Kansas State Rises, Oregon Falls in Week 9 BCS Standings

Alabama remains the people's favorite and Florida is the computers' favorite in this week's edition of the BCS standings:

1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Kansas State
4. Oregon
5. Notre Dame
6. LSU
7. Oregon State
8. Oklahoma
9. USC
10. Georgia

The SEC now just has five in the top 12 instead of six, as South Carolina tumbled down to No. 13. The league still has seven in the poll, as Texas A&M wasn't punished too severely (and rightfully so, on that) after its close loss to LSU.

The controversy this week is again going to be Oregon. The Ducks are a commanding No. 2 in the human polls, but the computer rankings severely penalize them for not having played anyone yet. Meanwhile, Florida and Kansas State are being rewarded handsomely for their impressive conquests by the CPUs. There is an element of irony here, as K-State was supposed to be on the second half of a home-and-home with Oregon that it cancelled not long after Bill Snyder's return. He famously prefers soft non-conference slates, so that series got the ax.

There is some good news for Oregon's chances, however, and I'll discuss that in its team capsule below. Here is what the top ten teams have done and what they still have remaining:

1. Alabama

Best win: No. 22 Michigan

Best remaining opponents: No. 6 LSU, No. 11 Mississippi State, No. 20 Texas A&M, possibly No. 2 Florida, No. 10 Georgia, or No. 13 South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game

Bama gets a bit of a boost with Michigan joining the rankings this week, but the fact remains that the Tide hasn't really played anyone else of note so far. The strength of schedule will begin to ramp up now, though, with the next three games coming against Mississippi State, LSU, and Texas A&M in consecutive weeks. The humans' love for the Tide will keep them afloat, and of course they'll be No. 1 if they go 13-0. As long as the team keeps winning, there's no reason to worry.

2. Florida

Best wins: No. 6 LSU, No. 13 South Carolina, No. 20 Texas A&M

Best remaining opponents: No. 10 Georgia, No. 12 Florida State, possibly No. 1 Alabama, No. 6 LSU, or No. 11 Mississippi State in the SEC Championship Game

The big win over South Carolina is one the team can't afford to celebrate for too long with Georgia coming up next this week. Losing that one wouldn't just cause them to tumble in these rankings, but it would require the Gators to have to root for a miracle UGA loss against Ole Miss or Auburn just to win the East division. This team is tough and battle tested, but its battles are far from over.

3. Kansas State

Best win: No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 19 West Virginia

Best remaining opponents: No. 14 Texas Tech, No. 23 Texas

The Wildcats both have been helping themselves and getting help from conference mates. They keep on winning by impressive scores, something that helps out a lot in the human polls. They also are seeing the top of the Big 12 winning the games they're supposed to win, which helps out a lot in the computer polls. Some fans out west might complain about them jumping over Oregon, but given their good wins so far, it's hardly controversial to me.

4. Oregon

Best win: None.

Best remaining opponents: No. 7 Oregon State, No. 9 USC, No. 17 Stanford, possibly No. 9 USC again in the Pac-12 Championship Game

That "none" in the best win category is why the Ducks keep falling. They won't get any help in that regard this weekend when they play Colorado. However the magic of a backloaded schedule is that they will swing a lot of human poll votes if they run the table, given that people tend to go by "what have you done for me lately?" whether they realize it or not. If USC wins the Pac-12 South, an hypothetically undefeated Oregon would close the season with a five-game stretch in which it plays four games against teams currently in the rankings (including the Trojans twice). They'll pick up some momentum in the computers from playing tough teams, and they'll get real brownie points with the people. Oregon isn't in bad shape.

5. Notre Dame

Best wins: No. 17 Stanford, No. 22 Michigan

Best remaining opponents: No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 9 USC

If the BCS was about how ugly you can win games, we'd be having a discussion about whether the Fighting Irish or the Gators should be at the top. The win over BYU won't impress anyone, but it's still a win nonetheless. They also benefit from Michigan climbing its way back up, but I'm not sure that's enough to put them over any of the teams currently ahead of them should they finish unbeaten. Notre Dame, more than anyone listed so far, has to root for others to lose.

6. LSU

Best win: No. 13 South Carolina, No. 20 Texas A&M

Loss: No. 2 Florida

Best remaining opponents: No. 1 Alabama, No. 11 Mississippi State, possibly No. 2 Florida, No. 10 Georgia, or No. 13 South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game

With a classic Les Miles win, the Tigers picked up a good victory over A&M and further cemented its place as the top one-loss team left. They also get to rest with a bye week before the Bama showdown while the Crimson Tide has to host Mississippi State. They're in a good place right now.

7. Oregon State

Best win: No. 25 Wisconsin

Best remaining opponents: No. 2 Oregon, No. 20 Stanford, possibly No. 10 USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game

Michigan isn't the only resurgent (if that's even the right word) Big Ten outfit to boost teams in the top ten. The Beavers just keep on winning their way, which is more workmanlike than their in-state rivals' preferred method. They may be down here, but they'll jump their way up if they win out. They have nothing to worry about just yet.

8. Oklahoma

Best win: No. 14 Texas Tech, No. 23 Texas

Loss: No. 3 Kansas State

Best remaining opponents: No. 5 Notre Dame, No. 19 West Virginia

The Sooners seem to be back to their old selves, blowing out teams left and right. Their close loss to K-State only looks better and better too. They get a chance to make a big national statement this weekend against Notre Dame, or else fall out of title contention for good.

9. USC

Best win: None.

Loss: No. 17 Stanford

Best remaining opponents: No. 2 Oregon, No. 5 Notre Dame, possibly No. 2 Oregon again or No. 7 Oregon State in the Pac-12 Championship Game

The Trojans lost early to a decent team, something that doesn't often rule out a team from the national title race. They got a nice, easy romp over Colorado in this weekend, and they have one more tuneup against Arizona before the big one against Oregon. With possibly three top ten opponents left to go, they have chances to impress.

10. Georgia

Best win: None.

Loss: No. 13 South Carolina

Best remaining opponents: No. 2 Florida, possibly No. 1 Alabama, No. 6 LSU, or No. 11 Mississippi State in the SEC Championship Game

Georgia needed Florida to beat South Carolina for its divisional chances, but it devalued the team that gave the Bulldogs their loss. They can't have the Gamecocks lose any more games. If there ever was an SEC team that could be hurt in the national title race by its schedule, it's this one.