BCS Rankings: David Shaw Displeased With Virginia Tech And Oklahoma State Ahead Of Stanford

BCS Rankings, Week 13: Stanford Climbs In BCS Computer Ratings

The Stanford Cardinal were rewarded for the Week 12 failures of others as they climbed from No. 9 to No. 6 in the Week 13 BCS rankings. While the SEC West rules the roost in the BCS right now, Stanford quietly has secured its positioning in hopes for BCS bowl consideration. Thanks Oregon, Oklahoma and Clemson all losing, Stanford climbed ahead of them and is now within shouting distance of No. 4 Virginia Tech.

Stanford took down their rivals, the California Golden Bears, in the 2011 Big Game. Although Cal has struggled this year, Stanford saw some modest improvement in their computer ratings, as their average rank climbed from No. 11 to No. 9. That was not so much thanks to Stanford's win (although they obviously had to win), but thanks to the losses ahead of them.

Stanford's computer ratings find them in a funny situation. Although they lost to the Oregon Ducks at home a week ago, Stanford is now in a position where if both teams win out, Stanford will end up ahead of Oregon in the BCS rankings while Oregon finishes ahead of them in the Pac-12. Nobody ever said the BCS made any sense.

The BCS formula combines human and computer rankings to devise the standings. The USA Today/Coaches Poll and the Harris Poll are voted on by humans each Sunday. The computer ratings include the Sagarin Ratings, Anderson & Hester, Billingsley Report, Colley Matrix, Massey Ratings, and Wolfe Ratings. Stanford rates as follows according to the computers:

A&H: 8
Billingsley: 4
Colley: 10
Massey: 14
Sagarin: 11
Wolfe: 9

BCS Rankings, Week 13: Stanford Climbs To No. 6 Behind Trio Of SEC Schools

A wild and crazy Week 12 officially wrapped on Sunday with the release of the Week 13 BCS Rankings. As expected, LSU and Alabama claimed the top two spots as we close in on a potential all SEC BCS national championship game. The SEC is dominating the BCS this week with Arkansas coming in at the No. 3 position. The top three is virtually guaranteed to change in some manner next week as Arkansas travels to face LSU. Alabama gets Auburn in the Iron Bowl, which is no sure thing victory.

Thanks to the host of upsets over the weekend, the Stanford Cardinal were  able to climb three spots from No. 9 to No. 6. Oregon, Oklahoma, and Clemson all dropped behind them following weekend losses. It is mildly interesting to consider that Stanford will likely finish ahead of Oregon in the BCS in spite of losing to them and likely losing out on a Pac-12 title because of that loss.

At this point Stanford has a shot at a BCS at-large bid, likely for the Fiesta Bowl. Mathematically they could still climb into that number two spot in the national title game, but it would take a crazy confluence of events involving teams two through five all losing in the next couple of weeks. It is amusing to consider, but virtually impossible to happen. The Cardinal host Notre Dame next week and will look to wrap up an 11-1 regular season.

Here are the top ten teams in the Week 13 BCS Rankings:

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Arkansas
4. Oklahoma State
5. Virginia Tech
6. Stanford
7. Boise State
8. Houston
9. Oklahoma
10. Oregon

BCS Rankings, Week 13: Sagarin Computer Rating Drops Stanford A Spot Following Big Game

Editor's Note: Check out the Week 13 BCS Rankings.

In a few short hours, the Bowl Championship Series will release their latest rankings on ESPN as we move closer and closer to an all SEC national title game. LSU and Alabama will likely be the top two teams in the BCS, with Arkansas sitting in third. The question then becomes who pulls in fourth and fifth in the latest BCS rankings.

The Week 13 Sagarin ratings are the first BCS computer rating of the week, with the rest revealing themselves later this evening with the actual BCS rankings. The Sagarin ratings leave LSU on top, but flip-flop Alabama and Oklahoma State for No. 2 and No. 3. Oregon is the big loser as they drop from No. 4 to No. 9. Boise State is the big winner climbing from No. 14 to No. 10.

Although Stanford also dropped a spot from No. 10 to No. 11 after their Big Game victory over Cal, Oregon's fall might be enough to get Stanford back up over Oregon. That is mildly amusing considering Oregon beat Stanford last week and is still in line to secure the Pac-12's Rose Bowl bid. People complain about getting the right two teams in the national title game, but even something as simple as this shows how ridiculous the BCS rankings can be.

Here are the top eleven according to Jeff Sagarin's computer rating:

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma State
4. Arkansas
5. Kansas State
6. Oklahoma
7. Baylor
8. South Carolina
9. Oregon
10. Boise State
11. Stanford

College Football Rankings 2011: AP Poll Ranks Stanford Behind Dominant SEC West Trio

The insanity of week 12 of the college football season has left us with an intriguing setup for the Week 13 college football rankings. Thanks to Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Oregon all losing this weekend, the SEC West has claimed the top of the Week 13 AP Poll all to itself. LSU, Alabama and Arkansas have claimed the top three spots, in what is only the second time history one conference has occupied the top three rankings. The only other time was when the Big 8 had Nebraska, Oklahoma and Colorado at the top in 1971.

Stanford claims the first non-SEC spot as they have climbed back up from No. 8 to No. 4. Stanford still is on the outside looking in at the Rose Bowl picture, but they are in the mix for a BCS bowl given the collapse of much of the top ten this week. Oklahoma was a main competitor for a BCS berth, but their loss to Baylor likely knocks them out of that. Of course, a win over Oklahoma State next week could change all that.

Next week provides a chance for some change in the rankings, particularly with LSU hosting Arkansas. If Arkansas wins, the SEC West probably still maintains their top three stranglehold. If LSU wins and Stanford beats Notre Dame, Stanford likely climbs up to No. 3 in the polls. Of course, if Arkansas loses to LSU and Alabama loses to Auburn, Stanford could climb all the way up to No. 2 in the AP Poll. The intrigue continues!

