Michigan jumps USC to #2 BCS spot

[unknown-swac]

New standings have OSU, UM, and USC rounding out the top 3. Either OSU or UM are guaranteed a loss and USC still has Cal, Oregon, ND and UCLA. Auburn could sneak back into the championship game if they win out.

[AppGuy04]

bout time

[Ivytalk]

That's one tough D in Ann Arbor this year. Looking forward to 11/18!

[UMass922]

An Auburn or Florida team that wins out probably plays the OSU-Michigan winner in the BCS title game (assuming USC loses, which I think they will).

But what's really interesting is that there's a shot the OSU-Michigan loser could still end up finishing #2 in the BCS--meaning a Buckeyes-Wolverines rematch for the national title if both win the rest of their other games. For this to happen, USC would have to lose (which, again, I think they probably will--ideally, to increase the odds of this scenario, they'd lose twice) and someone other than Auburn or Florida--i.e., Arkansas--would have to win the SEC. It's obviously only a possiblity--difficult to predict how things would play out in the computers--but I'd love to see it happen. (Of course, what I and most of us would really love to see is a playoff, but that goes without saying.)

[PantherRob82]

no usc this year. please.

[PantherRob82]

i'd like to see a michigan-osu rematch for the championship. or at least michigan

[bobcatfan06]

Michigan v tOSU won't happen in the Championship because they play each other at the end of the season. No chance the loser gets back to the championship. I wish it would happen though. As long as Texas doesn't make it, I'm happy.

[blackfordpu]

Good, USC doesn't belong in the top 5.

[dbackjon]

Michigan v tOSU won't happen in the Championship because they play each other at the end of the season. No chance the loser gets back to the championship. I wish it would happen though. As long as Texas doesn't make it, I'm happy.

Didn't OU do that recently? Lose the Big 12 championship game, but still was #2 in the BCS?

[bluehenbillk]

Let the waiting begin, until the real NC game on 11/18, with the winner waiting another 51 days to play in the other "NC game" in January.

[TheValleyRaider]

Didn't OU do that recently? Lose the Big 12 championship game, but still was #2 in the BCS?

I think that's because their opponent in the Title game (Kansas St.?) gave them enough of a boost in the computer polls to get them over USC. Basically, by losing the KSU, their opponent's new higher ranking improved their SOS in the computers. I'm pretty sure that was the year USC got the split title with LSU after the Tigers beat OU. That of course led to (surprise!) more BCS tweaking.

[dbackjon]

I think that's because their opponent in the Title game (Kansas St.?) gave them enough of a boost in the computer polls to get them over USC. Basically, by losing the KSU, their opponent's new higher ranking improved their SOS in the computers. I'm pretty sure that was the year USC got the split title with LSU after the Tigers beat OU. That of course led to (surprise!) more BCS tweaking.

If you look at the gap this year between the top 3 and the rest, it is concievable that one of the three could lose and still be 1/2/3.

[unknown-swac]

It will be too late in the season for OSU or UM to lose and still go to the championship game.

[UMass922]

If you look at the gap this year between the top 3 and the rest, it is concievable that one of the three could lose and still be 1/2/3.

I think the main reason there's that gap right now is simply because those top three are undefeated. Whoever loses (obviously at least either Michigan or Ohio State will, and I think USC will, too) will come back to the pack and Auburn, Florida, etc. are going to be right in the thick of things again. Still, it's going to be close, and I think there's a legitimate chance that the Mich-OSU loser still finishes #2 if USC loses and the SEC teams continue to beat each other up.