BCS questions will be answered during rivalry week
This is a great weekend for college football because of all the great rivalry games. There are also a lot of games that could impact the BCS. This weekend will clear up a lot of questions.
First, though, there was some off-field news this week. The BCS released a list of 21 teams that are still under consideration for places in BCS games, either as automatic qualifiers or potential at-large teams. Eleven teams on that list have either already won an automatic qualifier conference (Ohio State) or could still win one. The other 10 are TCU, Boise State, Iowa, Oklahoma State, Penn State, Virginia Tech, LSU, Miami, BYU and USC.
A few of those teams have very little chance of being chosen. I cannot think of any scenario, reasonable or otherwise, that gets BYU into a game. And if No. 19 BYU is on this list, why isn't No. 21 Utah? Both are just as likely to make the top 14. Both are just as likely to get picked.
But if I'm Boise State, I'm concerned to see USC on the list. A lot of things have to happen for the Trojans to get to the top 14, not the least of which is for them to find a defense. But if they do qualify, they are the kind of team with the fan base and reputation that could get picked ahead of the Broncos. I'm not convinced their fans would travel in great numbers to follow a 9-3 team, but they are a great TV draw.
And USC is the lowest-rated team on the list, which means the Trojans aren't on there just because the BCS is being polite. There would be no reason to include them if at least one bowl weren't seriously considering them. Some of the teams ranked ahead of USC may be on the list for no other reason than they are ranked higher than the Trojans (BYU again, Miami). That would also explain why the Cougars are on the list, but the Utes aren't.
The Trojans have to win out to make any of this relevant, and that starts with the game against their crosstown rival UCLA.
Florida and Alabama also have big games against in-state rivals. The Crimson Tide will play at Auburn on Friday, and the Gators host Florida State on Saturday. Unlike with Texas, a loss does not necessarily end the BCS title dreams for either Florida or Alabama. As much as voters love the SEC, there's a chance a one-loss league champion could still finish in the top two of the BCS rankings.
Boise State's last hurdle to an undefeated season and a possible at-large berth in the BCS comes Friday, night when the Broncos host Nevada on the Smurf Turf. That game is also for the WAC title because the Wolf Pack are also undefeated in the league.
The biggest game for the Broncos, besides their own, is the Oklahoma State game in Norman against Oklahoma. A victory by the Cowboys would qualify them for the at-large pool. They would get selected by the Fiesta Bowl as a replacement for Texas if the Longhorns play for the BCS title.
