Notre Dame Tops the BCS Standings

The BCS rankings are out and we are one step closer to figuring out who will play for the BCS National Championship, but one thing is certain: the Notre Dame Fighting Irish claim the number one spot and are bound for a chance at the title.

The new BCS standings have the Irish at the top followed by the Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, Florida Gators and Oregon Ducks to round out the top five. The National Championship game will be decided by the winner of the SEC Championship Game between Alabama and Georgia, with the winner facing the Irish. If the Gators pass the losing team of the SEC title game, they could secure a spot in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Of the rest of the BCS standings, most of the teams stayed the same while others made some surprises with Kent State moving up six spots to number 17, and Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Utah State and San Jose State all moving from unranked into the BCS Top 25 at 21, 22, 24 and 25 respectively. No. 17 Kent State is one spot out of earning a spot in a BCS bowl, but they take on No.21 Northern Illinois in the Mid-American Conference Championship while the current No. 16 UCLA Bruins will take on No. 8 Stanford in the Pac-12 title game, giving Kent State hopes for a bowl game.

At No. 18, Texas has a chance as well if they can beat No. 6 Kansas State and No. 20 Boise State will take on Nevada and could also earn a chance to break into the top 16.

How the final BCS standings shake out will be interesting to see, but it’s clear that you’ll see the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the BCS National Championship game. Their opponents, however, will be decided this weekend in the battle for the SEC Championship.
By: Brandon Williams Member of the Football Writers Association of America