The Auburn Tigers football team (12-0, 8-0) overtook the Oregon Ducks (11-0, 8-0) on Sunday for the No. 1 spot in the Bowl Championship Series rankings. The drop ends Oregon’s four-week run as the nation’s top team in the national championship chase.
The poll, which determines which two teams play in the BCS National Championship game, combines results of the Harris Poll, USA Today Coaches Poll, and computer assessments to determine rankings. Auburn’s average (.9779) was just .0002 above Oregon’s (.9777).
The Ducks remains No. 1 in the AP, Harris, and Coaches Polls. Only the computer rankings listed Oregon as No. 2, but it was enough to cause the BCS slip.
Despite the drop, Oregon holds a healthy .0612 lead over No. 3 TCU, and a win against Oregon State next week would all but guarantee the Ducks a spot in the national championship game.
Indeed, the No. 2 ranking has the most distinct effect on something Oregon knows all about: uniforms. In the national championship game, the No. 1 school is treated as the “home” team, and is allowed to wear its school colors. The No. 2 team, on the other hand, is limited to white jerseys.
As such, Oregon’s expansive wardrobe would be severely depleted if it remains in the No. 2 spot next week.
Preceding Sunday’s polling, Oregon defeated Arizona by a score of 48-29 on Friday, while Auburn narrowly escaped Alabama with a 28-27 victory. Oregon faces off with Oregon State in Corvallis to close the season next week, while Auburn matches up at home against South Carolina.
Other Pacific-10 Conference teams placing in the BCS rankings were Stanford (No. 4) and Arizona (No. 23). Stanford’s jump from No. 6 last week could prove very important, as the top four teams in the nation are guaranteed a spot in one of the five BCS Bowl games. If the Cardinal retains its spot next week, it will play in a BCS game.
— Patrick Malee