LSU and Alabama are on a collision course as the SEC rivals own the top two spots in this week’s BCS standings, two weeks before they meet in a Nov. 5 showdown.
The Tigers and Crimson Tide both remained No. 1 and No. 2 in the second installment of this year’s BCS standings and are similarly configured in the latest AP poll.
The undefeated national title contenders both are off this coming week before the prime-time affair in Tuscaloosa.
Unbeatens Oklahoma State, Boise State and Clemson rounded out the top five with Stanford coming in at No. 6.
At No. 7, Oregon is the highest rated one-loss team in the BCS.
The Sooners, who stood at No. 3 in last week’s BCS standings tumbled to No. 9 after losing at home to previously unranked Texas Tech.
A last-second loss at Michigan State cost the Badgers nine spots as they fell from No. 6 to No. 15.
Oklahoma has a chance to regain some ground in the BCS standings as they next play unbeaten Kansas State which moved up to No. 8 this week.
Arkansas, No. 9 last week, fell back a spot to round out the top 10.
Rarely better than No. 2 in its own state, Oklahoma State is now the Big 12′s best bet to play for a national championship.
The Cowboys moved up to third Sunday in the BCS standings, replacing rival Oklahoma as the team behind LSU and Alabama best positioned to reach the national title game. It’s Oklahoma State’s best showing in the BCS standings.
The winner of the LSU-Alabama showdown will have the inside track to reach the BCS Championship Game in New Orleans.
The Southeastern Conference has had at least one team first or second in 26 of the last 27 standings, dating to Dec. 2, 2007.
The BCS standings use the coaches’ poll, the Harris poll and a compilation of six computer ratings to determine which teams play in the five marquee bowls, including the championship game.
Oklahoma State was ranked first in the computer rankings, third in the Harris poll and fourth in the coaches’ poll for a BCS average of .9240.
Boise State was at .8302, Clemson was .8240 and Stanford .8124.
For now, they are chasing the Cowboys, hoping for them to slip up.
Brandon Weeden, Justin Blackmo
via BCS Standings — LSU Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide are top two teams ahead of SEC showdown – ESPN.

