"Hello, Computer."

We are less than a week away from the unveiling of the first BCS rankings. Last weekend's games provided a huge shakeup in the four computer polls that make public their numbers each week. Texas' victory over #1 Oklahoma, losses by Vanderbilt and Northwestern, Missouri's loss to Oklahoma State, and LSU's drubbing at the Swamp made for some interesting plot twists as we near the mid-point of the college football season.

Sagarin Ratings
1. Texas (6-0)
2. USC (4-1)
3. Penn State (7-0)
4. Alabama (6-0)
5. Oklahoma (5-1)
6. Florida (5-1)
7. Georgia (5-1)
8. Boise State (5-0)
9. Oklahoma State (6-0)
10. Ohio State (6-1)

Biggest surprise: 1-loss USC outpacing the Nittany Lions and Crimson Tide.
Biggest beef: BYU only 13th, and Ball State only 19th.

Billingsley Report
1. Texas (6-0)
2. Alabama (6-0)
3. USC (4-1)
4. Oklahoma (5-1)
5. Ohio State (6-1)
6. Penn State (7-0)
7. Georgia (5-1)
8. Florida (5-1)
9. BYU (6-0)
10. LSU (4-1)

Biggest surprise: LSU still in the top 10, and only 2 spots behind Florida, after that beatdown.
Biggest beef: Texas Tech comes in at #23.

Massey Ratings
1. Texas (6-0)
2. Alabama (6-0)
3. Utah (7-0)
4. USC (4-1)
5. Oklahoma State (6-0)
6. Virginia Tech (5-1)
7. North Carolina (5-1)
8. Texas Tech (6-0)
9. Boise State (5-0)
10. Penn State (7-0)

Biggest surprise: Most of the top 10, actually. This is by far the strangest of the 4 models.
Biggest beef: BYU is 26th, and is 8 spots behind 3-2 Duke. Really? LSU drops to 37th

Colley Matrix
1. Texas (6-0)
2. Alabama (6-0)
3. Penn State (7-0)
4. Utah (6-0)
5. Oklahoma State (6-0)
6. Michigan State (6-1)
7. Boise State (6-0)
8. Ohio State (6-1)
9. USC (4-1)
10. Ball State (7-0)

Biggest surprise: The 6-1 Spartans at #6. They host Ohio State this Saturday.
Biggest beef: Oklahoma drops a long way to #13; still ahead of #19 BYU, however. Didn't USC beat Ohio State? I remember reading that somewhere.


All signs point toward a Texas-Alabama 1-2 ranking next weekend when the first BCS numbers are released, assuming Texas defeats Missouri and Alabama defeats Ole Miss. For Auburn fans, that's great news, sort of. You see, never, in the history of the BCS, have the teams ranked in the top two spots upon the release of the first BCS poll of the season both reached the national championship game in January. The odds of a Texas-Alabama matchup in Miami are slim. Whether it's Texas or Alabama who will fall from the top spots is anyone's guess.