Down the stretch of the BCS season, a team’s opponents become an important component of a team’s overall resume to watch.

Not only does it help to define the relative strength of said team, but also has a large effect on that team’s BCS computer performance.

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a look at the BCS’s top teams and their important games — both already played and upcoming — to get a better perspective on which teams’ performances will have implications on the BCS.

Each week we’ll give the rundown for the number of teams that seem to be within striking distance of the top two spots. With the first BCS rankings just released, the striking distance stretches well down the standings, seemingly all the way down to Stanford at No. 8

Each team is listed with their current BCS rank, record and strength of schedule (according to Jeff Sagarin’s ratings).

Below each BCS contender are their most important opponents, both which they have already played (with those results) and those upcoming.

Their opponents will also be listed with a record and their current Sagarin or BCS ranking depending on which is available. Teams will be listed in order of importance to that team’s BCS performance. Each opponent is also listed with an SOS to give you a better sense of how they might perform in the coming weeks. Games this weekend are bolded.

BCS No. 1 LSU Tigers (7-0) SOS: 10

Important Games Already Played

• BCS No. 10 Oregon (5-1) SOS: 39 — Won 40-27
• BCS No. 15 West Virginia (5-1) SOS: 72 — Won 47-21
• Sagarin No. 26 Florida (4-3) SOS: 25 — Won 41-11
• Sagarin No. 52 Tennessee (3-3) SOS: 13 — Won 38-7

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Important Games Remaining

• BCS No. 2 Alabama (7-0) SOS: 31 — Nov. 5
• BCS No. 9 Arkansas (5-1) SOS: 85 — Nov. 25
• BCS No. 20 Auburn (5-2) SOS: 6 — Oct. 22
• SEC Championship Game (Potential)

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BCS No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-0) SOS: 31

Important Games Already Played

• BCS No. 9 Arkansas (5-1) SOS: 85 — Won 38-14
• BCS No. 21 Penn State (6-1) SOS: 68 — Won 27-11
• Sagarin No. 26 Florida (4-3) SOS: 25 — Won 38-10

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Important Games Remaining

• BCS No. 1 LSU (7-0) SOS: 10 — Nov. 5
• BCS No. 20 Auburn (5-2) SOS: 6 — Nov. 26
• Sagarin No. 52 Tennessee (3-3) SOS: 13 — Oct. 22
• SEC Championship Game (Potential)

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BCS No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners (6-0) SOS: 21

Important Games Already Played

• BCS No. 24 Texas (4-2) SOS: 4 — Won 55-17
• Sagarin No. 35 Missouri (3-3) SOS: 12 — Won 38-28

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Important Games Remaining

• BCS No. 4 Oklahoma State (6-0) SOS: 18 — Dec. 3
• BCS No. 11 Kansas State (6-0) SOS: 43 — Oct. 29
• BCS No. 17 Texas A&M (4-2) SOS: 2 — Nov. 5
• Sagarin No. 29 Baylor (4-2) SOS: 32 — Nov. 19
• Sagarin No. 45 Iowa State (3-3) SOS: 8 — Nov. 26

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BCS No. 4 Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-0) SOS: 18

Important Games Already Played

• BCS No. 17 Texas A&M (4-2) SOS: 2 — Won 30-29
• BCS No. 24 Texas (4-2) SOS: 4 — Won 38-26
• Sagarin No. 38 Tulsa (3-3) SOS: 24 — Won 59-33

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Important Games Remaining

• BCS No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners (6-0) SOS: 21 — Dec. 3
• BCS No. 11 Kansas State (6-0) SOS: 43 — Nov. 5
• Sagarin No. 29 Baylor (4-2) SOS: 32 — Oct. 29
• Sagarin No. 32. Texas Tech (4-2) SOS: 54 — Nov. 12
• Sagarin No. 35 Missouri (3-3) SOS: 12 — Oct. 22
• Sagarin No. 45 Iowa State (3-3) SOS: 8 — Nov. 18

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BCS No. 5 Boise State Broncos (6-0) SOS: 29

Important Games Already Played

• Sagarin No. 30 Georgia (5-2) SOS: 16 — Won 35-21
• Sagarin No. 38 Tulsa (3-3) SOS: 24 — Won 41-21
• Sagarin No. 50 Nevada (3-3) SOS: 23 — Won 30-10

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Important Games Remaining

• Sagarin No. 40 TCU (4-2) SOS: 50 — Nov. 12

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BCS No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers (6-0) SOS: 131

