While the Boise St. Broncos were long expected to be the top non-BCS conference school represented in the first 2011 BCS standings, not many would have expected the Houston Cougars to be in the initial release. However, the 6-0 Cougars appeared at No. 19. In the various college football rankings released earlier on Sunday, the Cougars checked in at No. 20 in the Coaches Poll, No. 21 in the AP Poll and the Sagarin computer ratings and No. 22 in the Harris Interactive Poll.
The Cougars are led by Case Keenum and his 2,309 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. But not even an explosive offense will get the Cougars that high up in the rankings by season's end. The team's remaining schedule offers its toughest test against SMU. Only a miracle will save the Cougars here.
Boise State also needs to win out for a chance to play in the BCS Championship game, but TCU and San Diego State will do their best to prevent that. The Broncos also need losses by Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State for a chance to get into one of the top two spots. The two SEC schools face each other on Nov. 5 and the two Big 12 schools fight it out at the end of the season on Dec. 3.
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