For those of you who follow college football, you know that regardless of what the AP Polls or the Coaches Polls say, the BCS Standings are what decides which teams will get into not only the BCS Bowls, but the National Championship as well. Week eight of the college football season has passed and the BCS Standings are out. Their aren’t many surprises within the standings, but let’s have a quick look-in on how we arrived at where we are now. Because only the Top 16 teams are eligible to go to a BCS game, for all intents and purposes, I’ll only discuss the first sixteen teams.

1. Texas Longhorns 7-0 - BCS Average: .9979

The Good: The Longhorns have looked the most impressive among all of the teams in college football. They completely man-handled Missouri this past Saturday and just last week they defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in one of the best games of the year thus far. In the process, Colt McCoy has submitted his name into the Heisman Trophy race. If he can keep the Longhorns playing the way they’ve played so far into the season, he should be a definite lock for an invite to New York and should be favored to win the award.

The Bad: Their schedule from this point on is brutal. That’s not necessarily all bad, but there are so many potential roadblocks ahead for Texas. If they are not on their “A” game until the end of the season, they could easily lose a game or two, simply because of how loaded the Big 12 is right now. They’ll be tested time and time again, but judging from the way they’ve dominated this far, they should be okay.

Outlook: There is no such thing as a lock in college football and to say Texas is one would be completely false. While the toughest part of their schedule may be behind them, they have a tough route to travel to end the regular season and if all they can continue to play at this level, a Big 12 Championship Game is in their near future with a berth in the National Championship hanging in the balance. They have all of the right tools to get the job done, but there is no time for them to rest until they’re preparing for their Bowl Game.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide 7-0 - BCS Average: .9487

The Good: They went into Athens and handed it to the Bulldogs. The Crimson Tide are by far the second best team in the nation and arguably the best team in the country. Bama only has one more road block on their schedule and that’s in three weeks when they travel to Baton Rouge to take on the LSU Tigers. If they can get through that game, they should be able to cruise into the SEC title game where it should be Georgia or Florida waiting for them. There is no reason why Bama can’t run the tables and get not only to the SEC Title game, but to the BCS Championship Game as well.

The Bad: There isn’t much to say bad about Alabama right now. They’ve beat two teams in the AP Top 10 (both on the road as well). This is still the SEC and anyone could step up on any given weekend and defeat a team if they’re overlooking them and not being on their A game. I am sure Nick Saban has his guys focusing and taking it one week at a time and not looking ahead to the showdown with LSU. Tennessee could challenge them if they’re going to look past them.

Outlook: Alabama has a pretty good chance of running the table. There is no reason why they shouldn’t be favored from here on out and why they shouldn’t win the games coming up on their schedule. They have to avoid their trap games and just win. It doesn’t really matter by how much at this point for them.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions 8-0 - BCS Average: .8666

The Good: They have not been tested at all. I don’t mean that in the essence of them not playing any decent teams (although they haven’t), but they have blown out every single team thrown their way. For whatever it’s worth, they beat Oregon State who beat USC, so I guess that’s their only angle right now. They did beat Illionis, but they are 4-3 at this point. PSU will have their chance to prove themselves this Saturday in Columbus and that will be their measuring stick. If they can blow out the Buckeyes or even just beat them, they’ll be the only team in the major BCS conferences that has an actual legit shot to go undefeated.

The Bad: The computers are apparently not fans of JoePa and the Nittany Lions as they have them ranked 7th and rightfully so. PSU hasn’t played much of an opponent thus far. Can’t really knock them for that as schedules are set well ahead of time and you can’t blame them for not having Minnesota or Northwestern this year (both 6-1) in the Big Ten.

Outlook: For all intents and purposes, the fate of their season will be decided on Saturday. If they lose, all their hopes of a National Title are gone and they’ll have to hope for the Buckeyes to slip up if they want to have a chance of going to the Rose Bowl. If they win, they should be able to run the tables and we will have another Big Ten team in the Championship game, but no need to fear, the “experts” feel they have “SEC speed”.

