BCS Rankings: Oregon vs. Stanford and the Most Important Games of Week 11

The BCS rankings received another shake up following Week 10 losses by Alabama, South Carolina, Nebraska and Michigan. As the contenders for BCS bowl games continue to dwindle, it's time to look ahead to the most important games of Week 11.

No. 7 Oregon Ducks at No. 4 Stanford Cardinal

Oregon used a strong third quarter to avoid an upset bid from Washington on Saturday. The Ducks now begin preparing for their biggest game since a Week 1 loss to LSU. Darron Thomas seems to have re-solidified himself as the starting quarterback after being pulled in favor of Bryan Bennett.

Stanford didn't get any love from the BCS, which ranked them below a one-loss Alabama squad. However, a win over Oregon should be enough to help them leapfrog over the Crimson Tide. Easier said than done, though, as Stanford's defense hasn't faced a test like the Ducks all season.

Early Outlook: The Cardinal have Andrew Luck and home-field advantage, which gives them two big advantages next weekend. If their defense can make a couple big stops, that should be enough to provide them with a major boost en route to the BCS National Championship Game.

No. 19 Nebraska Cornhuskers at No. 12 Penn State Nittany Lions

While a stunning loss to Northwestern dealt a huge blow to Nebraska's BCS hopes, a win on the road against Penn State would get them back on track. Fixing a run defense that allowed the Wildcats to gain 207 yards on the ground is priority No. 1 with Silas Redd awaiting them next week.

Penn State is coming off a bye week, but it wasn't as comforting as the Nittany Lions would have hoped. The program was rocked by a scandal involving former coach Jerry Sandusky, which could derail a very promising season if they are unable to refocus.

Early Outlook: Even though Penn State has enough talent to keep the BCS dream alive, it's tough to imagine there being no hangover from this week's revelations. Taylor Martinez is a bad matchup for the Nittany Lions' defense and will lead Nebraska to victory.

No. 10 Virginia Tech Hokies at No. 21 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Virginia Tech climbed back into the top 10 this week and could take another step forward with a road win against Georgia Tech. If the Hokies can find a way to slow down the Yellow Jackets' option attack, they will be one win away from claiming the ACC Coastal Division.

Georgia Tech's undefeated season went up in smoke against Virginia and things only got worse the following week when the Yellow Jackets lost to Miami. They've bounce back nicely, though, with a win over Clemson and could get back in the BCS conversation with a win on Thursday.

Early Outlook: Virginia Tech has the nation's sixth-ranked defense and should be able to keep Georgia Tech's offense under control. With Logan Thomas and David Wilson making plays on offense, the Hokies will win a nail-biter.