BCS Rankings 2011: With Oklahoma State Loss, Welcome to Chaos!

Welcome to the beginning of BCS chaos, everyone! And even with Oklahoma State losing to Iowa State, this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

On Friday night, the Pokes' BCS title hopes were dashed in Ames, Iowa. However, with the Bedlam Series still to play, the Cowboys can still win the Big 12 and throw another wrench into the final BCS standings.

By the time Bedlam kicks off, the Sooners could be ranked No. 2 or No. 3 if the pandemonium ensues. That being said, here are some scenarios with schools who have a legit shot at getting into the national title game.

Let the chaos continue...

Breakdown: Why We Have Chaos

For the college football fans who want a playoff system, there's no need for an explanation of why we need chaos in the BCS.

However, for those who are on the fence or don't care about who gets into the national title game, let's just say the more chaos, the more exciting this pandemonium becomes.

Several teams have gone undefeated but never got a shot at the national title: 2004 Auburn, 2008 Utah, 2009 Boise State and 2010 TCU, among others (three of which finished ranked No. 2).

Thing is, even if you're in a BCS conference, going undefeated does not guarantee that you'll get a shot at the national title, which is bogus. And what about the non-BCS team that went undefeated?

Why can't they get a shot? With that being said, let the chaos continue in the BCS, and hopefully a playoff system will be adopted sooner than later.

LSU Tigers

Remaining Games: at Ole Miss, vs. Arkansas

Scenarios:

It's no doubt that LSU will head to the national title game if they win out, so there's no need to explain that any further.

However, what if they lose to Ole Miss but beat Arkansas, or vice versa?

Losing both would knock them out of the SEC title game, but losing just one keeps them alive. The Tigers still have the head-to-head tiebreaker over Alabama, so unless LSU finishes with a worse conference record than the Tide, the Bayou Bengals are going to the SEC title game.

And even if they lose to just Arkansas, they won't drop behind the Razorbacks in the standings.

So, right now the LSU Tigers have a date set with the national championship. Only if they lose to both Ole Miss and Arkansas, Arkansas and Georgia (SEC title game), or Ole Miss and Georgia would the Tigers miss out on the national championship.

Click the link to view another explanation about LSU's situation.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Remaining Games: vs. Georgia Southern, at Auburn

Scenarios:

Now that the Pokes have lost, we have to expect that Alabama will move up to No. 2 in the BCS barring a catastrophic breakdown on Saturday against Georgia Southern.

After that, however, the Tide need some help. Their only shot at winning the SEC outright is if LSU loses to both Ole Miss and Arkansas, so the odds are slim.

To that end, a national title game appearance is actually more possible. Let's assume that the Crimson Tide finish 11-1 and LSU 13-0 after the conference title games. The scenario of Alabama then lies with the Oregon Ducks.

Oregon will be favored in a Pac-12 title game, so having that extra game over Alabama will help them in the CPU rankings. The question, though, is whether the voters like a 12-1 Oregon team over an 11-1 Alabama team.

Needless to say, if the Ducks fall one more time, then Alabama is a shoe-in. The only concern for the Crimson Tide is Auburn. You know the Iron Bowl is a game where records don't mean anything, and if the Tide drop that game, then their national title hopes are also dropped.

Oregon Ducks

Remaining Games: vs. USC, vs. Oregon State

Scenarios:

To some extent, the Oregon Ducks control their own destiny. If they win out and go 12-1, the question becomes whether the voters like them over an 11-1 Alabama team. However, if the Tide drop to Auburn and the Ducks win out, say hello to the natty Oregon fans.

And no matter which game or when it occurs, if Oregon loses just once more, their BCS title game hopes are dashed. A big reason lies within the Ducks not having to play a ranked team in their remaining schedule.

USC is still ineligible, and Oregon State is currently a dismal 2-8. And if they lose the Pac-12 title game, well, let's just say that would be to UCLA (current front-runner in the South Division).

Oregon's only BCS title shot is if they win out, but to really ensure a nod over an 11-1 Alabama is to blast everyone else off the field.

