BCS Rankings: 5 Scenarios If LSU Loses a Game

As the regular season draws to a close, there are clear front runners gunning for the BCS title game. With LSU and Oklahoma State looking to keep their seasons perfect, there isn’t a lot that any other team can do to push ahead of the undefeated teams unless they fall in the regular season.

LSU and Oklahoma State have huge season-ending games, but LSU also faces an additional test with a conference title game. Oklahoma State will close the season with Oklahoma, while LSU must face Arkansas.

LSU faces a very tough stretch with a loss a very real possibility. So what would happen to the BCS if LSU were to lose? With so many variables involved it may be difficult to tell, but assuming the possibilities, here are five scenarios that could occur.

Oklahoma State Faces a One-Loss SEC Title Winner

The Cowboys have been battling their way to an undefeated season against all the odds and predictions that most pundits had set forth for the 2011 season. With one major test remaining, the Cowboys look to be in the driver’s seat to the BCS title game but are sure to face a tough opponent once they arrive in New Orleans.

There is a very likely scenario that lands the Cowboys in the big game against another SEC opponent despite a LSU loss. Alabama is chomping at the bit for a regular season finale loss for the LSU Tigers. If the Tigers lose to Arkansas to close the season, Alabama launches into the SEC title game and most likely on to the BCS title game.

Alabama is a very strong team and has all of the ingredients to win a championship. Despite there being three one-loss SEC West teams, the Tide wins the tie breaker between themselves, LSU and Arkansas after defeating Arkansas earlier in the year. This would light a fire in the college football world as most are likely to oppose a sixth SEC national title run.

Clemson Earns Title Shot

Clemson was one of the biggest surprises of the 2011 season as they were nowhere near the national title radar to begin the year. They have battled their way into contention, and despite losing to Georgia Tech late, an ACC title win could earn them a ride to the title game.

Clemson will face Virginia Tech in the ACC title game and a win over a top 10 team would have the computers looking favorably in their direction when the final standings are released. How the Tigers finish, with a little help from LSU, could place them right back in the title hunt by the seasons end.

Oregon Climbs Back to Title Contention

For the first time the Pac-12 will host a title game for their conference this season. Oregon defeated Stanford to put itself in the driver’s seat to not only win the Pac-12, but possibly climb back into the title talk. A win in a conference championship would solidify that talk.

Finding themselves still inside the top five is huge, and one slip from the LSU Tigers could place the Ducks right back in the title game. The Ducks look to be playing inspired football right now as they absolutely throttled Stanford in a 53-30 this past Saturday.

Hokies Parade to New Orleans

Virginia Tech has been on the bad side of some losses in the past two seasons. This season the loss came to a very talent-rich Clemson team that has maneuvered itself into the top 10 of the BCS.

Virginia Tech has a great shot at redemption as the season comes to a close and they appear to be heading for a rematch in the ACC title game with Clemson. There could be no better feeling for these Hokies than to win a rematch against the Tigers and have that launch them into the BCS title game. 

Can Pre-Season Predictions Finally Find Legs?

The season started with most predicting a BCS title game to be a showdown between Alabama and Oklahoma. With an LSU loss, Alabama may find its way back into the title hunt. With a win to finish the season against Oklahoma State, the Sooners could find their way to the title game as well.

A lot would have to fall into place for this game to happen, but there still remains the possibility. Very rarely do the pre-season voters get anything right, but this season has a shot to prove history wrong.