Projected BCS Rankings: Picking the New Top 10 After Clemson, K-State Losses

For the most part, everyone from analyst to sportswriter had thought that the top BCS teams had solidified their spot.

Now, after finishing another week in college football, we found out that once again, anything can happen on any given Saturday.

Two of the remaining eight undefeated teams fell yesterday, forcing the BCS to once again mix up its Top 10. Clemson and Kansas State both watched in horror as their title hopes broke apart before their eyes, losing to unranked Georgia Tech and No. 9 Oklahoma.

One of the strongest and most surprising teams out there, the Clemson Tigers, "clemsoned" their extremely-high ACC berth and clear shot at the Orange Bowl by overlooking a decent Georgia Tech team just as OU did last week in their loss to Texas Tech.

This will cause the ACC to fall into some turmoil over the next few weeks.

Additionally, the undefeated Wildcats from Kansas State were destroyed at home by the Sooners, losing 58-17. With the Aggies falling in OT to Mizzou and Kansas State showing its true colors, the Big 12 only has two remaining squads that stand a chance at taking the Big 12 Championship, and both come from the state of Oklahoma.

Let's take a look at where the new BCS Top 10 will be going into one of the biggest weeks in college football.  

No. 10 Virginia Tech

The Hokies barely pulled out a win over a horrible Duke team, winning 14-10.

Virginia Tech is now, however, the highest-ranked team in the ACC, and with a big game against Georgia Tech coming up, they have a chance to prove that they belong in the Top 10. 

V-Tech's only loss is at the hands of Clemson, falling 23-3 at home.

Logan Thomas had one of the worst games I've ever seen him in against the Tigers and now seems to be back on track. Virginia Tech is one of the most consistent teams in the nation, always showing up in the weak ACC and heading to a big-time bowl game. This year is no different. 

The Hokies have three regular season games left, taking on a strong Georgia Tech team and rival Virginia away while facing North Carolina at home.

For V-Tech to come out of the ACC on top once again, they have to win out, and a huge performance against the Yellow Jackets would be a giant help. 

No. 9 Nebraska

Nebraska is a newcomer to the Big Ten, but they have shown up big in their first year.

Bo Pelini has led his team to 7-1 (3-1) record so far this season, only losing to a confident and motivated Wisconsin team in Madison.

Now, with the Badgers seemingly out of the way and owning a strong Michigan State squad at home, the Cornhuskers have the opportunity to claim a seat in the Big Ten Championship.

RB Rex Burkhead and the offense have looked extremely solid as of late and need to continue to produce throughout the remainder of the schedule.

The Sea of Red won't have many opportunities to help their team out the rest of this year, as they face only a weak Northwestern at home next week and finish the season with Iowa.

However, they certainly have a chance to prove themselves as they face two ranked opponents on the road in between, first taking on Penn State and then heading to Michigan.  

No. 8 Arkansas

Razorbacks fans had to be pretty scared yesterday, as their team looked ready to give in to Vanderbilt.

Yes, you heard correctly—Vanderbilt.

Luckily for them, they had a few fortunate changes in luck and came out on top 31-28. 

Arkansas now has to get back in gear for the rest of the season. QB Tyler Wilson and the offense cannot allow such a fatal breakdown again against stronger SEC opponents as they head into some tough games over the next four weeks. 

They at least have the pleasure of the next three being at home, taking on South Carolina, Tennessee and then Mississippi State.

After that somewhat simple streak, they have the big matchup in Death Valley, facing the Tigers in what may be the deciding game for the SEC West.  

No. 7 Oklahoma

Oklahoma came out swinging Saturday, obliterating a weaker Kansas State team in Manhattan.

I imagine they wanted to prove to everyone that last week's 41-38 loss at home to Texas Tech was just a fluke, and blowing up the Wildcats for 58 points was certainly the way to do so.

QB Landry Jones had a career game and the offense flourished, putting the Sooners back in the mix for the Big 12 Title and possibly the National Championship.

Bob Stoops has the capability to coach this team all the way to Stillwater for the second LSU-Alabama matchup of the season.

The Sooners can't start to overlook teams now, though, as they head back home.

With two home games left against a powerful A&M team and an Iowa State squad that owned the Red Raiders, OU has to live week to week. The Baylor game in Waco won't be easy, either, as Robert Griffin III will look for a signature win to have for his Heisman candidacy.

Finishing out the season with Oklahoma State in Stillwater will be a thriller no one will want to miss.  