Important Games Already Played

• BCS No. 13 Nebraska (5-1) SOS: 33 — Won 48-17

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Important Games Remaining

• BCS No. 16 Michigan State (5-1) SOS: 84 — Oct. 22
• BCS No. 21 Penn State (6-1) SOS: 68 — Nov. 26
• BCS No. 23 Illinois (6-1) SOS: 89 — Nov. 19
• Sagarin No. 37 Ohio State (4-3) SOS: 17 — Oct. 29
• Big Ten Championship Game (Potential)

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BCS No. 7 Clemson Tigers (7-0) SOS: 41

Important Games Already Played

• BCS No. 12 Virginia Tech (6-1) SOS: 46 — Won 23-3
• BCS No. 20 Auburn (5-2) SOS: 6 — Won 38-24

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Important Games Remaining

• BCS No. 14 South Carolina (6-1) SOS: 48 — Nov. 26
• BCS No. 22 Georgia Tech (6-1) SOS: 100 — Oct. 29
• Sagarin No. 40 North Carolina (5-2) SOS: 57 — Oct. 22
• ACC Championship Game (Potential)

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BCS No. 8 Stanford Cardinal (6-0) SOS: 90

Important Games Already Played

• None

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Important Games Remaining

• BCS No. 10 Oregon (5-1) SOS: 39 — Nov. 12
• BCS No. 25 Washington (5-1) SOS: 63 — Oct. 22
• Sagarin No. 27 USC (5-1) SOS: 59 — Oct. 29
• Sagarin No. 43 Notre Dame (4-2) SOS: 26 — Nov. 26
• Pac-12 Championship Game (Potential)

Our very first BCS rankings of the season anoint LSU as the top team in the country, but with LSU and Oklahoma right on the Tigers’ tale, the order of the top three matters little.

On the strength of computer support and Harris’s No. 1, the Tigers jump past the Sooners and Crimson Tide to claim the first BCS No. 1 of the season.

Oklahoma State grabs an impressive No. 4 spot in the first edition of the BCS, while Boise State, Wisconsin, Clemson and Stanford round out the top eight.

The Cowboys are the recipients of the strongest computer support in the country, offsetting their relatively weak performance in the human elements. Oklahoma State’s .970 computer share was by far the best in the country, giving them an easy No. 4 spot.

Stanford and Wisconsin’s relatively strong support in the human elements are offset by their poor performances across the BCS computers, leaving the Cardinal and Badgers with some work to do if they’re interested in making a run at the national championship game.

Boise State will also be hard pressed to make a run at the title game without a loss from one of the favorites above the Broncos in these first set of rankings.

With national consensus that a Nov. 5 meeting between LSU and Alabama will decide one of the national title teams, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State also have what could be a de facto national semifinal on their schedules already, a December 3rd meeting.

But of course, all must need to keep undefeated to remain in position to challenge for a title shot.

But enough talk, here’s the first version of the BCS rankings.

BCS Standings Week One — October 16th

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Some thoughts:

• BCS Know How’s Projected BCSvs. Actual BCS Rankings
  • Switched No. 1 and No. 2, although the difference is, once again, negligible.
  • 3-8 is all good, while I switched a few things up later on, projecting Oregon a little too high and Arkansas a little low.
  • Odd how Virginia Tech shot up to No. 12 after not even ranking among the top 16 in last week’s simulation. However, it is more than explainable after losses from Michigan, Georgia Tech and Illinois cleared space for the Hokies’ jump.
  • Big East ‘power’ West Virginia sits at No. 15, hanging on dearly to that No. 16 line.

LSU continues to rule the Harris Poll, and although the top nine are unchanged, small differences might play a big role down the line.

Oklahoma sees some of its support slip, while other teams gain on the top tier of LSU, Oklahoma and Alabama.

Arkansas, Nebraska and Kansas State round out the top 12 as a bevy of undefeateds fall on the weekend.

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Harris Interactive College Football Poll – October 16th

With BCS rankings due out tonight, Oklahoma claims the top spot in one of the three BCS components, once again coming in at No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll.

The Sooners see a little dip in support, however, as LSU and Alabama gain a few points on Oklahoma in the most recent version of the poll.

Oklahoma State also makes a surprisingly little jump, bouncing Boise State from the top six. Clemson and Oregon come in tied at No. 8, as both survive late Saturday against worthy foes.

