Week 15 Projected BCS standings: Fresno State is done

When the second to last BCS standings are released on Sunday night, there will be a lot of shake up in the standings, and who will be playing in what BCS bowl games.

The race for the automatic spot for the non-automatic qualifying teams belongs to Northern Illinois since Fresno State was outgunned against San Jose State Friday night, losing 62-52. Northern Illinois only needs to win the MAC title game against Bowling Green Friday night.

The BCS title is one more team out since Alabama lost to Auburn when the Crimson Tide decided to kick a 57-yard field goal which was then returned 109 yards by Auburn to win. For those who missed that play here it is:

This likely puts Ohio State and Florida State for the top two spots on Sunday, but Auburn could be a threat to Ohio State if they beat a pair of top five teams in two weeks.

Here are the Week 15 projected BCS standings:

1. Florida State
2. Ohio State
3. Auburn
4. Alabama
5. Missouri
6. Oklahoma State
7. South Carolina
8. Stanford
9. Baylor
10. Arizona State
11. Michigan State
12. Clemson
13. Oregon
14. Northern Illinois
15. LSU
16. Oklahoma
17. UCLA
18. Central Florida
19. Louisville
20. Duke
21. Wisconsin
22. Georgia
23. Fresno State
24. Cincinnati
25. Texas A&M

Now here are my BCS bowl projections, and these are end of season projections. The two teams who make it the title game will allow for their contracted BCS bowls to pick their replacement first. After that this is the bowl order: Orange, Sugar and Fiesta Bowl.

These might seem odd, but do make sense so let me explain, especially the Rose Bowl. With Wisconsin losing to Penn State there is pretty much no way they can be No. 14, and Michigan State will likely lose to Ohio State and dropping them out of the top 14. Orange gets first pick and takes Alabama and while Rose gets next selection to replace the loss of their Big Ten team, the options are very limited. They are not going to take Central Florida or Northern Illinois, they can not take Oklahoma State and they won't take Oregon. That leaves a likely Baylor or Clemson left, and Baylor is likely the choice.

BCS title game: Ohio State vs. Florida State
Orange Bowl: Alabama vs. Oregon
Sugar Bowl: Auburn vs. Central Florida
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Northern Illinois
Rose Bowl: Stanford vs. Baylor

The official BCS standings will be released Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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