BCS Rankings: Boise State and the Best Teams That Won't Be BCS Bound

The BCS is no different from the NCAA tournament in one respect: A couple teams are always going to feel like they got screwed. This season is no different. Here are three elite squads that will be left out in the cold even though the Big East Champion will still enjoy a berth.

Boise State Broncos

Boise State came within one field goal of a BCS bid—again. After Houston's shocking loss in the Conference USA title game, the Broncos still have an outside chance of claiming a spot in one of the marquee bowls, but a lot depends on TCU.

Should the Horned Frogs secure the final at-large spot by moving into the top 16, Boise State is eliminated. If they don't, the Broncos will have to hope they get chosen over Big 12 contender Kansas State, which has wins over two ranked teams.

Like a team on the bubble on Selection Sunday, Boise will be sweating it out all afternoon.

Projected Bowl: Maaco

Arkansas Razorbacks

Arkansas had a chance to push its way into the BCS Championship Game with a win over LSU and came up short. Even though they'll finish inside the top 10 when the final standings are unveiled, the Razorbacks are still destined for the Cotton Bowl.

The system isn't as screwed up as some people might lead fans to believe, but it's a tough pill to swallow for a team like Arkansas when it sees West Virginia playing in a more prominent bowl. Especially since the Razorbacks' only losses came to the nation's two best teams.

Projected Bowl: Cotton

USC Trojans

The Trojans are in a different situation. They aren't allowed to play in a BCS bowl, or any bowl for that matter. That means a terrific season will go largely unnoticed outside of Southern California, as will a great coaching job by Lane Kiffin.

USC finished 10-2 and picked up wins over Notre Dame, Washington and Oregon. That's a pretty solid résumé which would probably rank them near the top 10 if they were eligible. Instead, they'll be watching all 35 bowl games from home this holiday season.

Projected Bowl: None