BCS Rankings, Week 13: Alabama, Arkansas Benefit From Oklahoma State Loss

The BCS rankings for Week 13 were looked ahead to more than most for two rather large reasons. The later in the season, the more important the rankings obviously become, but this week also allowed for a new No. 2 team to be matched up against the LSU Tigers in the national championship game.

The Alabama Crimson Tide and Arkansas Razorbacks both had legitimate arguments as why they should be named the new second-best team in the country, but in the end, it was the Crimson Tide ahead of the Razorbacks as SEC teams ranked in the top three spots. This obviously sets up a huge game on Friday night when the Razorbacks visit the Tigers in a game that will have huge national title implications.

The reason there was room for a new No. 2, of course, was due to the Oklahoma State Cowboys being upset on Friday night by Iowa State. The Cowboys dropped to just fourth in the rankings, still ahead of the Virginia Tech Hokies and Stanford Cardinal in the BCS standings while the Oregon Ducks found themselves falling to 10th in the rankings. The Oklahoma Sooners are now ranked ninth after losing to the Baylor Bears on Saturday and the Clemson Tigers are in 17th after losing two of its last three games.

Aside from the aforementioned teams above, it would seem only the undefeated Houston Cougars and Boise State Broncos have arguments at a national title game, but the Broncos suffered a pretty bad loss in their only loss of the season.