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USA Today Coaches’ Poll – October 16th

Undefeated teams being weeded out by lesser opponents, top teams feeling the pressure early and late and everyone from Eugene to Tuscaloosa hyped about human poll rankings and decimal points on a computer scale? Must almost be time for the first BCS rankings of the year.

With plenty of intriguing and exciting games thus far this season, the upheaval we’ve become accustomed to in the college football landscape isn’t gone — but it certainly hasn’t been quite the same this year.

Alabama, LSU and Oklahoma make up a trio of undoubtedly the strongest tier of teams in the nation, and that will be reflected in tomorrow’s BCS rankings. Teams such as Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, Boise State and Stanford are right behind them.

With the first rankings due out tomorrow, many might wonder the implications of the top teams in the nation and where they land. The truth of the matter, of course, is that they wont matter much.

Alabama and LSU are set to play Nov. 5, and if both remain undefeated until that time, well, it doesn’t matter even a bit where they land any of the next few weeks in these BCS rankings. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are also looking forward to a Bedlam with national title implications, and undefeated Sooners and Cowboys come Dec. 3 could easily mean two de facto national semifinals a whole month apart.

So does it matter where they land Sunday? Nope, but it’s intriguing all the same.

LSU topped last week’s first Harris Poll, while Oklahoma continued to ride high in the Coaches’ element. To round out the trio, Alabama topped three of the available computer polls to LSU and Oklahoma’s one a piece. So who comes out on top this week?

One thing’s for certain. It’s going to be close. And it might come down to the slight changes in the computer polls, as we’ve seen human pollsters be somewhat stubborn this season in moving teams around, even if they don’t look the part of their ranking in victories.

As far as the computers are concerned, LSU’s victory over Tennessee is the strongest of the three victories on the weekend, while the Tigers’ victory over Oregon looks better by comparison after the Ducks topped Arizona State on Saturday. Alabama’s victory over Arkansas also looks better every week.

So the calculation is close. How close? Right now, the difference between the three is miniscule, about .007 actually. Any slight change could spell any of the three taking No. 1 tomorrow.

It’s anyone’s for the taking. Follow along all day tomorrow @BCSKnowHow and right here to stay up to the second with projections, mathematical breakdowns of all of the computers, human polls and everything in between.

Got all that? Hope so.

Here’s what the BCS standing will likely look like when they are released tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN:

Projected BCS Standings – BCS Week One (October 16th)

Trent Richardson

Quite possibly Richardson’s best all-around performance of the season also included a highlight-reel-worthy run that might be the running back’s first true “Heisman moment” of the season.

A little shoulder fake and a stop on a dime turned a crowd of Ole Miss Rebels into jelly, as Richardson finished off a great run with the last of his four touchdowns on the day.

Richardson would sit the rest of the game out, after compiling 183 yards, the four scores and 30 more yards receiving. With the SEC schedule he’s facing, Richardson is certainly proving his Heisman worth these past few weeks, and making him a real threat for the trophy as we head past the midway point of October.

Landry Jones

On a night where Jones wasn’t the one setting records or having “Heisman moments,” the Sooner quarterback certainly turned in a fine performance on the road against Kansas.

In a game that turned from a bubbling upset in the making to an absolute blowout in seemingly a blink of an eye, Jones was impressive once again, passing for 363 yards and three touchdowns.

Jones’s favorite target, receiver Ryan Broyles set an all-time record on the night on a well placed pass from Jones for a touchdown. Broyles, with the catch, became the all-time leader in receptions in FBS history, and was nowhere near done on the night, as the receiver caught 12 other passes from Jones, as the two continue to be one of the most dangerous offensive duos in the country.

Russell Wilson

The best kind of performances in a Heisman races are the ones that are so clearly enjoyable to the candidate that the viewers can’t help but smile. Wilson’s performance Saturday as he led Wisconsin up and down the field against Indiana, was one of those times.

Wilson caught a touchdown, threw a touchdown and took the fourth quarter off against the Hoosiers as the Badgers once again plastered an opponent with offensive outbursts unmatched in the national landscape.

True, Wilson did not have the greatest statistical day in any one sense — throwing for just 166 yards and rushing for 42 more — but by the time running back Monte Ball threw Wilson his touchdown reception in the second quarter, there was no need for Wilson to pile up the stats. He handed the ball to Ball on many occasions, and led the Badgers to an easy victory.

