Week 7 of the NCAA college football season was by far one of the most exciting weeks of the year, filled with great escapes by Florida and Texas, the fall of Virginia Tech, and the re-emergence of the USC Trojans into the National Title picture.
The first batch of BCS offerings were released this week, and for many, the top three teams in the standings were predictable, but the rest of the teams that rounded out the top ten provided a little surprise for NCAA football fans.
BCS Standings for Week 1 (October 18th, 2009)
10. Miami Hurricanes (5-1)
Virginia Tech's loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday night helped Miami slide into the BCS top 10. The Hurricanes also retook the top spot in the ACC with their 27-7 win against UCF. Miami is the highest ranked ACC program right now, and are still in the hunt for a National Title berth.
9. LSU Tigers (5-1)
Les Miles' Tigers had an off week following their 13-3 loss to Florida on October 10th. In week 8 LSU will host SEC west division rivals Auburn. Both programs are looking to stay afloat and snag the division's top spot in case Alabama slips up before the end of the season.
8. TCU Horned Frogs (6-0)
The 'Frogs are the only undefeated team in the Mountain West Conference, and are looking to do what Utah tried to do for the past two seasons -- break into the BCS National Championship picture. TCU is coming off an impressive 44-6 win against Colorado State. Their BCS quest will be tested this week against MWC powerhouse, and 16th ranked BYU. BYU is also looking to crash the BCS party, and an upset win against the Horned Frogs could help.
7. USC Trojans (5-1)
Pete Carroll is trying to get his team to forget about their loss to Washington on September 19th. Ever since that stunning upset, the Trojans have been fighting their way back up the mountain and back into the National Title picture. USC played in what could possibly be the game of the year this past week, defeating Notre Dame 34-27 in a thriller in South Bend.
The Trojans will host Oregon State this weekend, and are looking to avenge their loss to the Beavers last season.
6. Iowa Hawkeyes (7-0)
The Hawkeyes have taken control of the Big Ten conference by defeating Penn State, Michigan previously this season, and their 20-10 win at Wisconsin this week helped Iowa climb further up the BCS charts.
Iowa could very well steal the conference crown away from Ohio State and Penn State this season if they stay focused, especially in their game this week against Michigan State.
BCS Standings Top 5
5. Cincinnati Bearcats (6-0)
Can the Bearcats really make it to the BCS National Championship without Tony Pike? Cincinnati's star quarterback was injured in their 34-17 win at South Florida. If Pike needs surgery to repair his injured left forearm, then the Bearcats might have to leave their title hopes in the hands of backup quarterback Zach Collaros.
Collaros will have to help the Bearcats this week when they host Louisville. A loss could send Cinci tumbling down the standings and would be difficult to come back into the National Title picture.
4. Boise State (6-0)
The Broncos have been criticized for being ranked so high due to their lack of bite in their schedule. Boise State came off of a mediocre 28-21 win at Tulsa this week, but it was enough to land them in the number four spot in the BCS standings.
Boise State has been a program sniffing around the National Title for the past three seasons, but never made it to the big game because of BCS schools blocking them. When you look at the level of competition that former BCS National Champions had to endure to get to the title game compared to Boise State's soft schedule, it's a no-brainer that the Broncos have been left on the outside looking in.
Week 8 will be Boise State's only "real" competition when they visit ... Hawaii.
3. Texas Longhorns (6-0)
Texas was bumped from the number two spot in the AP 25 poll last week by Alabama, but no need to worry Longhorns fans, if Texas continues to roll they will be in the National Championship game.
Oklahoma could not hold onto their lead against the Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl this weekend as Texas escaped with a close 16-13 win in an important Big-12 game.
Mack Brown's Longhorns team will have another pivotal Big-12 clash this weekend as they host Missouri.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0)
Although Alabama is the top-ranked team in the AP 25 poll, they sit at number two in the BCS Standings. The 'Tide powered their way through South Carolina on Saturday night, winning their contest 20-6.
Next up for Alabama is a meeting with Tennessee this week, but the biggest game on the Crimson Tide's schedule comes next week when they host SEC west rivals LSU in a game that could determine who plays for the SEC title.
BCS Standings Top Ranked Team
1. Florida Gators (6-0)
The great escape of the week goes to the top-ranked Florida Gators as they avoided a massive upset at the hands of Arkansas.
Tim Tebow marched the Gators up the field in the final minutes of the game, and then coach Urban Meyer put the game, and the Gators undefeated record in the hands, well, foot of kicker Caleb Sturgis.
The Florida kicker did what Arkansas kicker Alex Tejada couldn't do -- make a game winning field goal. Sturgis helped the Gators stay on top of the NCAA football mountain with their 23-20 win.
Although this wasn't the prettiest win, or even a dominating win, it was still a victory, and that's all that matters right now for the Gators. Florida will host Mississippi State on October 24th.
