The Road to the BCS Still Exists For Seven Teams

Published|Updated

There are only three weeks left in the college football season.

And there are still seven teams alive for a shot at the BCS title. 

Which seven teams and what do they need to do to advance to the BCS title?

Let's dive in and see. 

Here we go.  

1. Alabama

Games remaining:

Chattanooga

at Auburn

SEC title game vs. either Missouri or South Carolina?

Road to the BCS title game: It's simple, win out. 

2. Florida State

Games remaining:

Idaho

at Florida

ACC title game

Road to the BCS title game: It feels unseemly to talk about because sports are relatively insignificant relative to criminal investigations, but the biggest threat to FSU's title game appearance is Jameis Winston's sexual assault investigation. If he's charged with a felony, the 'Noles lose their title chance even if they're still undefeated.

Why?

Because pollsters would justifiably drop FSU beneath Baylor, Ohio State, or a one-loss Oregon or SEC champ if Winston wasn't eligible to play.  

3. Baylor

Games remaining:

at Oklahoma State

at TCU

Texas

Road to the BCS title game: Win out and hope that either Alabama or Florida State loses. 

4. Ohio State

Games remaining:

Indiana

at Michigan

Big Ten title game

Road to the BCS title game: Win out and hope that two of Alabama, FSU, or Baylor lose. Also hope that a one-loss team doesn't leap you. Think this is absurd? Auburn has already passed Ohio State in the computers. If it came down to the Buckeyes vs. 12-1 Auburn coming off back-to-back wins over Alabama and Missouri or South Carolina, do you really feel confident Ohio State would be in the game? I certainly don't.  

5. Oregon

at Arizona

Oregon State

Pac 12 title game

Road to the BCS title game: Left for dead on the side of the road after being hit by a Stanford bus, Oregon has now stood up. The road to the BCS title game is still a difficult one, but if Oregon wins out and Florida State, Baylor and Ohio State all lose, voila, the Ducks are back in the BCS title game as the top one loss team. Unfortunately for the Ducks an Alabama loss wouldn't help that much because the team that beats Bama would probably become the top one loss team in the country.  

6. Auburn

Alabama

SEC title game vs. Missouri or South Carolina?

Road to the BCS title game: Beat Alabama in the final game of the regular season and then beat Missouri or South Carolina in the SEC title game. A 12-1 Auburn team would stand a good chance of catching undefeated Ohio State and making it a serious battle in the polls. Given that Auburn has already passed Ohio State in the computers, how could the Tigers's computer standings drop by playing Alabama and Missouri or South Carolina left on the schedule?

So it would come down to the polls.

Is a 12-1 Auburn more impressive than a 13-0 Ohio State?

What about a 12-1 Auburn against a 13-0 Baylor?

If there are two undefeated teams left then Auburn would be left out in the cold, but if it comes down to pollsters deciding between a one-loss SEC team or a no loss Big 12 or Big Ten team? Don't write off the one-loss SEC team yet. 

7. Missouri

at Ole Miss

Texas A&M

SEC title game?

Road to the BCS title game: Win out and hope that Florida State and Baylor lose. A 12-1 Mizzou with three top 25 BCS wins in a row to end the season would have a hell of a resume. Especially since it would be capped off with an SEC title game win over Alabama or Auburn.

There's no doubt the SEC champ would be the top one-loss team, but how high could Mizzou climb against undefeated Ohio State or Baylor?

If there are two undefeated teams left then Mizzou would be left out in the BCS title game cold, but if it comes down to pollsters deciding between a one-loss SEC team on a roll or a no loss Big 12 or Big Ten team? Don't write off the one-loss SEC team just yet.  

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Clay Travis is the founder of the fastest growing national multimedia platform, OutKick, that produces and distributes engaging content across sports and pop culture to millions of fans across the country. OutKick was created by Travis in 2011 and sold to the Fox Corporation in 2021. One of the most electrifying and outspoken personalities in the industry, Travis hosts OutKick The Show where he provides his unfiltered opinion on the most compelling headlines throughout sports, culture, and politics. He also makes regular appearances on FOX News Media as a contributor providing analysis on a variety of subjects ranging from sports news to the cultural landscape. Throughout the college football season, Travis is on Big Noon Kickoff for Fox Sports breaking down the game and the latest storylines. Additionally, Travis serves as a co-host of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, a three-hour conservative radio talk program syndicated across Premiere Networks radio stations nationwide. Previously, he launched OutKick The Coverage on Fox Sports Radio that included interviews and listener interactions and was on Fox Sports Bet for four years. Additionally, Travis started an iHeartRadio Original Podcast called Wins & Losses that featured in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports. Travis is a graduate of George Washington University as well as Vanderbilt Law School. Based in Nashville, he is the author of Dixieland Delight, On Rocky Top, and Republicans Buy Sneakers Too.