Andrew Luck

For Andrew Luck, anything less than throwing completion after completion down field to begin a game would constitute a “slow start.” So when Luck threw an interception with his first attempt Saturday, many wondered immediately if Luck was in for a tough night.

Indeed, it was a tough beginning, but as many strong Heisman candidates are wont to do, Luck rebounded, albeit not completely until the second half, and finished the night with yet another impressive stat line. Luck finished with 336 yards and four touchdowns in Stanford’s 44-14 victory over Washington State.

Yes, the Cardinal led just 10-7 going into halftime, but the end result was a favorable one for Luck’s Heisman hopes, as he continues to impress game after game.

Kellen Moore

A historic day for Boise State, where the Broncos recorded their first victory in their new digs — the Mountain West conference — was also a historic one for Moore. The senior quarterback threw for four touchdowns and 338 yards and in the process moved into sole possession of fifth place all-time on the FBS career touchdown list, moving past former Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang.

Moore’s historic day was also part of an offensive outburst for the Broncos against Colorado State, as Boise recorded 742 total yards on offense, an all-time Boise State record.

Moore and the Broncos now get a row of MWC foes to battle in the coming weeks, with TCU’s appearance in Idaho the marquee matchup remaining. If Moore can continue to produce like he has, he’s certainly in the race for the long-haul.

If this Sunday’s first BCS standings of the 2010 season taught us anything, its that the strength of your opponents and your record the best teams on your schedule is of the utmost importance.

So with a mind on the fact that Oklahoma played losses by Nebraska and Ohio State into a jump from No. 4 to No. 1 by beating lowly Iowa State, its time we take a look at each BCS contender’s critical opponents.

Down the stretch, the performance of these key opponents will be vital to any team’s hopes of gaining ground on the Sooners in the computer polls.

We’ll put out a new set each week with the teams that seem to be within striking distance of the top two spots in the BCS. This week, that looks to be about the top six.

Each team will be listed with their current BCS rank, record and strength of schedule (according to Jeff Sagarin’s ratings).

Below each BCS contender will be their most important opponents, both which they have already played (with those results) and those upcoming.

Their opponents will also be listed with a record and their current Sagarin or BCS ranking depending on which is available. Teams will be listed in order of importance to that team’s BCS performance.

I’ll list each opponents strength of schedule as well so you can get a sense as to what you could realistically expect from those teams down the stretch. If an opponent has a higher SOS, you might be inclined to think they could struggle more than a team with an easier road towards the end of the season.

Hopefully this will give us a better large-picture view of the landscape as we enter the most important stretch of the college football season. These teams’ opponents performance will be important in the stretch run.

BCS No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners (6-0) SOS: 15

Important Games Already Played

• BCS No. 17 Florida State Seminoles (6-1) SOS: 69 — Won 47-17
• BCS No. 19 Texas Longhorns (4-2) SOS: 14 — Won 28-20
• Sagarin No. 25 Air Force Falcons (5-2) SOS: 52 — Won 27-24

Important Games Remaining

• BCS No. 11 Missouri Tigers (6-0) SOS: 47 — October 23rd
• BCS No. 14 Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-0) SOS: 85 — November 27th
• Sagarin No. 35 Baylor Bears (5-2) SOS: 74 — November 20th
• Big 12 Championship (Possible)

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BCS No. 2 Oregon Ducks (6-0) SOS: 50

Important Games Already Played

• BCS No. 12 Stanford Cardinal (5-1) SOS: 13 — Win 52-31
• Sagarin No. 26 Arizona State Sun Devils (3-3) SOS: 6 — Win 42-31

Important Games Remaining

• BCS No. 18 Arizona Wildcats (5-1) SOS: 27 — November 26th
• Sagarin No. 18 Oregon State Beavers (3-3) SOS: 1 — December 4th
• Sagarin No. 28 UCLA Bruins (3-3) SOS: 7 — October 21st

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BCS No. 3 Boise State Broncos (6-0) SOS: 55

Important Games Already Played

• BCS No. 25 Virginia Tech (5-2) SOS: 58 — Win 33-30
• Sagarin No. 18 Oregon State Beavers (3-3) SOS: 1 — Win 37-24

Important Games Remaining

• Sagarin No. 23 Nevada Wolfpack (6-1) SOS: 73 — November 26th
• Sagarin No. 38 Hawaii Warriors (5-2) SOS: 39 — November 6th

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BCS No. 4 Auburn Tigers (7-0) SOS: 38

