2011 BCS Contenders and NCAA Football Power Rankings – Top 5 College Football Teams in the Nation: It has become apparent that outside of the LSU Tigers, nobody wants to play for the BCS Championship this season. A loss by Oklahoma State opened the door for several one-loss teams, but Oklahoma and Oregon responded by picking up their second losses of the year. Throw in another choke by Boise State, and a rematch between LSU and the Alabama Crimson Tide is looking like a real possibility. The SEC has ruled the college football landscape for the last half decade, and having two teams from the dominant conference play for the national title would almost seem fitting.
- LSU Tigers (11-0, 7-0 SEC)
They have dominated opponents with a fierce, physical defense and a surprisingly potent offense. In fact, the Tigers have scored 48 touchdowns and given up just 11. The Crimson Tide was the only team to muster a fight, but Les Miles’ bunch survived and did so in Tuscaloosa no less. The Tigers don’t have a freebie to close the year with the third-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks coming to Death Valley, but LSU has come too far to fall let things fall apart now. The Tigers are on a crash course for the SEC Championship Game and then the BCS Championship Game.
- Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1, 6-1 SEC)
Despite losing to LSU at home, it appears the Crimson Tide will get a rematch with the Tigers with a national title on the line as long as they take care of business. Of course, the Iron Bowl is one of the fiercest rivalries in college football, and Alabama won’t have an easy time with Auburn in the season finale. However, the Crimson Tide have a recipe for success that includes plenty of carries for Trent Richardson and stifling defense from one of the fastest units in the country. Alabama still owns the top defense in the nation, and the Tigers could have their hands full if the two teams meet again.
- Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-1, 7-1 Big 12)
The loss to Iowa State was bad, but the Oklahoma State athletic program was dealing with a tragedy and the finale against Oklahoma was no doubt on their minds. While excuses mean nothing in the eyes of voters, the Cowboys high-powered offense is a thing of beauty when it is firing on all cylinders. In fact, Brandon Weeden and company may be one of the few teams with enough firepower to put up points against the top SEC defenses. Oklahoma State caught a few breaks with some other teams losing, but they can’t slip up again. If the Cowboys beat the Sooners, they have a real argument that they should get a shot to play for the title.
- Arkansas Razorbacks (10-1, 6-1 SEC)
The Razorbacks have stormed through most of their schedule thanks to a potent offense led by quarterback Tyler Wilson. Despite climbing to third in the BCS standings, Arkansas is facing an uphill battle. They are looking up at two teams in their own division in their own conference, and the Razorbacks were dismantled by Alabama earlier in the year. The gap between the Crimson Tide, LSU and everyone else seems sizeable, but Arkansas can change that perception with a win against the Tigers. In many ways, the Razorbacks are actually in control of their own destiny.
- Stanford Cardinal (10-1, 8-1 Big 12)
While it’s true that Stanford got worked by an Oregon team that appeared way too fast for the Cardinal, the competition for the fifth spot in the rankings isn’t exactly stiff. Boise State doesn’t have a tough enough schedule to handle a loss, Houston’s schedule is even softer, and Virginia Tech has been winning ugly. At the end of the day, Stanford still has Andrew Luck at quarterback. He probably isn’t quite as good as the hype surrounding him, but he is one of the best signal callers in the country. The Cardinal also has a powerful running game and an above average defense. They will need some help, but Luck and company still has a shot at a national title.
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