4. Oklahoma Sooners 6-1 - BCS Average: .8319

The Good: They lost to Texas, but they kept them game close and it was a tight game until the final seven minutes or so when Texas turned it into a two possession game. They have pretty smoove sailing until the final two weeks of the regular season and then they’ll be tested again. Oklahoma is going to have to get some help if they want to be in the Big 12 Title game though. They’ll need Texas to lose a couple of times (not really sure how tie-breakers worth within the conference records). It would be interesting to see The Sooners perhaps being the #2 team in the BCS but not playing in the Big 12 Title game.

The Bad: The Big 12 is split into two divisions and it just so happens that Texas is in the same division as them. That loss to the Longhorns was devisating and it’ll be tough for them to overcome it without any kind of help. There is no rule stating this, but most voters think that if you don’t win your conference title, there is no way you can be in the National Championship and there is a very big chance that Oklahoma could be second in the BCS Standings, but not having won their conference title (maybe that’ll be the final straw to get a playoff).

Outlook: They can’t sit around and worry about the BCS and what will it have in store for them. They have to go out and dominate the rest of their schedule and let the cards fall where they may. I highly doubt threre is any way possible that they can meet up with Texas in the title game, but that would be a hell of a rematch, but if they don’t win out, they won’t be given that chance.

5. USC Trojans 5-1 - BCS Average: .7751

The Good: With the Pac-10 being nothing short of terrible this season, they definitely needed to get their marquee win out of conference and they did that by destroying the Buckeyes. Not entirely how marquee that is since the media and polls haven’t exactly seen OSU as a legit team this season. So if USC was going to get props playing these weaker teams, they were going to have to kill them to the third degree and that’s what they have been able to do. Their schedule has been a cake-walk thus far and will continue to be one.

The Bad: The loss to Oregon State was crippling. Fresh off of dominating the then third best team in the nation, they were upset by the Beavers and it dropped them behind some stiff competition. The bad part about playing in a weak conference is that there aren’t anymore good teams on their schedule as well as no Pac-10 Title game. I don’t know if they’ll be able to leapfrog any of the four teams ahead of them unless they were to lose a game, but with Texas tech and Oklahoma State behind them playing tough teams, USC could be leapfrogged themselves.

Outlook: USC needs help if they want to get a chance a title game. They need Alabama and Penn State to lose as well as hope Texas and Oklahoma can take care of business with Tech and the Sooners behind them. That’s the only way I can really see USC playing for a National Title game. Otherwise it’s back to the Rose Bowl preparing for Penn State or whoever the Big Ten sends there.

6. Oklahoma State Cowboys 7-0 - BCS Average: .7727

The Good: The Cowboys did defeat then #3 Missouri on the road and that did a lot for their program and it has them incontrol of their own destiny. They can say we defeated a top three team in the country on the road and that’s an impressive resume when it comes to comparing teams. On top of that, they too are undefeated and playing in the current toughest conference in the nation. With the expection to the Missouri game, they’ve had no problems defeating the teams they’ve faced, but it wasn’t exactly the toughest portion of their schedule.

The Bad: At Texas (#1), At Texas Tech #7) and they end the season when Oklahoma (#4) comes into town for a nice rivalry game. That will be the theme of the Big 12 from this point on, everyone you face is either in the top ten or has been in the top ten at some point this season. Oklahoma State isn’t suppose to be where they are, now that doesn’t mean they don’t have high hopes now.

Outlook: Regardless of who is on your schedule, when you have the chance to control your own destiny, you have to seize the moment and that’s what the Cowboys will have to do. If they were to win out (no matter how unlikely it seems), with those three games on their schedule, they will find themselves in a Big 12 Title game with a chance to advance to the National Championship. One game at a time though. It’s not like they’ll be facing all of those teams at the same time.

7. Georgia Bulldogs 6-1 - BCS Average: .7201

The Good: They were able to make that massacre against Alabama look like a close game as they were able to make some bit of a comeback. They have LSU and Florida coming up on their schedule and they can begin to climb back up the rankings. Every since that loss to Bama, they haven’t looked impressive and they can turn that all around with wins within the SEC against two of the better teams in the conference. They are going to need that offense to step-up too. They haven’t been too impressive on that side of the ball as far as scoring points goes.