Important Games Already Played

• BCS No. 21 South Carolina Gamecocks (4-2) SOS: 18 — Win 35-27
• BCS No. 23 Arkansas Razorbacks (4-2) SOS: 24 — Win 65-43

Important Games Remaining

• BCS No. 6 LSU Tigers (7-0) SOS: 36 — October 23rd
• BCS No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1) SOS: 46 — November 26th
• SEC Championship Game (Possible)

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BCS No. 5 TCU Horned Frogs (7-0) SOS: 74

Important Games Already Played

• Sagarin No. 18 Oregon State Beavers (3-3) SOS: 1 — Win 30-21
• Sagarin No. 35 Baylor Bears (5-2) SOS: 74 — Win 45-10
• Sagarin No. 53 BYU Cougars (2-5) SOS: 4 — Win 31-3
• Sagarin No. 58 SMU (4-3) SOS: 54 — Win 41-24

Important Games Remaining

• BCS No. 9 Utah Utes (6-0) SOS: 110 — November 6th
• Sagarin No. 25 Air Force Falcons (5-2) SOS: 52 — October 23rd
• Sagarin No. 40 San Diego State Aztecs (4-2) SOS: 79 — November 13th

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BCS No. 6 LSU Tigers (7-0) SOS: 36

Important Games Already Played

• BCS No. 20 West Virginia Mountaineers (5-1) SOS: 135 — Win 20-14
• BCS No. 24 Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-2) SOS: 43 — Win 29-7
• Sagarin No. 43 North Carolina Tar Heels (4-2) SOS: 34 — Win 30-24
• Sagarin No. 46 Florida Gators (4-3) SOS: 28 — Win 33-29

Important Games Remaining

• BCS No. 4 Auburn Tigers (7-0) SOS: 38 — October 23rd
• BCS No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide SOS: 46 — November 6th
• BCS No. 23 Arkansas Razorbacks (4-2) SOS: 24 — November 27th
• SEC Championship Game (Possible)

Big Ten

Conference Leader: Michigan State (7-0, 3-0)

Lurking: Iowa (5-1, 2-0)

Game of Last Week: Wisconsin 31 vs. Ohio State 18. For the second straight week, the nation’s No. 1 team falls to a one-beaten conference foe, this time the Badgers rather easily dispatch the Buckeyes.

Game of Next Week: Wisconsin vs. Iowa. Both teams have revived their chances at a Big Ten title with the Badgers’ victory over Ohio State last weekend. A victory here would give either team fire for the stretch run in the Big Ten.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Michigan State Spartans, Ohio State Buckeyes, Wisconsin Badgers.

Big 12

Conference Leaders: Missouri (6-0, 2-0; North Division) and Oklahoma (6-0, 2-0; South Division)

Lurking: Kansas State (5-1, 2-1; North Division) and Oklahoma State (6-0, 2-0; South Division)

Game of Last Week: Texas 20 vs. Nebraska 13. Nebraska welcomed Texas into Lincoln hoping for some revenge for last season’s last second loss in the Big 12 Championship Game. Instead the Longhorns pulled the shocking upset.

Game of Next Week: Oklahoma vs. Missouri. Two of the nation’s remaining 10 unbeatens face off in a marquee prime time matchup. Oklahoma will be looking to end the streak of No. 1′s falling flat at two.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Big East

Conference Leader: West Virginia (5-1, 1-0)

Lurking: Rutgers (4-2, 1-0)

Game of Last Week: Cincinnati 35 vs. Louisville 27. Zach Collaros threw for five touchdowns as the Bearcats continue their recent run of Big East success.

Game of Next Week: Rutgers vs. Pittsburgh. Both teams won their Big East openers and will look to gain strong footing for the Big East stretch run.

Bowl Eligible Teams: None yet.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Conference Leaders: Florida State (6-1, 4-0; Atlantic Division) and Virginia Tech (5-2, 3-0; Coastal Division)

Lurking: North Carolina State (5-2, 2-1; Atlantic Division) and Georgia Tech (5-2, 3-1; Coastal Division)

Game of Last Week: Florida State 24 vs. Boston College 19. The Seminoles struggled at times against BC, but were able to overcome mistakes and some pretty poor play to continue their undefeated run through their ACC schedule.

Game of Next Week: North Carolina vs. Miami. Each team has a loss in conference play, and will need a victory here to stay in the thick of things in the ACC race towards an ACC Championship Game berth.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Florida State Seminoles.