Oklahoma Sooners

Remaining Games: at Baylor, vs. Iowa State, at Oklahoma State

Scenarios:

Fortunately for the Sooners, their national title hopes remain alive thanks to Oklahoma State choking once again. And perhaps the Pokes losing puts Oklahoma in the best likely position out of anyone.

The sole reason? Because Oklahoma gets to play Oklahoma State on the road. And chances are that game determines the Big 12 champion.

All that being said, for the Sooners to have any legit shot at sneaking back into the No. 2 BCS spot they must undoubtedly win out. Thereafter, much help is needed.

Both Alabama and Oregon must lose once more, and although it may not seem like much, that's asking a lot since both are elite teams. Not to mention that Oregon's remaining schedule is rather weak.

So, Oklahoma's only chance is to finish 11-1, because one more loss will doom their BCS title shot. And even if they do win out, they won't get the nod over an 11-1 Alabama or a 12-1 Oregon.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Remaining Games: vs. Mississippi State, at LSU

Scenarios:

The Arkansas Razorbacks are in one of the better positions thanks to not yet having played LSU.

If the Razorbacks can pull off the upset of the year against LSU, the BCS gets a wrench thrown into it like no other. Arkansas must then hope Alabama loses to Auburn for a shot to also win the SEC outright.

And having that extra game will vehemently boost their BCS title hopes. A 12-1 Arkansas team will definitely get the nod over an 11-1 Oklahoma and 10-2 Alabama, and most likely will play Oregon for the title.

That said, if the Hogs happen to fall just once more, it's over. Even if they do sneak into the SEC title game, that game is also a must-win.

So to be frank, Arkansas must win out, hope that Alabama loses to Auburn and then also win the SEC outright. If they finish 11-2 and are the SEC runner-up, the Hogs will slide behind Oklahoma, provided that the Sooners win the Big 12 and finish 11-1.

Clemson Tigers

Remaining Games: at North Carolina State, at South Carolina, ACC title game

Scenarios:

Clemson is in an unusual position that's rather favorable, but at the same time difficult. With games at North Carolina State and South Carolina, and then the ACC title game (most likely a rematch with Virginia Tech), the Tigers have the solid strength of schedule to move up.

Only problem, however, is that Clemson sits at No. 7 heading into Week 13 and needs some help to move up. We know that they'll at least be No. 6 if they win on Saturday with Oklahoma State losing.

But then help becomes imperative. Thanks to having an ACC title game and the opportunity to beat a top 10 team in that game, if Clemson finishes 12-1, it's quite possible that the Tigers leap-frog over an 11-1 Oklahoma and Alabama.

Obviously remaining would be Oregon, another 12-1 team, at No. 2. So the Ducks losing would benefit Clemson more than anyone, as both will have played in conference title games. One more Oregon loss is all Clemson needs, since they'll move past a 10-2 Arkansas team.

It's then up to the voters and their willingness to up-vote Clemson at 12-1 over both the Tide and Sooners. Not saying it won't happen, but their chances are very slim. But if Clemson loses once more, there is no shot whatsoever.

Virginia Tech Hokies

Remaining Games: at Virginia

Scenarios:

It's not set in stone yet, because with a game remaining against ACC and in-state rival Virginia, the Hokies have yet to clinch an ACC title game berth.

If the Cavaliers lose at Florida State on Saturday, then the Hokies get a rematch with Clemson in the conference title game.

Until then, however, since Va-Tech is the ACC Atlantic Coastal Division front-runner, let's say they do oust Clemson for the outright conference title. The Hokies will have then finished 12-1 and most definitely be ranked in the top 5.

A 12-1 team for legendary coach Frank Beamer will move them obviously past Oklahoma State this week, Clemson in the final standings, a 10-2 Arkansas team and quite possibly the Sooners and Crimson Tide, even if both go 11-1.

However, with wins against Georgia Tech and Clemson (1-1 to be exact), the concern is whether the CPU and voters will put them past a 12-1 Oregon Ducks team. Now, obviously if the Hokies slip once more, then there goes the BCS title game, so winning out is imperative.

That being said, don't be surprised if coach Beamer's squad is left out despite going 12-1, as the collectivism of their schedule doesn't favor them.

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report. 

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