No. 6 Oregon

Ever since that first loss in Dallas to the No. 1 team in the nation, the Ducks have been rolling.

Chip Kelly and company are once again close to another possible Pac-12 Championship and only need to keep going to win it consecutively. 

Oregon's win yesterday over Washington State was just another victory against another weak Pac-12 opponent, but as the game in Palo Alto approaches, the Ducks should start getting pumped up.

With both their injured starters returning, QB Thomas and RB James will be the difference-makers for the rest of the season. 

The Ducks will take on a few more tough opponents, first visiting Washington and then traveling down to Stanford for the battle for the Pac-12 North.

Finishing out the season at home versus USC and Oregon State should be slightly easier, but after watching USC give Stanford a scare yesterday, I wouldn't count out anyone. 

No. 5 Stanford

The Cardinal took a signature win over USC last night, winning a very exciting triple-overtime game 56-48.

Stanford has to stay focused for the rest of the season if it wants to hold onto its undefeated record. 

QB Andrew Luck increased his Heisman hopes by having a solid game against a strong USC defense, but he will need more of that if he wants his team to stay among elite company.

Stanford has played the entire season with only one win over a ranked opponent (No. 25 Washington), and proving themselves to pollsters will take more than a 3OT win over USC. 

With only one more road game next week against Oregon State, the Cardinal will face off at home the three weeks after that.

No. 7 Oregon comes into Palo Alto looking to claim the Pac-12 North followed by an easy Cal team and a weak Notre Dame squad.  

No. 4 Boise State

Boise State once again sits in position to head to a BCS Bowl game.

They just had their bye week and have five MWC teams left on the schedule, and with everyone watching for another Nevada fiasco, these Broncos need to stay vigilant. 

QB Kellen Moore has played great this entire year, taking down a top-notch Georgia team and running the table since then.

The defense has played well, leaving them at No. 4 in the nation. Moving up in the rankings seems unlikely, as LSU, Alabama, OSU, Stanford, Oregon and Oklahoma all have huge games against ranked teams left on their schedules, while BSU doesn't. 

Only two road games remain as the Broncos will face UNLV in Las Vegas and San Diego State in California. Everyone else will get to play BSU on the blue turf, ranging from Wyoming to TCU.

No. 3 Oklahoma State

The Cowboys hold onto an undefeated record as they crushed Baylor yesterday 59-24 at home.

OSU and their National Title dreams may become a reality sooner than they think as the season begins to come to a close. 

QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon have once again put on a show for college football spectators, capturing the title as one of the nation's most potent offensive duos.

This team's defense has been the surprise of the year as they have increasingly gotten better, creating huge stops in clutch moments.

With three ranked teams remaining, the Cowboys have to stay focused if they want to head to New Orleans.

Next week they take on K-State at home, hoping to crush them the same way their brothers from Norman did. After that, it's two road games to Lubbock to take on Texas Tech, and then off the Ames to face off against Iowa State.

Their final game in Stillwater against OU will have national title implications and is a game you don't want to miss. 

No. 2 Alabama

The Crimson Tide just had their bye week as they head into one of the biggest No. 1 vs. No. 2 clashes we have ever seen in the BCS era.

With a strong team and one of best running backs in the nation, the Tide have the chance to finish off the SEC West and head to the SEC Championship. 

Nick Saban is arguably the best coach in the country, leading his team to consistent success in the hardest division in the nation.

The Tide own the stat sheet when it comes to the SEC West implosion game and have all the potential to win another title.

Alabama faces off in Tuscaloosa against LSU this Saturday in a game that will determine who will attend the National Championship.

After the big game, Crimson Tide travel to Starkville to play MSU, then face Georgia Southern at home followed by the regular season finale away against Auburn in the Iron Bowl.

No. 1 LSU

Les Miles heads into possibly the biggest six days of his career off a bye week.

The top-ranked LSU Tigers are preparing to face a powerful Alabama team away in a battle of the undefeated.

This game marks the pinnacle for the season so far and will draw an audience of millions of viewers from around the nation.

The Tigers are a great team and have big-time playmakers on both sides of the ball. The game next week, though, will determine if they in fact belong on top of the nation. Nov. 5th will be the deciding moment in many players' careers, including QB Jarrett Lee and CB Tyrann Mathieu.

After visiting Tuscaloosa for the apocalypse game, LSU receives an easy game at home versus Western Kentucky, followed by visiting Oxford to take on Ole Miss.

Finishing out the season against Arkansas at home won't be easy, but winning out over the Razorbacks would be a fitting finish to a possible undefeated season.