Nov. 21, 2005
Two Big Ten teams are ranked among the top six, more than any other conference, and five programs appear among the top 25 in the sixth issue of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings which were released today. The Big Ten's total of five top 25 programs equals the ACC and SEC for the national lead.
Big Ten co-champion Penn State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) continues to lead the way for the conference at No. 3 overall, just one spot shy of earning a top-two ranking and a berth in the Rose Bowl, the BCS national championship game. Fellow co-champion Ohio State (9-2, 7-1) also appears near the top at sixth overall, followed by No. 17 Wisconsin (8-3, 5-3), No. 22 Michigan (7-4, 5-3) and No. 25 Northwestern (7-4, 5-3)
The Nittany Lions rose one spot to No. 3 overall after picking up a road win at Michigan State (5-6, 2-6) to collect a share of their second Big Ten title since joining the league in 1993 and secure the conference's automatic BCS berth (based on a regular-season victory over OSU). The Buckeyes also moved up one position to No. 6 in the BCS poll after knocking off the Wolverines in Ann Arbor to clinch a share of their 30th Big Ten championship. Wisconsin, which had a bye last weekend and wraps up the regular season at Hawaii on Friday, jumped three spots to 17th in the latest BCS poll. Michigan and Northwestern round out the league's ranked teams at 22nd and 25th, respectively.
The BCS rankings will be announced each Monday through Nov. 28 and the final BCS poll will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 4. All teams with nine regular-season wins that rank among the top 12 in the final BCS standings are eligible for the two at-large spots in BCS bowls. The teams ranked No. 1 and 2 in the final BCS standings will meet for the national championship in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4. If a Big Ten team is not ranked No. 1 or 2 in the final BCS poll, the conference's automatic BCS qualifier will play in the Fiesta, Orange or Sugar Bowl.
NOV. 21 BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES RANKINGS
|
Rank |
Team |
Harris
Rank |
% of
Votes |
USA
Today
Rank |
% of
Votes |
Computer
Rank |
% of
Votes |
BCS
Avg. |
Prev.
Rank |
|
1. |
Southern California |
1 |
0.9912 |
1 |
0.9910 |
2 |
0.960 |
0.9807 |
1 |
|
2. |
Texas |
2 |
0.9688 |
2 |
0.9684 |
1 |
1.000 |
0.9791 |
2 |
|
3. |
Penn State |
4 |
0.8828 |
4 |
0.8671 |
3 |
0.920 |
0.8900 |
4 |
|
4. |
LSU |
3 |
0.8988 |
3 |
0.9129 |
8 |
0.700 |
0.8372 |
5 |
|
5. |
Virginia Tech |
6 |
0.7943 |
5 |
0.8239 |
4 |
0.870 |
0.8294 |
6 |
|
6. |
Ohio State |
7 |
0.7688 |
7 |
0.7335 |
5 |
0.850 |
0.7841 |
7 |
|
7. |
Oregon |
8 |
0.7009 |
8 |
0.7110 |
6 |
0.790 |
0.7340 |
10 |
|
8. |
Notre Dame |
5 |
0.7979 |
6 |
0.7645 |
12 |
0.510 |
0.6908 |
9 |
|
9. |
Miami (Fla.) |
10 |
0.6368 |
10 |
0.6387 |
7 |
0.740 |
0.6718 |
3 |
|
10. |
Auburn |
9 |
0.6885 |
9 |
0.6613 |
10 |
0.550 |
0.6333 |
13 |
|
11. |
West Virginia |
13 |
0.5055 |
12 |
0.5684 |
9 |
0.670 |
0.5813 |
12 |
|
12. |
UCLA |
11 |
0.5703 |
11 |
0.6258 |
11 |
0.540 |
0.5787 |
11 |
|
13. |
TCU |
15 |
0.4400 |
15 |
0.4542 |
14 |
0.470 |
0.4547 |
14 |
|
14. |
Alabama |
14 |
0.4754 |
14 |
0.4690 |
19 |
0.290 |
0.4115 |
8 |
|
15. |
Georgia |
12 |
0.5600 |
13 |
0.5142 |
23 |
0.150 |
0.4081 |
16 |
|
16. |
Texas Tech |
17 |
0.3572 |
17 |
0.3387 |
15 |
0.440 |
0.3786 |
19 |
|
17. |
Wisconsin |
23 |
0.1356 |
22 |
0.1406 |
13 |
0.500 |
0.2587 |
20 |
|
18. |
Boston College |
20 |
0.2294 |
20 |
0.2226 |
18 |
0.320 |
0.2573 |
24 |
|
19. |
Fresno State |
16 |
0.3720 |
16 |
0.3503 |
NR |
0.030 |
0.2508 |
17 |
|
20. |
Louisville |
18 |
0.3214 |
18 |
0.3355 |
NR |
0.070 |
0.2423 |
18 |
|
21. |
Georgia Tech |
22 |
|
|
|
 |
