<p>There are five undefeated teams ahead of UCLA in the rankings, with the Bruins needing to get to No. 2 or No. 1.</p>
<p>That prospect seemed all but impossible until Saturday, when undefeated Georgia squeezed by Arkansas but lost starting quarterback D.J. Shockley to injury with a huge game against Florida next weekend.</p>
<p>And, for the second week in a row, Alabama needed a last-second field goal to remain unbeaten, but, with a struggling offense, how can the Crimson Tide stay that way with Louisiana State, Auburn and a possible Southeastern Conference title game still to play?</p>
<p>No. 3 Virginia Tech stands unscathed in UCLA's way, but the Hokies still have to play Boston College, Miami and maybe Florida State.</p>
<p>This isn't going to be easy. UCLA has to keep winning, needs USC to do the same and hope the BCS gods part the seas.</p>
<p>But if UCLA could somehow upend No. 1 USC on Dec. 3, who knows?</p>
<p>Personally I think USC falling to #2 has cost us any slim chance we already had of winning the BCS. Furthermore, with that system I'm terrified to see where we will land after Dec. 3rd (assuming that we lose). My personal guess is that one of two things will happen... Either USC will beat us on Decemeber 3rd and move back into the number 1 spot and likely play Texas, or we'll be USC and Texas and Virginia Tech will play in the Rose Bowl.</p>
<p>yea, theoretically, it seems like a no-win situation for us. if we beat USC, it's gonna be texas and virginia tech, not us in the rose bowl. if we lose to USC, our ranking is going to drop a good amount. it's always better to lose in the middle of the season and work your way back up cuz there's no opportunity to do that if you lose during the last game of the regular season.</p>
<p>Actually, right now, Texas is #1 in the BCS standings by .0007 points (the smallest margin between #1 and #2 in BCS history,) because of USC's current strength of schedule. Odds are though, that USC will wind up at #1 in BCS at the end of the season, barring any losses.</p>
<p>I've been a huge college football fan since the inception of the BCS and the same thing happens at this time every year. People freak out thinking that all the undefeated teams will stay that way, but it's not going to happen. Last year was a true anomaly. </p>
<p>If UCLA wins out and beats SC, we will play in the title game, period. Voters will not ignore the fact that we beat the #1 team and one of the greatest in recent college football history. </p>
<p>The Bruins just have to worry about taking care of business. The rest will handle itself.</p>
<p>Wow... you're right. I stand corrected - and dumbfounded (with due apologies to allena for sounding patronizing). Though I am comforted by...</p>
<p>"However, don't expect the current order at the top to last very long.... That will change. USC still has games with Cal, Fresno State and UCLA which will help its strength of schedule, while Baylor and Texas A&M are the only teams left on Texas' schedule with a winning record.</p>
<p>The Trojans will leap back over the Horns at some point, unless Texas makes up some more ground in the Harris and USA Today polls.</p>
<p>Besides giving everyone something to talk about, today's surprise in the BCS Standings didn't really mean much."</p>
<p>-- ESPN.com</p>
<p>... and "USC is top-ranked in The Associated Press media poll, the USA Today coaches' poll and the Harris Interactive poll. The coaches' poll and the Harris poll make up two-thirds of a team's BCS grade. A compilation of six computer rankings account for the other third, with the highest and lowest ranking for each team dropped. Texas was first in all but one of those rankings."</p>
<p>ironic how USC should be rooting for the bears and bruins right now cuz as they rack up wins, USC's strength of schedule improves. and arizona state needs to get with the program, they have too many losses that it's no longer considered a quality win if a team beats them.</p>
<p>Quote
UCLA Drops Decision To No. 1 USC, 29-24
Drew Olson completes 20 of 34 passes for 278 yards and one touchdown for Bruins.
Dec. 4, 2004
UCLA held Heisman Trophy contender Matt Leinart in check, but Reggie Bush had two long touchdown runs, Ryan Killeen kicked five field goals and No. 1 USC held off the Bruins 29-24 Saturday to virtually lock up a trip to the Orange Bowl for the Bowl Championship Series title game.</p>
<p>Moments after the game ended, USC fans in both end zones threw oranges on the field and many players stayed on the field to celebrate.</p>
<p>UCLA drew within five points with 2:20 to play on Olson's 4-yard pass to Marcedes Lewis on fourth-and-2. The Bruins got one final chance when Spencer Havner recovered a fumble by Bush at the Bruins 14 with 53 seconds left, but Jason Leach intercepted Olson on the next play.</p>