1. Miami (11-0) The Hurricanes continued their road to the Fiesta Bowl with a 49-7 win over Big East rival Syracuse. Miami has one game left, but it is against a Virginia Tech team that slipped down the stretch but would love nothing more than to diminish Miami’s hopes of a repeat national championship.
2. Ohio State (13-0) The Buckeyes will be watching two games closely this weekend to learn who will join them in the Fiesta Bowl. If Miami wins, they go. But if Miami loses, Georgia could slide in with a win over Arkansas. If both lose, Iowa has an outside chance.
3. Iowa (11-1) The Hawkeyes will be pulling for the Hokies and the Razorbacks this weekend. Iowa has an outside chance at reaching the Fiesta Bowl, setting up a Big Ten Championship as well as the national championship.
4. Georgia (11-1) Georgia absolutely blasted in-state rival Georgia Tech Saturday, 51-7. The Bulldogs travel up the road to Atlanta Saturday for a chance to win the Southeastern Conference title and an outside shot at a national title.
5. USC (10-2) Carson Palmer destroyed the Notre Dame defense throwing for 425 yards on 32-of-46 passing and four touchdowns. The Trojans can win the Pacific-10 Conference if UCLA beats Washington State Saturday.
6. Washington State (9-2) The Cougars can clinch a Pac-10 title and a Rose Bowl bid with a win over UCLA. They would likely face Iowa in the Rose Bowl, but the Bruins cannot be overlooked.
7. Oklahoma (10-2) For the second straight year, Oklahoma State ruined the Sooners’ final regular season game with a 38-28 win. Oklahoma has to regroup for the Big XII Championship game Saturday against Colorado.
8. Kansas State (10-2) The Wildcats are one of the four Big XII teams that are among the elite in the country. K-State finished the season as one of the hottest teams in the country, outscoring its final five opponents 253-30.
9. Texas (10-2) The Longhorns destroyed Texas A&M, 50-20, in R.C. Slocum’s final game as Aggies’ head coach. This season was discouraging for Longhorn fans who were expecting a national championship and a win against Oklahoma. Hello, Cotton Bowl.
10. Penn State (9-3) The Nittany Lions are awaiting a Capital One Bowl bid to face either Auburn or Georgia. Larry Johnson has established himself as a Heisman frontrunner with his 2,015 rushing yards this season.
11. Michigan (9-3) The Wolverines were one pass away from ruining Ohio State’s national championship aspirations. They now will prepare for their matchup with Florida in the Outback Bowl.
12. Colorado (9-3) The Buffaloes will play to defend their Big XII championship this weekend when they face off with Oklahoma. A win would most likely put them into the Orange Bowl.
13. Alabama (10-3) The Crimson Tide won their “bowl game” at Hawaii, 21-16. Besides probation, Alabama has another huge problem — its head coach might be about to leave to become the newest coach in College Station.
14. Notre Dame (10-2) The Irish’s luck was there early, but it went away quickly in a 44-13 loss to USC. The Irish scored a touchdown on a blocked punt, scored a field goal on a fumbled kickoff return and scored another field goal after the Trojans missed one. But because they are Notre Dame, they still have a chance at receiving a BCS bowl bid.
15. Virginia Tech (9-3) The Hokies fended off a pesky Virginia team, 21-9. But the game that has been circled on every Hokies’ calendar is quickly approaching. Virginia Tech versus Miami, Dec. 7; it may not be for the Big East title, but a win over Miami would be just as good.
16. West Virginia (9-3) The Mountaineers have turned many heads in the closing of the season. After hanging in with Miami for most of the game, they came out and beat Virginia Tech and most recently Pittsburgh, 24-17.
17. Florida State (9-4) The Seminoles dominated Florida, 31-14, Saturday in Tallahassee. They needed a win so they would not be a BCS mockery with a 8-5 record in the Sugar Bowl.
18. Arkansas (9-3) The SEC West title literally fell into the hands of the Razorbacks in their stunning win against LSU Friday. They now get the chance to win the SEC title and play in the Sugar Bowl. But if they lose, they likely will slip all the way down to the Music City Bowl.
19. Auburn (8-4) Auburn is awaiting a bowl decision based on the SEC Championship game. If Georgia wins, the Tigers will be in the Captial One Bowl. If Arkansas wins, Auburn will be in either the Cotton Bowl, the Peach Bowl or the Music City Bowl.
20. Boise State (11-1) The Broncos finished the season with a Western Athletic Conference championship. They will play at home on the blue turf in the Humanitarian Bowl.
21. Maryland (10-3) The Terps capped off a nice season with a 32-14 win against Wake Forest. They will now play either Tennessee, Auburn or LSU in the Peach Bowl.
22. Florida (8-4) The Gators could not stop the Seminoles’ running attack Saturday in their 31-14 loss. They begin preparations this week for the Outback Bowl against Michigan.
23. LSU (8-4) The Tigers underwent a roller coaster of a season that ended in a heartbreaking 21-20 loss to Arkansas. LSU will likely travel to Dallas to play in the Cotton Bowl against one of the many tough Big XII teams.
24. Colorado State (10-3) The Rams lost to UNLV after clinching the Mountain West title. They play TCU in the Liberty Bowl.
25. Pittsburgh (8-4) The Panthers accepted an invitation to the Insight.com Bowl after losing to West Virginia, 24-17.