The Bad: They already have one loss, they can’t afford to lose anymore. The best team they’ll probably face all year (Florida and LSU are good, but Alabama is better) killed them at home before UGA decided to try and make it look like a game. Sometimes it’s not about who you beat, it’s who you lost to and Alabama is a top three team, so it’s not like the Bulldogs lost to Kentucky Wildcats or something.

Outlook: The loss to Alabama probably cost them a shot at a national title, but there is a bit of a chance of redemption if both teams can win their respective divisions within the SEC and meet up for a re-match in the SEC Title game. They could be possibly playing for a trip to the title game, but at the worst they could be ending Alabama’s chances as well.

8. Texas Tech Red Raiders 7-0 - BCS Average: .7127

The Good: The Red Raiders are undefeated in the Big 12, which is by far the best conference this season, so by association, they’re going to garner respect and recognition. They have still have to prove themselves though. Being undefeated as great, but with the teams they’ve faced, they should be undefeated right now. They’ve literally faced no one of any significance. Not trying to take anything away from what they’ve been able to accomplish, because I don’t think many figured they’d be 8th when the BCS game out.

The Bad: Where do I begin? At Kansas (#23), against Texas (#1), against Oklahoma State (#6), at Oklahoma (#4). That’s a tough four-week stretch and I just don’t see them coming out of that better than 2-2 at best. All of those teams outside of Kansas will be Big 12 South games. I can see them beating Kansas and Oklahoma State but those won’t even be easy. Then to add the fact that Texas and Oklahoma are on the schedule too. Good luck.

Outlook: Trying to be positive, but Texas Tech is going to have a rough stretch of games. If they come out of that and only have one loss, I’d be shocked. Their offensive is good, no doubt, but their defense is going to have to come to play if they want to get the job done. Anything can happen though and that’s why they play the games instead of letting the matchups be decided on paper.

9. Ohio State Buckeyes 7-1 - BCS Average: .7030

The Good: Chris “Beanie” Wells is back and playing well and Tressel got passed his loyalty to upperclassmen and put the future into the starting lineup (Pryor) and the Buckeyes haven’t loss since. After demolishing the Spartans, the Buckeyes got a pint of respect from the media, which had them in the top ten. With that said, the computers are the reason to why the BCS has them ahead of the Gators as the computers see the Buckeyes as the fifth best team in the nation. They still have one more big game on their schedule and that’s when the Nittany Lions come into Columbus. Plenty people view PSU as a comparison to SEC teams with their team speed and they feel PSU is a national championship contender. This is the last chance for Ohio State to get some respect back from the rest of the nation.

The Bad: Not only where they blewout by USC earlier in the season, but they struggled to beat Ohio University, needed a fourth quarter late drive to beat Wisconsin, and didn’t look impressive at all against Purdue and Troy. Voters already don’t want to see them in another title game and as long as they are struggling, OSU isn’t going to get much help from the human polls. That loss to USC killed their season before it even got off the ground.

Outlook: Aside of the past and looking at this season and this season only, OSU currently has five teams who currently are in the Top 25. USC, Michgan State and Wisconsin are all in the Top 25 when they faced-off and Penn State and Northwestern both hold Top 25 rankings. If OSU can beat PSU and NU, they’ll be 4-1 against Top 25 teams, not to mention Minnesota is in the top 25 for the BCS. Say what you want, but going 4-1 (or 5-1) against Top 25 teams is impressive anyway you look at it.

10. Florida Gators 5-1 - BCS Average: .6690

The Good: Both the human polls have the Gators higher (6th and 7th) to be exact, but that damned computer poll views the Gators as the 12th best team right now. The Gators absolutely blasted the LSU Tigers this weekend and in two weeks they have a shot at the Bulldogs of Georgia. Florida HAS to win that game to get ahead of the Bulldogs so they can be that second SEC team on deck. Not only that, but the winner is figured to be in the drivers seat to represent the SEC East in the SEC Championship game. I am fully aware that the Gators play in the SEC, but they have a favorable schedule down the stretch. Mainly because the SEC isn’t as deep as many led to believe.

