BCS Standings 2011: Mapping out the Stanford Cardinal's Path to BCS Title Game

The BCS Standings are out for Week 9, and Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinal are ranked No. 6. The Cardinal were shown no love by the BCS computers, despite being ranked third and fourth by the Coaches' and Harris Polls, respectively.

However, Stanford fans need not be discouraged. If David Shaw's team can keep up the effort displayed in Saturday's 65-21 drubbing of the Washington Huskies, they could be in a prime position to secure a berth in the 2011 BCS National Championship game.

Here's how Stanford can play in New Orleans on Jan. 9th.

Jumping No. 5 Clemson Tigers

If Stanford and Clemson continue to win out, Stanford will almost certainly leap the Tigers in the BCS standings. Stanford already holds the advantage in the human polls; they just need to improve their profile for the BCS computers.

Clemson's two biggest remaining regular season games are road games against Georgia Tech and South Carolina. A win next week against Georgia Tech wouldn't be a marquee victory, as it would be the Yellow Jackets' third straight defeat. And South Carolina won't be a Top 15 team without Marcus Lattimore

With early-season wins over Florida State and Auburn looking less impressive all the time, the Tigers' only great wins (assuming they win out) will be two against Virginia Tech.

Compare this to Stanford, who has the meat of their schedule ahead of them. Next week's road game against USC will be high-profile and probably a Stanford victory, considering how much more incentive Stanford has to win.

Down the line, a home win over BCS No. 7 Oregon would be a huge step in befriending the BCS robots. And a win over Notre Dame, who should be 8-3 at game time, wouldn't be too shabby, either.

All in all, Stanford is actually higher in the BCS pecking order than Clemson, despite what the current rankings suggest.

Jumping No. 4 Boise State Broncos

In the current BCS system, Boise State can only play for the title if all of the power conference teams lose. And even then, people will clamor that a one-loss SEC team deserves it more.

Basically, an undefeated Stanford team will undoubtedly be ranked ahead of an undefeated Boise team. The Broncos are one more hurdle that the Cardinal should be able to climb.

Jumping No. 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys

Stanford will need a little help to surpass Oklahoma State at season's end. BCS computers are infatuated with the Cowboys, rating them as the nation's top team. Only a loss will drop OSU below Stanford.

Fortunately, OSU's schedule is loaded with potential pratfalls. Their next two games, against Robert Griffin III's Baylor Bears and an undefeated Kansas State squad, are made more difficult with the murky status of star WR Justin Blackmon.

A road game against Texas Tech is suddenly no sure thing after the Red Raiders' upset over Oklahoma.

Finally, Bedlam comprises their final regular season, and Oklahoma State hasn't beaten the Sooners since 2002.

The Cowboys losing just one of these games will help Stanford tremendously.

Jumping LSU/Alabama

After Nov. 5th's much-hyped game between Alabama and LSU, one of the SEC darlings will have a loss. This could be exactly what Stanford needs to claim the BCS No. 2 slot.

Of course, media talking heads are already salivating over a potential LSU/Alabama national championship rematch.

An East Coast bias works against Stanford, but with probable Heisman winner Andrew Luck at the helm, an undefeated Cardinal squad should be considered worthy of passing a one-loss SEC team.

Conclusion

Should Stanford continue to trudge along undefeated, they will climb past Clemson, Boise and the Alabama/LSU loser. As the No. 3 team, they'd need a loss by LSU/Alabama or Oklahoma State to play for the 2011 BCS National Championship.

If the rest of the season is as crazy as Saturday night, this could very well happen.