Alabama claimed the BCS national title, but was not a unanimous choice among the components of BCS system and the AP poll.

To see just how the bevy of season’s end rankings played out, we’ve set out to simulate a set of BCS rankings, using the AP poll in place of the Harris poll. What we get is a good aggregate of all of the final rankings, and the equivalent of a year-end, final BCS rankings.

We also used the six BCS computers, not all of which declared Alabama as the top team in the nation. In fact, both Oklahoma State and LSU claimed the top spot in one computer ranking.

Mostly, this is just for fun, a good look at what the BCS standings would look like if they were released after the end of the season. The formula is exactly the same as the BCS utilizes during the regular season, except the AP poll is subbed in for the Harris Interactive Poll, which does not release a post-season edition.

Unsurprisingly, Alabama leads the way, despite its non-unanimous support. LSU and Oklahoma State finish in their expected No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively.

Arkansas and Oregon see the completion of strong regular seasons and impressive bowl victories to both finish in the top five.

A little further down, we get a surprising sixth-place finish from South Carolina, who are chased closely by Boise State, where the Broncos finish just .0003 behind the Gamecocks. For fun, we placed USC in the mix, as they are named in all six computers and in the AP. We just replicated the portion the No. 9 Trojans got in the AP for the Coaches’ and used the computers as per usual.

Other surprises include No. 10 Baylor, who completes a fantastic season led by Heisman-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III and the non-AQ No. 16 Houston and No. 17 TCU, both of which had shots at BCS bowl bids but were shut out on the last weekend — a Houston loss and TCU finishing outside of the top-16.

Here’s BCS Know How’s simulated post-season BCS rankings:

Simulated Post-Season BCS Rankings

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With the knowledge that Oklahoma State was set to make up ground in the computers after a victory over Oklahoma, Alabama faithful had to hope the damage wasn’t too severe. And it wasn’t.

The Crimson Tide retained a .930 computer share, which was integral to them retaining the No. 2 spot in the final BCS standings.

Oklahoma State’s .950 proved to just not be enough.

Here are the rankings of the six BCS computers:

Six BCS Computer Standings – BCS Week Eight (December 4)

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And what the aggregate BCS computer rankings were:

BCS Computer Rankings Aggregate – BCS Week Eight (December 4)

Oklahoma State rises to No. 3, but its not enough to leap Alabama here or in the BCS standings.

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Harris Interactive College Football Poll – December 4

The rematch is on.

With the release of the final BCS standings, the Bowl Championship Series has spoken, and we’re headed for the first-ever rematch of a regular season game in the BCS title game.

LSU and Alabama did enough in the eyes of the voters and the computers to do just that, and come Jan. 9, the entire country will be tuned in to see whether LSU’s defense can once again stifle Alabama or if the Crimson Tide can turn the tide on the Tigers.

Oklahoma State lands on the outside looking in, instead headed off to the Fiesta Bowl to take on a very game Stanford team, who finishes in the No. 3 slot.

No. 5 Oregon, boosted on the power of huge leaps in human poll support, is on its way to the Rose Bowl to take on No. 10 Wisconsin, whose Big Ten title game victory over Michigan State brought the Badgers back into the top 10 and ensured one of the best looking matchups among the BCS bowls, at least on paper.

The four teams that follow Oregon were all left out of the BCS picture, as Arkansas, Boise State, Kansas State and South Carolina will have to settle for non-BCS bowls after commendable seasons in three tough conferences.

A surprise berth for No. 11 Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl certainly ruffled some feathers, but the Hokies had an impressive season, and will face off against No. 13 Michigan in New Orleans on Jan. 2.

All in all, the BCS standings once again brought about debate, consternation and excitement until the end. Whether you agree with the decisions the system made, it’s what we’ve got, and we’re not headed for a slate of 35 bowl games — some duds and some spectacular matchups — that will certainly provide for entertainment value throughout December and January. Enjoy.

Here’s the final BCS rankings of 2011:

BCS Standings Week Eight — December 4

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Some thoughts:

• BCS Know How’s Projected BCSvs. Actual BCS Rankings
  • Well, I think you know.

Oklahoma State receives the third spot. Is it enough?

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USA Today Coaches’ Poll – December 4

LSU, retaining a perfect computer score for the second straight week, leads a trio of teams — joined by Alabama and Oklahoma State — who are leaps and bounds ahead of the rest of the pack in the BCS computers.

Stanford, at No. 4, is well behind the rest of the field with a .820 aggregate, .110 less than Oklahoma State’s .930. The Cardinal had a huge boost in the computers this week, much of that contributing with the Cardinal’s jump past Virginia Tech.

Here are the rankings of the six BCS computers:

Six BCS Computer Standings – BCS Week Seven (November 27)

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And what the aggregate BCS computer rankings were:

BCS Computer Rankings Aggregate – BCS Week Seven (November 27)

A weekend that seemed like snooze turned in a BCS standings riddled with wrinkles, all of which will need to be ironed out next weekend — the last of the 2011 college football season.

LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma State find themselves in relatively familiar positions, the top three, which all three have occupied for many weeks this season (although Oklahoma State’s loss to Iowa State last weekend momentarily kicked them out of there).

Stanford, who finished last season at No. 4, sits there once again, with a very good shot of reaping the benefits of the position once again. If the third place team in the final BCS standings does not win its own AQ conference, it automatically receives a bid to a BCS bowl. The same goes for the fourth-place team if the third-place team is in fact an AQ conference champion. Stanford achieved that qualification last season, and if Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma next weekend, the Cardinal will once again be on its way to a BCS bowl.

No. 5 Virginia Tech has its own easy path to a BCS bowl, win the ACC championship game next weekend.

Houston can clinch its spot in a BCS bowl game with a victory in the C-USA championship game, which would assure the Cougars of being the highest-ranking non-AQ conference champion and a top-14 finish, enough to get the Cougars an automatic bid to a BCS bowl as well.

Some of those on the outside looking in, at least at this point, include No. 16 Michigan. The Wolverines, although a plenty attractive at-large team for any BCS bowl, need to enter the top 14 on the last weekend of the season to be eligible.

Just one week remains. Check out the projections from last night to see a complete list of the important games next weekend, and be sure to stay tuned to BCS Know How and @BCSKnowHow for all the latest.

Here’s the seventh BCS rankings of 2011:

BCS Standings Week Seven — November 27

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Some thoughts:

• BCS Know How’s Projected BCSvs. Actual BCS Rankings
  • Another odd week. Thought Arkansas would drop far less than they did.

Virginia Tech is the beneficiary of Arkansas’s loss Saturday to No. 1 LSU, moving up to No. 3.

LSU remains a unanimous No. 1.

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USA Today Coaches’ Poll – November 27

Stanford takes Arkansas’s place as No. 3 in this week’s penultimate Harris Poll.

Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State round out the top five, while Houston sees a boost in support, though Boise State is stagnant at No. 8.

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Harris Interactive College Football Poll – November 27

LSU claims a perfect computer score after all the pieces around them falter.

Here are the rankings of the six BCS computers:

Six BCS Computer Standings – BCS Week Six (November 20)

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And what the aggregate BCS computer rankings were:

BCS Computer Rankings Aggregate – BCS Week Six (November 20)