BCS Rankings: Clemson and 4 Teams That Could Win out but Won't Sniff a BCS Title

Have you ever heard the phrase “so close, yet so far away”?

The five teams that make up this slide show are the living example of that old saying, as they will come up just short in the chase to be a part of January's BCS Championship game.

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Houston Cougars

Current Record: 8-0

It doesn’t matter if Houston quarterback Case Keenum throws for nine touchdowns in every game for the rest of this season, the Cougars never had a realistic chance of cracking the BCS title game. It wasn't their standard of play, but their conference (Conference USA).

While Houston will not make one of the season-ending BCS bowl games, the Cougars are a fun team to watch this season. If you can, try and catch them on TV. You'll witness one of the most explosive offenses seen this side of Lubbock, Texas.

Oregon Ducks

Current Record: 7-1

The Ducks are yet another victim who watch their national title prospects disappear after losing a game early in the season. They've been playing catch up ever since that first-week loss to LSU in Dallas.

Oregon can still play the role of spoiler this season, however. The team travels to Palo Alto, Calif. to face off against Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinal on Nov. 12.

Cincinnati Bearcats

Current Record: 6-1

I really hate to kick more dirt in the face of the Big East conference in a week that has seen the BCS conference also-rans get the last nail in the coffin with West Virginia's decision to leave for the Big 12.

If it wasn’t for the blowout 45-23 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers in early September, the Bearcats could have been knocking on the door of a Top 15 ranking in the BCS standings.

The rest of the season looks very winnable for Cincinnati, as the team has West Virginia at home on Nov. 12, where victory could seal another Big East Championship.

Michigan Wolverines

Current Record: 7-1

If the Wolverines could have found a way to knock the stingy Michigan State defense off balance a couple of weeks ago, they could have definitely been in the discussion for a National Championship berth this season.

While a National title might be out of the question this season, the program’s 43rd Big Ten conference championship is still a realistic prospect in 2011, as the Wolverines are in the driver’s seat in the Legends Division, looking likely to make the first Big Ten title game in Indianapolis.  

Clemson Tigers

Current Record: 8-0

Of the surprises this season, and there have been many, Tajh Boyd and the Tigers may just be the biggest.

Clemson has shot up the standings after some great early-season victories over Florida State (35-30 at home) and a 23-3 blowout victory on the road at Virginia Tech a few weeks ago.

The season finale against in-state rival South Carolina is shaping up to be the toughest test left for Dabo Swinney’s team, as the two programs from the Palmetto State have split the last four meetings. Clemson has won in each of the last two seasons, however.