TCU jumps Boise State in BCS standings; Oregon and Auburn remain on top

The top four teams in Sunday’s release of the Bowl Championship Series standings did not change, but that didn’t mean things stayed the same.

Oregon is No. 1 for a second consecutive week with an average of .9638, followed by Auburn at .9611, Texas Christian at .9259 and Boise State at .8662.

These are the last four unbeaten teams left in major college football.

If Oregon and Auburn win out, they will play Jan. 10 for the BCS title in Glendale, Ariz.

What changed was TCU expanding its points lead over Boise State for third place, which is important in the national title race if Oregon or Auburn lose a game. There’s also a possible Rose Bowl bid at stake for TCU and Boise State.

TCU’s lead over Boise State last week was only .8911 to .8824, but the Horned Frogs’ 47-7 road win at BCS No. 5 Utah give them a bigger BCS than Boise State’s 42-7 win over Hawaii.

TCU (10-0) closes its home schedule this week against San Diego State and then plays at New Mexico. Boise State has remaining road games at Idaho and Nevada and home games against Fresno State and Utah State.

Rounding out this week’s BCS top 10 is Louisiana State, leading the one-loss teams at No. 5, followed by Stanford, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Ohio State and Oklahoma State.

Stanford, with a big home win over Arizona, jumped seven BCS positions this week, as did Oklahoma State, which moved from No. 17 to No. 10.

If Oregon and Auburn end up in the title game, the Rose Bowl would have to take the highest ranked team from a “non-AQ” conference. As of this week, that team would be TCU.

If Oregon and Auburn lose, it is possible that TCU and Boise State could meet for the national championship.

Oregon plays at California this week, hosts Arizona on Nov. 26 and closes the regular season at Oregon State on Dec. 4 in the Civil War.

Auburn can clinch the Southeastern Conference’s West Division this week at home against Georgia, and then gets a week off before traveling to Alabama on Nov. 26.

The final BCS standings will be released Dec. 5.

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