Undefeated After Week 13

Well, so much for bowl hopes this year.  What seemed like such a promising year and a favorable schedule for the Hoosiers ended like they always do:  with disappointment and a Bucket game with only bragging rights on the line.  Sure, the Hoosiers beat the 35-point spread against O$U and left another 20 points on the field thanks to missed field goals and failed fourth down conversions in Ohio State's red zone, but that is of little solace.  Maybe next year.  Fuck.  I'm sure you're thinking "GMYH, IU sucks every year, so you should just accept it."  To that I say, I will never accept losing, even if I have come to expect it.  Kansas State, Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Virginia Tech used to be laughing stocks and now, for the most part, they are perennial bowl teams.  There's absolutely no reason IU can't be too.

On the national scene, we are down to five undefeated teams after Baylor laid a giant egg against Oklahoma State.  Alabama, Florida State, Fresno State, and Northern Illinois all cruised to easy wins.  Northern Illinois leapfrogged Fresno State in the BCS rankings and now sits at #14.

To remind you about the rules for non-AQ schools (i.e., schools not from the Big Ten, Big XII, SEC, ACC, Pac-12, or AAC) as far as getting a BCS bowl berth, here (again) is a refresher:

-The highest-ranked non-AQ conference champion will receive an automatic BCS bowl berth if it is: (1) ranked in the top 12 of the BCS standings; or (2) ranked in the top 16 of the BCS standings and ranked higher than at least one AQ conference champion.

-Only one non-AQ team can earn an automatic bid.

-A second non-AQ team can earn an at-large bid.  To be eligible for an at-large bid, a team must have at least 9 wins and must be in the top 14 of the BCS standings.

Right now, both Northern Illinois and Fresno State are ranked higher than UCF and Louisville, one of which will be the AAC conference champion, so whichever team ends up higher will likely get an automatic bid to a BCS bowl.  

In the meantime, War Eagle and, as much as it pains me to say it, go Blue!

Here is a breakdown of the undefeated teams and each team's remaining games (rankings are BCS rankings):

#1 Alabama (11-0)

11/30 – at #4 Auburn (10-1)

12/7 - SEC championship game (Atlanta) – TBD (either #5 Missouri (10-1) or #10 South Carolina (9-2))

Remaining opponents' combined record:  20-2 (.909) or 19-3 (.864)

#2 Florida State (11-0)

11/30 – at Florida (4-7)

12/7 - ACC championship game (Charlotte) – TBD (either #24 Duke (9-2) or Georgia Tech (7-4))

Remaining opponents' combined record:  13-9 (.591) or 11-11 (.500)

#3 Ohio State (11-0)

11/30 – at Michigan (7-4)

12/7 – Big Ten championship game vs. #11 Michigan State (10-1) (Indianapolis)

Remaining opponents' combined record:  17-5 (.773)

#14 Northern Illinois (11-0)

11/26 – Western Michigan (1-10)

12/6 - MAC championship game (Detroit) – TBD (either Bowling Green (8-3) or Buffalo (8-3))

Remaining opponents' combined record:  9-13 (.409)

#16 Fresno State (10-0)

11/29 – at San Jose State (5-6)

12/7 - MWC championship game (at higher-ranked team's stadium) – TBD (either Utah State (7-4) or Boise State (7-4))

Remaining opponents' combined record:  12-10 (.545)