BCS Rankings: When Smoke Clears, the SEC Will Hold Top 3 BCS Spots

Much ado about nothing.

That is one way to describe what this college football season has been. At least it has been an entertaining mirage.

For a couple of weeks, we as fans were duped into thinking that another conference besides the SEC could seriously challenge for the BCS title.

As Oklahoma, Stanford, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Clemson and then Oklahoma again fell by the wayside, it became clear that the only conference that seems to wear major upset repellent is the SEC.

There are two losses among the top three serious contenders from the SEC, and both losses are amongst themselves. Alabama's only loss, of course, is to LSU, and Arkansas's only loss came at the hands of the Crimson Tide.

The SEC heavyweights have answered the call against all non-conference foes and lesser in-conference opposition. LSU defeated two ranked out-of-conference foes (Oregon and West Virginia) by a combined 39 points. They have also handled all in-conference opponents, most recently blasting Ole Miss 52-3.

The Tide dispatched Penn State when the Nittany Lions were ranked No. 23, as well as Arkansas and Florida when they were both ranked in the Top 15.

The Razorbacks' out-of-conference schedule was not as impressive, but defeating three Top 15 teams can't be ignored. Arkansas defeated Texas A&M, Auburn and South Carolina.

The Razorbacks will ultimately have a chance to prove next week that they belong for sure: They face No. 1 LSU in their regular-season finale.

Oregon and Oklahoma's hopes are dead, and Stanford likely has too far to climb in too short a time.

When the final BCS standings are revealed, it will read LSU, Alabama and Arkansas—all SEC.