Pac-10

Conference Leader: Oregon (6-0, 3-0)

Lurking: Arizona (5-1, 2-1)

Game of Last Week: Washington 35 vs. Oregon State 34. Oregon State failed a two-point conversion in the second overtime on the road to lose their first Pac-10 game of 2010 on the road to the Huskies.

Game of Next Week: Arizona vs. Washington. Both teams have one loss in a very crowded section of the Pac-10 standings. Arizona’s lone loss came at the hands of Oregon State, who Washington just beat in double overtime.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Oregon Ducks.

SEC

Conference Leaders: South Carolina (4-2, 2-2; East Division) and LSU (7-0, 4-0; West Division)

Lurking: Florida (4-3, 2-3; East Division) and Auburn (7-0, 4-0; West Division)

Game of Last Week: Auburn 65 vs. Arkansas 43. With Ryan Mallett sidelined by an apparent concussion, Cam Newton and Auburn put up huge offensive numbers and stayed perfect with a big victory over Arkansas.

Game of Next Week: LSU vs. Auburn. No question, this game will decide the early-season favorite for the SEC title, and will leave the SEC with just one undefeated team.

Bowl Eligible Teams: LSU Tigers, Auburn Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide.

Without even taking a look at my BlogPoll ballot from last week I filled out my ballot for week seven.

I felt like there was enough of a shakeup overall to warrant a reexamining of my ballot. Maybe fumbling my projected BCS caused me to want real change.

Here’s what came out the other end of my all-new looking BlogPoll ballot for week seven.

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BCS Know How Ballot – Week 8

Rank	Team	Delta
1	Oregon Ducks	1
2	Auburn Tigers	4
3	Boise St. Broncos	1
4	TCU Horned Frogs	1
5	Oklahoma Sooners	3
6	Michigan St. Spartans	3
7	Wisconsin Badgers	10
8	Alabama Crimson Tide	-1
9	Ohio St. Buckeyes	-8
10	LSU Tigers	4
11	Florida St. Seminoles	1
12	Utah Utes	-1
13	Iowa Hawkeyes	6
14	Stanford Cardinal	1
15	Missouri Tigers	7
16	Arizona Wildcats	5
17	Nebraska Cornhuskers	-14
18	West Virginia Mountaineers	2
19	Oklahoma St. Cowboys	–
20	South Carolina Gamecocks	-10
21	Arkansas Razorbacks	-5
22	USC Trojans	–
23	Texas Longhorns	–
24	Virginia Tech Hokies	–
25	Nevada Wolf Pack	-12
Dropouts: Oregon St. Beavers, Florida Gators, Air Force Falcons, Michigan Wolverines

SB Nation BlogPoll College Football Top 25 Rankings »

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What I’m Thinking:

• Yeah, I kind of like change this weekend. Of course when Ohio State falls, it makes it easier for changes to come down the pipeline, but this week was extra ripe for the changing.
• So I replace the Buckeyes with the idle Oregon Ducks. Why? Well I’ve been most impressed with the Ducks this season. It’s that simple.
• Auburn takes a full game’s worth of viewing to really appreciate. Cam Newton is something to be seen and the Tigers can make a run at the SEC Championship this year.
• Non-AQ Boise State and TCU ladder up one each, followed by Oklahoma, whose win over  Texas looks a whole lot nicer now, but has yet to truly inspire me.
• The obvious changes come next. Ohio State falls flat, Wisconsin moves ahead of the Buckeyes, but still behind Michigan State, who they of course lost to.
• Alabama loses a spot for losing to a pretty poor South Carolina team, which also lost last weekend.
• Iowa, Missouri and West Virginia impressed me enough to make an upward swing.
• Tons of new teams! The return of Texas, Virginia Tech and…
• USC Watch: The Trojans looks like Trojans of yore on Saturday in thumping California. Their only two losses have come on literal walk-off field goals. That’s painful, but not a reason to kill off their season already. Oregon is next, is another upset in store?
• Oklahoma State also joins the fray. I probably had them out of the poll for too long. Sorry about that Cowboys, but I couldn’t quite trust you. You’re making strides towards my trust now.
• The teams that left the rankings are probably pretty self-explanatory.
• Conference Breakdown: SEC (5), Big 12 (5), Big Ten (4), Pac-10 (4), MWC (2), WAC (2), ACC (2), Big East (1).

So what do you think? Missing anyone? Giving anyone too much/too little credit? Let me know!