The USA Today coaches poll is one-third of the BCS rankings and no matter how much BCS backers say the regular season is a week-to-week playoff these polls do shape the BCS. Fair or not it is what it is.
With the season still in three weeks it is a good time to look at how Boise State or TCU can move up the latter. As of now Boise State would be in a BCS game and TCU would be in the mix if they can defeat Boise State in November.
Even with a better strength of schedule Boise State will need some help if they want to make another run at the BCS title. Luckily for Boise State many teams ahead of them play each other. We will take a look at the top 15 for this purpose.
1. Oklahoma (42)
2. Alabama (13)
3. Oregon (2)
4. LSU (2)
5. Florida State
6. Stanford
7. Boise State
8. Oklahoma State
9. Texas A&M
10. Wisconsin
11. Nebraska
12. South Carolina
13. Virginia Tech
14. Arkansas
15. TCU
Out of these rankings here are the teams that face each other.
No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 4 LSU (Cowboys Stadium)
No. 9 Texas A&M at No. 1 Oklahoma
No. 8 Oklahoma State at No. 9 Texas A&M
No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 8 Oklahoma State
No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 5 Florida State
No. 3 Oregon at No. 6 Stanford
No. 11 Nebraska at No. 10 Wisconsin
No. 2 Alabama at No. 14 13 Arkansas
Things can still change, especially with conference title games where a one-loss conference champion Oregon, Stanford, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Alabama, Arkansas or LSU could still surpass an undefeated Boise State.
However, just by the way the schedule works out an undefeated Boise could move up three spots with guaranteed loses by Oklahoma/Florida State, Oregon/LSU and Oregon/Stanford.
As for TCU the odds of them getting to the top two spots is going to take a feat, but if they do go undefeated which will include a win over a possible top five Boise State team could propel TCU to around a final ranking of six or so.
This is extremely early and absurd, but since this poll actually matters in deciding a champion it is something worth looking at to project the outcome.
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