The Bad: Bama and Georgia are ahead of them and like I mentioned before, one conference can only get two BCS bowl-bids at the maximum. They have to beat the Bulldogs and Vandy in the worst way and both are them are road games for the Gators and they will probably be underdogs. Just as those games are important to Florida, Georgia and Vandy also can’t afford to lose those games, especially Georgia who was flat out embarrassed by Alabama and needs to prove themselves on a national stage.

Outlook: It’s simple, win out or settle for another game in the Captial One Bowl or even the Gator Bowl. Florida has an uphill climb, but they have the games to get up the hill and the voters are going to keep them afloat as long as they’re winning. That loss to Ole Miss was heartbreaking and may have costed not only the Gators a BCS Bowl Bid (or even national championship), but Tebow’s campaign to repeat as a back-to-back Heisman winner.

11. Utah Utes 8-0 - BCS Average: .6345

The Good: They are undefeated right now and they have the computer poll on their side, which thinks they are the eighth best team in the nation at the moment. While the Utes haven’t had a signature win just yet, they did beat Michigan (for what it’s worth) as well as Oregon State (who beat USC). Nothing to worry about, the Utes will have an excellent chance to prove their worth as they’ll face TCU and BYU (both top 25 opponents) before the season is over. If they can go undefeated (which looks to be like a tough task), Utah should be on their way to a BCS game.

The Bad: As previously mentioned, they have to play both BYU and TCU soon and although those games are at home, they are going to win both of those games to have a legit shot at making it. They are battling with Boise State for a potential at-large bid and you’d have to think a 12-0 Boise State team would get in over an 11-1 Utah team.

Outlook: Simply put, if the Utes win out, they should get a BCS bowl bid. Winning out isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially in college football. Each week they have to be ready to play, because for a mid-major like the Utes, they can’t afford to lose a game and still back into a BCS Bowl Game. They just may be better than teams ahead of them at the end of the season, but it’s all about money and ratings and Utah isn’t exactly an attractive team as far as the casual fan goes.

12. Boise State Broncos 6-0 - BCS Average: .5870

The Good: The Broncos played in one of the greatest and most exciting bowl games in recent memory just two years ago, so the voters wouldn’t mind giving them a shot at producing another instant classic with another powerhouse. Earlier in the season they defeated an Oregon team who was ranked 17th in the nation at the time and by judging the rest of their schedule, it’s safe to say that beating Oregon gave them a signature win. Boise State has six games left and four of them at home and you’d have to think they’ll be favored to win the rest of their games and rightfully so.

The Bad: They play in the WAC and of all the non-BCS conferences, the WAC just may be the least impressive, especially with Hawaii desperately missing the offensive explosiveness that left when Colt Brennan went pro this off-season. On top of that, there are a handful of teams looking to crash the BCS-party and it’ll be tough to fit two into a BCS game, assuming the SEC and Big 12 each send two teams a piece and Boise State hasn’t played any legit teams, outside of Oregon, who isn’t viewed as a real powerhouse. The Utes who are currently ahead of them would have played a tougher schedule as well.

Outlook: People love cinderella stories and that’s what Boise State was two seasons ago and people want to see that kind of thing repeat itself. If there is going to be just one team crashing the party, the Broncos would probably be the team given the shot based off of what they’ve done in the past. Not to mention, they’ll probably be undefeated at the end of the season as well. For their sakes though, they would sleep easier of the Utes lost a game and didn’t end the season undefeated as well.

13. LSU Tigers 5-1 - BCS Average: .4987

The Good: Okay, LSU was completely destroyed by Florida, but they have the games ahead of them to climb back up the standings. They have two big games over the next three weeks against Georgia this Saturday and another big one vs Alabama in a few weeks. It’s going to be hard to erase the memory of that 51-21 loss to Florida out of the voters heads, but beating Georgia and Alabama will definitely do that. That’s the beauty of playing in the SEC, you always have the following weeks to rebuild your rep back up and that’s exactly what LSU will have to do.

The Bad: By rule, a conference can only send a maximum of two teams to BCS games. Alabama, Florida, and Georgia are all ahead of them. The computers appear to be working against them as well as they have LSU tied for 19th in their poll. On top of that, they are lacking a signature win as well, but those two big upcoming games are both at home and they’ll have a shot at getting one, but if they don’t win out, they won’t have much of a chance of getting into a BCS Bowl game.