Here is the top ten according to the Week 13 AP Poll:

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Arkansas
4. Stanford
5. Oklahoma State
6. Virginia Tech
7. Boise State
8. Houston
9. Oregon
10. USC

College Football Rankings, Week 13: USA Today/Coaches Poll Moves Stanford Back To No. 5

The conclusion of a wild weekend of college football means the rankings are officially getting topsy-turvy. The Week 13 USA Today/Coaches Poll was released this morning and the SEC rules the roost. We are closing in on an all SEC national title game as LSU, Alabama and Arkansas have claimed the top three spots in the poll. The week 13 BCS rankings will be released Sunday evening and we could see these three teams in the top three.

The Stanford Cardinal made their move back up the rankings courtesy of all these losses and now ranks fifth in the Coaches Poll. They are one spot behind Virginia Tech, which was another big beneficiary of the upsets. Oklahoma took the biggest hit as they dropped out of the top ten. Oklahoma State dropped to No. 6 and Oregon dropped to No. 9.

Week 13 provides a few more chances to continue the insanity of the last month of college football. Arkansas travels to LSU with a chance to play their way into national title contention. An Arkansas upset would create a quagmire in the SEC West with LSU, Alabama and Arkansas all tied at 7-1. This is assuming Alabama can win the Iron Bowl at Auburn. They will be favored, but it is no small task to win such an intense rivalry game.

Stanford faces off against Notre Dame but more importantly for them, Oregon hosts Oregon State in the annual Civil War. Oregon will be a heavy favorite and could be looking to exact some vengeance following their loss to USC. However, if Oregon State pulled off what would be an epic upset, Stanford would clinch the Pac-12 North.

Here is the top ten in the Week 13 USA Today/Coaches Poll:

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Arkansas
4. Virginia Tech
5. Stanford
6. Oklahoma State
7. Houston
8. Boise State
9. Oregon
10. Michigan State

College Football Rankings, Week 13: Stanford Given A Second Life Amidst BCS Rankings Chaos

Just when hope seemed lost for the Stanford Cardinal, the BCS imploded in week 12 as three of the top five teams lost Friday and Saturday in some pretty wild upsets. Friday saw the Oklahoma State Cowboys lost to 27--point underdog Iowa State in overtime. Saturday saw the Oregon Ducks lose to USC 38-35 after missing a potential game-tying field goal as time expired and the Oklahoma Sooners lose to the Baylor Bears on a 34-yard touchdown pass with eight seconds left.

With those three losses, the BCS was turned on its head with regards to the various non-national championship game bowls. The BCS national title game will be looking at an LSU-Alabama rematch, but with Alabama facing Auburn and LSU having to defeat Arkansas and then win in the SEC title game, anything is possible.

For Stanford, the big picture has come down to the Rose Bowl. If Oregon loses to Oregon State next week, the Cardinal would clinch the Pac-12 North division. If Oregon defeats Oregon State, the Ducks clinch the Pac-12 North. Whichever team clinches will advance to the inaugural Pac-12 title game, with the winner likely moving on to the Rose Bowl.

Stanford could conceivably climb as high as fifth in this week's BCS standings, but I have to think they stay behind Oregon in most of the polls. They'll stay behind Oregon in the human polls, but who knows what the computers will do following Oregon's loss and Stanford's win.

With Saturday in the books, here is my projection of the top ten in the BCS:

1. LSU
2. Alabama
3. Oklahoma State
4. Arkansas
5. Virginia Tech
6. Oregon
7. Stanford
8. Oklahoma
9. Boise State
10. Houston

For more on Stanford, check out Rule of Tree.

Oregon Vs. USC Recap: Stanford Rose Bowl Hopes Alive After Ducks Upset

The first two months of the 2011 college football season were relatively tame with results going mostly according to chalk. Over the last month though, the 2011 BCS rankings have been turned upside down. This week was no different as multiple teams in the top five have fallen victim to the upset bug. It started Friday with Oklahoma State getting stunned by Iowa State, and has carried over to Saturday with Oregon losing a thriller to USC.

For Stanford, only the Oregon game mattered. Oklahoma State will drop with their loss, but with Stanford more or less out of the national title picture, they find themselves battling for a shot at the Pac-12 title. Oregon lost a thriller Saturday evening, missing a field goal as time expired to lose 38-35.

The Ducks actually trailed 38-14 at one point but staged a furious comeback. Oregon cut the lead to 38-35 and somehow forced and recovered a Marc Tyler fumble with 3:13 to go. The Ducks drove from their own 14 down to USC's 20-yard line before things got crazy. Oregon was called for a false start to move the field goal attempt to 42 yards out, which would have been a career long for Alejandro Maldonado. USC then proceeded to get called for encroachment, turning it into a 37-yarder, which was within in his career-long distance of 40. However, Maldonado pulled it left and USC escaped with the victory.

Stanford is currently dealing with Cal in the Big game. They lead 14-13 and are in a first half dogfight, so there is plenty of work to be done. However, if Stanford can hold on and win, they would find themselves still alive in the Rose Bowl picture. If Oregon were to lose the Civil War to Oregon State next week, Stanford would win the Pac-12 North and get a bid in the conference title game. Oregon State is a bad team this year, but rivalry games always leave the door open for an upset. Stanford will be hoping and praying.

Week 12 College Football Schedule: What Does Oklahoma State-Iowa State Do To Stanford's BCS Dreams?

We break down all the scores, news and polls as the week 13 BCS rankings are determined. For more on Stanford, check out Rule of Tree.