For the third straight week, the BCS has a new No. 1 team.
A pair of stunning upsets on Saturday for the top two ranked teams in the college football has given the BCS a new look with just two weeks before the end of the 2012 season. No. 1 Oregon was kept off balance all night by Stanford’s defense and lost in overtime 17-14. It wasn’t as close for No. 2 Kansas State, who got thoroughly knocked around by Baylor 52-24.
Now, there’s a new BCS 1 and 2. And, as expected, it mirrors the latest Associated Press and USA Today coaches’ polls. Notre Dame is the new BCS No. 1. It’s the third straight week the BCS has had a different top-ranked team, and it’s the first time the Irish have been ranked atop the BCS in school history. The only thing that keeps Notre Dame from its first BCS championship game appearance? A little rivalry game at USC this weekend.
Alabama comes in at No. 2 and would also be slotted to play in the BCS championship game if they beat Auburn and then Georgia in the SEC championship game. Speaking of the Bulldogs, they come in at No. 3. If both Alabama and Georgia win their regular season finales before the SEC championship game, the winner in Atlanta would be practically guaranteed to play in the BCS championship game. Remember when Georgia got crushed by South Carolina 35-7 in early October? Doesn’t matter anymore.
But don’t overlook No. 4 Florida. The Gators haven’t looked good at all since beating South Carolina in October, yet with a win over rival Florida State and a little help, Will Muschamp‘s team is very much in the BCS championship picture despite not even making the SEC championship game. Why? The Gators’ resume is tops.
Sitting at No. 5 and No. 6 are Oregon and K-State. Barring a complete meltdown atop the BCS, the Wildcats’ national championship hopes are done. The Ducks still have a glimmer of hope, but would need some help in front of them plus Stanford to lose to UCLA plus beat Oregon State plus win the Pac-12. When it comes to the computer averages, Florida is in a much better spot than the Ducks.
LSU comes in at No. 7 and Stanford, Texas A&M and Florida State round out the BCS top 10.
(Hat tip to the NFF for the chart)
