BCS Rankings 2011: What Will Happen If Alabama Beats Auburn

If Auburn beats Alabama next week the BCS is going to be a chaotic mess. This week ensured that. Upsets took down No. 2 Oklahoma State, No. 4 Oregon, No. 5 Oklahoma and No. 7 Clemson. 

These results cleared the way for an LSU vs. Alabama rematch in the National Championship Game. However, let's see what it will look like should Alabama lose.

Given the way things went this week, would anyone be surprised if that happened?

Arkansas

Arkansas should be sitting in third when this week's BCS rankings are released. However, Arkansas has the unenviable task of taking on LSU next week.

This is not a good matchup for Arkansas. The Razorbacks win with offense and a mediocre defense. They are 13th in points scored per game and 30th in points allowed per game.

That is not a recipe for success against LSU. This game could be similar to Arkansas' 38-14 loss to Alabama earlier in the year.

Virginia Tech

The Hokies will likely be ranked fourth in the new BCS rankings. They should have a slight edge over Stanford.

Tech will close out their regular season with a close game against Virginia.

Virginia is 8-3 on the season and you can expect them to play their rival tough. If the Hokies win they will earn a trip to the ACC Championship Game.

Stanford

Stanford survived a 31-28 scare against California this week. Stanford will close out the season against Notre Dame.

Stanford will not get a birth in the Pac-12 title game unless Oregon loses to Oregon State next week.

That leaves Stanford little opportunity to help their cause. They will need some serious help if they are going to get to the title game.

Oklahoma State

When the Cowboys lost on Friday, it was assumed their title hopes were shot. After the flurry of upsets they are right back in it.

Oklahoma State will face rival Oklahoma in their season finale. The Cowboys will be playing that game at home, and if they win, they will be in a great position to jump over teams in the rankings.

Conclusion/Prediction

If Alabama loses, Stanford will play LSU for the title.

Arkansas is not going to beat LSU. Virginia Tech is a flawed team that will face two tough games to finish their season. They will lose one of those games.

The Sooners will bounce back from a heartbreaking loss to Baylor and salvage some glory for their season by wrecking their in-state rival's hope. The Cowboys do not have the defense to stop Oklahoma, and the Sooners will have just enough to slow down the Cowboys.

Meanwhile, Stanford will take down Notre Dame, and then watch the rest of the field fall back to them.