Outlook: The media loves the SEC, so LSU will never be written off, but the odds are heavily against them of being able to climb out of this hole. The only way of them getting into a BCS game is to pretty much win the SEC Title, which means they have to get there by beating both Georgia and especially Alabama who sit ahead of them in the SEC West.

14. TCU Horned Frogs 7-1 - BCS Average: .4197

The Good: With TCU defeating BYU this past weekend, they are another team looking to crash the BCS party. The only loss they have on their resume at this point of the season was against Oklahoma and that was a game TCU didn’t really stand a chance in from jump. In a few weeks is a BCS-Buster contest as Utah comes into town and not only will TCU have a chance to get another signature win under their belt, they can knock out another team trying to fight for one of those at-large bids. Other than their loss vs Oklahoma, TCU hasn’t even been challenged and voters love blow outs and they definitely have that working in their favor.

The Bad: The Mountain West isn’t viewed as a great conference, but they do have three pretty good teams. Because of that, for a team like TCU to get noticed, they have to schedule the tough non-conference games (like their game vs Oklahoma). Unfortunately for them, they are usually outmatched and simply need a miracle to win the game. That one loss out of the conference means they have to run the tables and that’s tough to do, because teams know you so well and that makes it difficult.

Outlook: TCU has to beat Utah if they want to get a berth in the BCS and not even that will make it a sure thing. They have to continue to blow opponents out of the water and not worry about the standings. The worst thing they can do is overlook their opponents for anticipation of the big game vs the Utes.

15. Missouri Tigers 5-2 - BCS Average: .3682

The Good: The tough part of their schedule as behind them. Their two losses have came against Oklahoma State and Texas and both of those teams are in the top ten of the BCS Standings. On top of that, they are members of the Big 12 North and if they can run the table from this point on and reach that last week of the season vs Kansas, despite having two-losses, Missouri could very easily be playing in the Big 12 Championship Game with a BCS berth in sight. Of course that would mean beating Oklahoma or Texas in that game, but Missouri has the offense to get the job done, especially when they’re clicking. They have to take care of business and win the games they’re suppose to win though.

The Bad: In their two toughest games of the season, they lost them and leaving their signature win at this point vs Illionis, who hasn’t looked too impressive this season. Their next chance of a signature win will come at the end of the season vs Kansas and that game will most likely decide the winner of the Big 12 North. That will be a home-game for Missouri, so they should be favored in that contest. They simply can’t afford to slip-up anymore.

Outlook: As long as there are games to play, you have a chance. That was the motto last year for most of the teams in the nation and it’s fitting for the Tigers who can fight their way back into a BCS Bowl game. Chase Daniels and Jermey Macklin are going to have to carry this team, because the defense proved last week they can’t be relied upon to help this team out. That’s not a bad duo to put the fate of your season in.

16. South Florida Bulls 6-1 - BCS Average: .3296

The Good: As long USF remains in the top sixteen BCS wise, they’ll be considered for an at-large BCS bid. The Big East doesn’t have any affiliation with the BCS, so the Big East Champion will have to earn their way into a BCS Bowl. USF defeated Kansas earlier in the season and that’ll work well in their favor as they try to get an at-large bid. However, the loss to Pittsburgh may have ruined their legitimate chances of making, but playing West Virgina to end their season (despite being unranked at the moment) may leave one last good impression in the voters minds as they get ready to make a decision.

The Bad: As mentioned, they play in the Big East. With West Virgina being handled earlier in the season by what appeared to be inferior competition, the Big East’s rep has taken a hit. Losing possibly their toughest game of the season isn’t going to work into their favor, but they did have a signature win. However, when you’re trying to steal bids from other power-conferences, one signature win may not get the job done.

Outlook: The toughest part of USF’s schedule is behind them and they have a very good chance of winning against their remaining opponents. Cincinnati and West Virgina pose as their biggest threats, but winning those games may be able to sway voters and help them crash the BCS party. Only way that is possible is if they win out and catch a couple of breaks down the road.