Baylor Debuts at #8 in 2013 BCS Rankings

Your Baylor Bears are the #8 team in the entire country, according to the first BCS rankings of 2013, released officially just moments ago live on ESPN.  That means just 7 teams: the Alabama Crimson Tide, Oregon Ducks, Florida State Seminoles, Ohio State Buckeyes, Missouri Tigers, Stanford Cardinal, and Miami Hurricanes stand between the Bears and college football glory.  Unfortunately, due to the perceived strength of our conference and the fact that so many undefeated teams remain in the college football landscape, the oft-repeated phrase "control your own destiny" doesn't really apply here.  Simply winning out and hoping the chips fall in our favor may not be enough.  We're going to need help. Below are the remaining schedules for each of the top 7 teams in the BCS rankings.

#1 -- Alabama (7-0, 4-0 in SEC)

This schedule does not include the SEC Championship Game, which will pit the Tide (should they make it) against the winner of the SEC East.  At this point, Missouri holds a 2-game lead in that division after wins last weekend over Georgia and this weekend over Florida.  Alabama's schedule includes two potential losses, I think, in LSU and Auburn.  That last game, the Iron Bowl at Auburn, could be much more difficult than we anticipated.

#2 Florida State (6-0, 4-0 in ACC)

With last night's win over Clemson, Florida State passed what will likely be its biggest test in 2013.  Yes, the ACC Championship Game could bring a very strong Virginia Tech defense to bear on redshirt freshman Jameis Winston, but I strongly believe the Seminoles will end the regular season undefeated, settling themselves up as first-in-line should one of the first two teams fall. (I say that because I, like the analyst on ESPN, think Oregon will pass FSU again shortly).

#3 Oregon (7-0, 4-0 in Pac12)

Over the next three weeks, we're going to find out a lot about Oregon's immediate future in the Pac12.  UCLA will get the first of potentially two shots at beating Oregon, the second of which could come in the Pac12 Championship Game the first week of December.  Stanford is obviously no slouch, either, nor is Utah, who just beat the Cardinal.

#4 Ohio State (7-0, 3-0 in B1G)

I'd bet a lot that Ohio State will go undefeated in an awful B1G and nobody will care.  They need both of Oregon and Alabama to lose to have a chance at the BCS National Championship Game.  If they would just lose, that would be great.

#5 Missouri (7-0, 3-0 in SEC)

With Alabama firmly entrenched as the kings in the West (for now), Missouri owns the SEC East after defeating Georgia and Florida in consecutive weeks.  James Franklin's injury would seem to render them vulnerable at some point, and it may just be a matter of time until they lose in the SEC Championship Game to whoever comes from the West.

#6 Stanford (5-1, 4-1 in Pac12)

Stanford needs to beat Oregon and then win the Pac12 Championship Game over a highly-ranked UCLA, probably, to have a chance.  I was afraid Stanford would jump us in these rankings, and they did.  The computers love them.

#7 Miami (6-0, 3-0 in ACC)

This has to be some kind of joke.  Baylor would whip Miami and have them begging for more at the end of the game.  You can't almost lose to UNC and then be ranked #7 in the BCS.  That has to be a rule somewhere.

#8 Baylor (6-0, 3-0 in Big 12)

I shouldn't have to tell you what Baylor's upcoming schedule looks like, but I did. Baylor's two biggest games remaining are probably still Oklahoma and Texas Tech, with Texas and OSU also ready to jump up should they get the opportunity.

My honest belief is that Baylor can pass Stanford and Miami in the coming weeks, especially with Miami looking down the barrel of the FSU machine at some point, should they keep winning. Missouri will probably fall off, regardless, unless they beat Alabama.  Those things combine put us in the Top 4, provided we keep winning.  At that point, we're going to need help in the form of 2 out of the top 3, at least, losing.  That's ... unlikely to happen.  But I don't see an undefeated Baylor getting in over an undefeated Alabama, Oregon, or Florida State, however they are aligned.

All we can do is keep winning.  And maybe hack a few computers? Let's check on that.