BCS Rankings: Cinderella's Slipper Fits Houston Cougars

The Houston Cougars were unranked coming into this season.

Now they are 10-0 and ranked No. 11 in the BCS standings.

The Cougars have essentially become the Boise State we used to know this season, going undefeated, albeit against lesser competition.

Ironically, Houston could now surpass Boise State for a BCS bowl slot after the Broncos lost to MWC nemesis TCU on Saturday.

Funny how the world works sometimes.

Houston, with just two more games against SMU and Tulsa, has a chance of making a BCS bowl for the first time in the school's history. You want to talk about a Cinderella team, you have one in Houston.

The Cougars haven't faced anyone of significance all season, but that hasn't stopped the team from impressing the nation. On Saturday against Tulane, Houston dropped 73 points, with top quarterback Case Keenum passing for 325 yards and three touchdowns.

Keenum has been spectacular this season, completing 74 percent of his throws for more than 3,900 yards and 37 touchdowns, while tossing just three interceptions. Against Rice, Keenum passed for 534 yards and nine touchdowns, breaking the FBS record for career touchdown passes in the process. He's on pace to break the FBS record for career passing yards.

If Houston beats SMU on Saturday, you may as well give a BCS bowl game to Houston because the Cougars aren't going to lose to Tulsa. And they become an intriguing BCS bowl team given they are averaging the most points per game in college football (54.7) and the most passing yards per game (455.7).

You could say once the Cougars face top competition they will get a rude wake-up call. But we used to say that about Kellen Moore and Boise State.

In the end, it may be Houston that surprises in a BCS bowl.