BCS Rankings: Late Bloomers Rocketing Up in Standings

Even teams that won’t crack the BCS can do a lot of good for their bowl positioning with a strong finish to the season. These three appear to be peaking at just the right time:

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Since getting pummeled at home by USC, the Irish have won four straight, allowing under 20 points in three of them. Largely forgotten after falling to South Florida and Michigan in its first two games, Notre Dame is 8-3 and has clawed back to a No. 22 ranking in today’s AP poll.

Of course, all the momentum the Irish have built will probably come to a very sudden stop next weekend in Palo Alto. Upsetting a top-notch Stanford team is a tall task, but if ND can pull it off, the win will send them to one of the best non-BCS bowls.

TCU Horned Frogs

If it weren’t for a terrible home upset at the hands of lowly SMU, the Horned Frogs might still be in the BCS discussion this season. Of their two defeats on the season, one came in OT to the Mustangs and the other by two points to Baylor.

TCU closes the regular season with what should be an easy win at home against UNLV. That will make it seven consecutive victories for Gary Patterson’s team, not enough to break into BCS territory but plenty to earn a solid bowl bid.

Baylor Bears

Back in October, the Bears had the misfortune to face Texas A&M in the most complete game the Aggies have played all season, which resulted in a 55-28 Baylor loss. With their other two losses having come against No. 16 Kansas State and No. 5 Oklahoma State, Baylor has a case for being the best three-loss team in the nation.

With two home games remaining on their schedule, the Bears have a better chance than most to help themselves before the season ends. Wins over inconsistent Texas Tech and banged-up Texas could (with a little help) raise Baylor as high as third in the Big 12 before all is said and done.