Will BCS Rankings Have a Shake-Up?

By Paul Bentley
Kirby Lee – US Presswire

Here we go again.  Four undefeated teams nearing the end of a college football season, and only two spots are available in the BCS National Championship game.

A four team playoff isn’t happening until 2014 in the college football world, meaning the BCS rankings still hold precedence over everything.  Between the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide, No. 2 Kansas State Wildcats, No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish and No. 4 Oregon Ducks,  there were BCS implications of all sorts last night. Shake-ups in the rankings will occur before this is all said and done.

The Oregon Ducks laid 61 points on the USC Trojans in their victory last night, but had 51 points put on their defense.  Not so sexy of a win in my opinion for the Ducks, although I do think they are the squad who could score on that Alabama defense.  Chip Kelly and his team may get another crack at the Trojans in the Pac 12 Championship.  This conference title game will be the last time the Ducks get to improve their resume, so expect them to bring the heat.

The Irish needed three overtime sessions to down the Pittsburgh Panthers.  Definitely not a sexy win for Brian Kelly and his team either.  They needed to pump the Panthers while at home in South Bend, Indiana if they had hopes of leaping in rankings.  Manti Te’o and his Fighting Irish will also get to play the Trojans before season’s end in the regular season finale at the Coliseum.  Not only could a win in this game send the Irish to a National Championship game, it could win Te’o the Heisman trophy.

Could the final BCS rankings come down to who beat the Trojans in better fashion between the Irish and Ducks?

Matthew Emmons – US Presswire

Although Kansas State beat the Oklahoma State Cowboys 44-30 at home, their heart and soul, Collin Klein, left the game in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury.  The hit that likely caused the injury was an above the shoulder hit, in which Klein’s neck got pushed forward.

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder wouldn’t give any hints as to what the injury’s severity was or the specifics of it.  I don’t blame him.

The 6’5″, senior Wildcats leader is the Heisman front-runner as he has his team in line to play in the National Championship, as well as a healthy stat line.  He has been unstoppable this season not only through the air, but on the ground as well.  Klein has 29 total touchdowns this year, 12 passing and 17 rushing.

Scott Sewell – US Presswire

If this injury sidelines Klein for multiple weeks, the Wildcats will be dropped in the polls, regardless of their perfect record.  Imagine a Klein-less Kansas State team playing against Nick Saban and company.  That would be terrible.

Although many “experts” think that an undefeated Notre Dame would surely get to play in the National Championship game, even if there are other flawless records, all of these squads still have opportunities to win in style and make a stronger case.

Man, I cannot wait until there is an eight team playoff in college football!

Paul Bentley is a contributor to Rant Sports.  Follow Bentley on Twitter at @KKingBentley and read more of his work right here!

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