| 1 |
 |
Alabama
Crimson Tide |
12-0 |
9-3 |
The Egg Bowl turned into a laugher for the Crimson Tide. Now Alabama can prove it is for real with a win over the Gators for the SEC championship. |
| 2 |
 |
Texas
Longhorns |
11-1 |
9-3 |
A 49-9 beat down of the Aggies and a neutral site win over the Sooners makes Texas hard to ignore in the national title hunt. |
| 3 |
 |
Oklahoma
Sooners |
11-1 |
9-2 |
The Sooners definitely kept their hat in the ring with a solid win at Stillwater. |
| 4 |
 |
Florida
Gators |
11-1 |
9-2 |
The Gators didn't care about the rain storm in Tallahassee by running over Florida State. Now they can play their way into the BCS title game by beating Alabama. |
| 5 |
 |
USC
Trojans |
10-1 |
6-4-1 |
The Trojans covered another huge spread against Notre Dame. Now will the pull the mother of all collapses at UCLA? |
| 6 |
 |
Penn State
Nittany Lions |
11-1 |
7-3-1 |
Penn State is going to their second Rose Bowl since joining the Big Ten. And they look like they'll get the Trojans in Pasadena now. |
| 7 |
 |
Texas Tech
Red Raiders |
11-1 |
5-5 |
If the Red Raiders wanted to impress the pollsters against Baylor, then they did a poor job. The Cotton Bowl looks like it is in Texas Tech's future. |
| 8 |
 |
Utah
Utes |
12-0 |
7-4 |
The Utes have dominated almost everyone they have faced this year. Now can they handle a major conference opponent? |
| 9 |
 |
Ohio State
Buckeyes |
10-2 |
5-6 |
Will the long layoff for the Buckeyes hurt them in a bowl game again this year? |
| 10 |
 |
Boise State
Broncos |
12-0 |
6-4-1 |
Boise State most likely won't get into a BCS bowl, which is a shame considering the butt kicking they put on Pat Hill's Bulldogs to close out the regular season. |
| 11 |
 |
TCU
Horned Frogs |
10-2 |
8-3 |
The only thing stopping TCU now is the wait to find out which bowl game they'll play in this season. |
| 12 |
 |
Ball State
Cardinals |
12-0 |
9-2 |
The regular season finished perfectly for the Cards. Yet all can be lost with a defeat to the Bulls in the MAC title game. |
| 13 |
 |
Cincinnati
Bearcats |
10-2 |
6-5 |
With the Big East title secured, you have to wonder if Cincy will take it easy in its finale at Hawaii. |
| 14 |
 |
Georgia Tech
Yellow Jackets |
8-3 |
8-2 |
Paul Johnson has to be on the very short list of "Coach of the Year" candidates after his first year with the Jackets. |
| 15 |
 |
Oklahoma State
Cowboys |
9-3 |
8-3 |
The Cowboys kept up the pace with Oklahoma, but just some questionable play calling killed their upset chances. |
| 16 |
 |
Oregon
Ducks |
9-3 |
6-6 |
The Ducks' destruction of Oregon State had to feel good when knowing you put a wrench in them possibly making the Rose Bowl. |
| 17 |
 |
Georgia
Bulldogs |
9-3 |
3-8 |
The Bulldogs look nothing like the team that was expected to contend for the national title. Plus being out gained 409-81 on the ground shows your team really needs a break. |
| 18 |
 |
Boston College
Eagles |
9-3 |
7-4 |
An ACC title would be an amazing accomplishment for an Eagles team that lost as much talent as it did. And winning it over the same Hokies that knocked them out a year ago would make it all the sweeter. |
| 19 |
 |
BYU
Cougars |
10-2 |
3-8 |
The Cougars may have won 10 games this year. They won't get win No. 11 if they can't fix that defense for their bowl game. |
| 20 |
 |
Missouri
Tigers |
9-3 |
4-6-1 |
This year has been a disappointment for Mizzou. But a win in the Big XII title game will take the Tigers to their first BCS Bowl. |
| 21 |
 |
Mississippi
Rebels |
8-4 |
8-3 |
Talk about avenging a loss. The Rebs not only blanked the Bulldogs, but they got Sly Croom to resign. |
| 22 |
 |
Pittsburgh
Panthers |
8-3 |
5-7 |
Pitt came out and proved its win over the Mountaineers was no fluke last season with another victory lap this year. |
| 23 |
 |
Michigan State
Spartans |
9-3 |
6-6 |
The Spartans are going to be in a world of hurt once they lose Javon Ringer to the NFL. |
| 24 |
 |
Northwestern
Wildcats |
9-3 |
6-5 |
Pat Fitzgerald has taken just three seasons to get his Wildcats bowl bound. Now can they win a postseason game for the first time since 1949? |
| 25 |
 |
Virginia Tech
Hokies |
8-4 |
4-7 |
Virginia Tech owes this return trip to the ACC title game to a defense that stifled the Cavaliers. |
