Nov. 6, 2006

For the third straight week, Ohio State (10-0, 6-0 in Big Ten) and Michigan (10-0, 6-0) were ranked first and second in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings which were released today. Wisconsin (9-1, 6-1) rounded out the Big Ten's BCS contingent at No. 15 overall.
 
The Big Ten earned the top two spots in the BCS poll on Oct. 22 for the first time in conference history and became the first conference to produce the top two programs in the BCS ratings since Oct. 27, 2001 (Nebraska and Oklahoma of the Big 12). The Big Ten has now boasted two of the top five schools in 11 BCS polls, including all four top 25 listings so far this season.

The Buckeyes remain first overall in the latest BCS poll and are the only Big Ten team to earn the No. 1 spot since the system's inception in 1998. Ohio State also appeared atop the list on Nov. 11, 2002, and Nov. 2, 1998. OSU picked up a road victory at Illinois yesterday to remain undefeated and will travel to Northwestern next Saturday.

The Wolverines are ranked No. 2 for the third straight week, the school's highest spot ever in the BCS poll. Michigan collected a victory over Ball State yesterday and will return to Big Ten play at Indiana next weekend.

The Badgers climbed one more spot to 15th in the latest BCS rankings to round out the Big Ten's contingent in the top 25. Wisconsin edged Penn State yesterday and will wrap up conference action at Iowa next Saturday.
 
The BCS rankings will be announced each Sunday with the final poll being released on Dec. 3 during a special prime time BCS Selection Show at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. The teams ranked No. 1 and 2 in the final BCS standings will participate in the BCS National Championship Game to be played on Jan. 8, 2007 in Glendale, Ariz. If a Big Ten team is not ranked No. 1 or 2 in the final BCS poll, the conference champion (or co-champion as designated by the Big Ten tie-breaking procedures) will play in the Rose Bowl.