BCS Rankings: 5 Games That Will Decide the BCS

Yesterday was a very exciting day in college football that saw Stanford and Penn State barely hold on, Michigan State lose a very important game, and Kansas State lose its undefeated status in a big way.  A modicum of clarity might have been added to the BCS picture as a result of last week.

In light of that, here are some games that will decide who is in the BCS National Championship Game, the Rose Bowl, and the three other BCS bowls.

Honorable Mention: Something in the Big Ten

After Wisconsin and Michigan State both fell yesterday, the Big Ten seems to be a big mess, and Penn State and Nebraska have emerged as the leading title contenders.

The "anyone's ballgame" atmosphere of the Big Ten means that a team could beat a top 10 team one week and lose to a sub-.500 team the next.

Penn State has two candidates in its remaining three games for what could decide the Big Ten.  Those are against Nebraska in two weeks and ending the regular season against Wisconsin in Madison. However, Penn State could beat those two and then lose to Ohio State, which could mess up its prospects.

I could pick the Big Championship Game, which will not be a coronation like the Pac-12 and SEC championships, and will decide who's in the Rose Bowl...

Honorable Mention: Cincinnati vs. West Virginia

This game, November 12 in Cincy, could very well decide who wins the Big East.

Does anyone really care who wins the Big East?

5. Virginia Tech vs. Georgia Tech

This game happens Thursday, November 10 in Bobby Dodd, and will likely have implications on who ends up in the Orange Bowl as the ACC's representative.

Unfortunately, this game doesn't have much implication on the national championship picture, the BCS at-large picture, or on anyone outside of the ACC

4. Boise State vs. TCU

This game goes down November 12 on the Smurf Turf.  Boise State is unbeaten, but hasn't played a Top 15 program yet.  TCU has two losses, both to longtime SWC rivals Baylor and SMU.

If Boise State wins, and then wins out, it will end up in the Fiesta or Sugar Bowl.

If it doesn't, it could end up in some podunk bowl like the Kraft Fight Hunger or Poinsettia Bowl.

3. Kansas State vs. Oklahoma State

BCS Bowl and BCS National Championship implications abound Saturday in Stillwater.

People forget that if Kansas State wins this, and wins out (however unlikely that is), it has a BCS Bowl waiting for it.

A Kansas State win (or a loss to Oklahoma) would also knock Oklahoma State out of the BCS Championship Game, and might even cost it the Big XII Championship.  That would open the door for Stanford, Boise State, or perhaps even an LSU-Bama rematch in the BCS Championship.

2. Stanford vs. Oregon

This game, barring a not-impossible upset in the Civil War, Trombone Game, or Pac-12 Championship, will decide the winner of the premier western conference.

Stanford winning it would also mean it continues to have a shot at the National Championship.  Stanford losing it consigns it to the Fiesta or Sugar Bowl. 

1. LSU vs. Alabama

#1 vs. #2.  Winner gets an automatic berth in the BCS Championship.  Nuff said.