BCS Rankings: 6 Contenders That Peaked Too Soon This Season

When the 2011 football season began most expected it to be full of parody, but that the end result would be an SEC team against the Oklahoma Sooners. It seemed to be predetermined and virtually a guarantee that the Sooners would win out in the Big 12 and go on to the title game.

There were talks about Oregon finding their way back into the title game, despite their season-opening loss to LSU. Until this Saturday’s loss to USC, most thought that Oregon was playing its best football as of late and that the Ducks stood a chance to make it to the title game for the second year in a row.

A surprise contender for 2011 was the Clemson Tigers. Clemson appeared from nowhere, gaining national attention after their lopsided victory over the Auburn Tigers early in the season. Despite their early-season success, the Tigers now find themselves far outside the title talk.

As it stands today, the most likely scenario has LSU and Alabama playing in the National Championship Game. Amazing as it seems that it could happen, it appears to be moving in that direction. Here are six teams that could have changed that end result if they hadn’t peaked too early and tossed away their chances. 

Oklahoma State Cowboys

The Cowboys were a surprise contender from the Big 12 this season as they rolled to a number of big victories early. By Week 4, the Cowboys faced one of their biggest challenges of the season as they traveled to Kyle Field in College Station to face the then No. 8 Texas A&M Aggies. The Cowboys won the game 30-29, appearing to seal their fate as a contender in the national title talk.

The Cowboys were well on their way to a major showdown at season's end with Oklahoma to determine if they would attend the national title game, but a loss this week to Iowa State ended those hopes. The Cowboys simply played their way out of contention.

Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma was the consensus preseason No. 1 to start the season and most thought it was a foregone conclusion that the Sooners were going to make it to the national title game. A Week 7 drubbing at the hands of heavy underdog Texas Tech looked to throw those aspirations down the drain.

With two victories that followed and the parody that ensued in the past few weeks, the Sooners looked to be able to climb back into the title talk. Of course, that was before the Baylor Bears hosted the Sooners and handed them their first loss to Baylor in school history and shattered the title dreams of Oklahoma.

Oregon Ducks

Oregon started the season with a big loss at the hands of LSU on a neutral field. The Ducks looked to be out of the title talk early as they dropped from the Top 10. After battling back throughout the season, the Ducks made it back to the Top Five and were looking to find the back door back into the national title game.

The Ducks throttled every opponent until they hosted USC this past weekend. When the Trojans came to town, the Ducks had their fate in their hands. They were ranked No. 4 and knocking at the title door. The Trojans took over the game early and defeated the Ducks in Autzen Stadium. Oregon will now look to battle for the Pac-12 title and a BCS bowl berth.

Stanford Cardinal

Stanford was riding the arm of Andrew Luck this season, looking efficient and effective defeating every opponent in their path. They won every game handily with the exception of a great overtime victory over the USC Trojans on October 29.

Two weeks after their overtime win they hosted Oregon looking for redemption for last season’s loss. This season the Cardinal fared no better as they fell to Oregon 53-30 at home. Stanford has worked its way back into the Top Five, but they are too far removed to make it to the title game.

Clemson Tigers

Clemson came out of nowhere this season pushing their way into the Top 10 and looking to be this season’s surprise national title contender. The Tigers marched to numerous wins that came down to the wire, much like the Auburn Tigers a year ago. It seemed that Clemson just couldn’t find a way to lose.

Clemson faced off against Georgia Tech on October 29, looking for another in-conference win and to take one more step towards the championship. The Tigers lost the game 31-17 on the road, removing them from the title talk. To make matters worse, after climbing back to No. 7, the Tigers lost to N.C. State this past week 37-13. Title talk is over. 

Wisconsin Badgers

The Wisconsin Badgers picked up one of the most talented players in the country this offseason when Russell Wilson committed to the Badgers for the 2011 season. The Badgers were coming off of a great season that ended with a heartbreaking loss in the Rose Bowl to TCU.

The Badgers started the season winning big, even blasting then No. 8 Nebraska 48-17. The stage looked set for Wisconsin to make a run. Then came back-to-back last minute losses to Michigan State and Ohio State and the Badgers were removed from the title hunt.