 AP Poll/Not eligible USA Today Poll

Last week: Not ranked AP Poll/Not eligible USA Today Poll

After a dominating victory over the Notre Dame Irish, Lane Kiffin and company found their way into the AP Poll at No. 20. 

If they were eligible for the USA Today Poll they would have likely been ranked in that poll as well. 

Texas Tech

Current ranking: No. 19 AP Poll/No. 22 USA Today Poll

Last week: Not ranked AP Poll/Not ranked USA Today Poll

With the upset victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman last night, Texas Tech makes  the biggest jump in the newly released rankings.

Last week, the Red Raiders were not even one of the teams that received votes and were left out of the Top 25; now they are No. 19 in the AP Poll and No. 22 in the USA Today Poll.