Ranking the BCS National Championship Contenders

The 2009 College Football season seemed like a return to the glory days of the haves and the have-nots, with USC, Texas, and especially Florida as the only three true BCS Title Contenders.

But while Texas and Florida remain on track, surprise contenders have popped up from different pockets of the USA with title dreams on their minds.

Here’s how the top five most serious BCS Title Contenders stack up as we get into the thick of the conference races:

1. Florida- I’m not sure why so many people even thought LSU had a chance on Saturday night, even with their impressive home night game winning streak.

Florida’s defense is just as good and the offense will come around once Tebow gets in a groove. But this team can win in a shootout or a slugfest and that’s what makes them so good.

A likely match with Alabama in the SEC Title game, aka LSU 2.0, is perhaps their only serious test left.

2. Texas- The Longhorns haven’t looked as good as they did last year, but the Colt McCoy to Jordan Shipley (roommate to roommate) combination is as potent as you’ll find in the country.

Needless to say, Texas needs to step it up in all phases with Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout coming up next week followed by tough road games at Oklahoma State and Missouri.

But Texas is still the favorite to face the Gators in Pasadena for the BCS Title.

3. Alabama- A game at home against LSU on November 7th could be tricky considering they have the talent on defense to shut down the Tide, but Alabama and Florida seem set on a collision course for the SEC Title Game with a trip to the BCS Title Game on the line. The schedule looks fairly easy in an SEC Conference that is still good but not as talented as in past years.

And who knows, an Ohio State-Michigan situation like back in 2006 could even unfold where the loser might get a look for the title game as well.

4. Boise State- With a big win over an Oregon team that’s now peaking in their first game and the success of Utah over Alabama in last year’s Sugar Bowl to take into consideration, the Broncos deserve a look if they’re one of only two undefeated teams left at the end of the year.

And that could very well happen as the Broncos’ toughest remaining games are probably Nevada and (don’t laugh…okay, maybe you can laugh) Idaho, both at home.

Still, with such a weak overall schedule, a lot needs to happen for Boise State to slip into the title game.

5. USC- How ironic would it be if one of Pete Carroll’s least talented teams does what other recent squads haven’t and sneaks into the BCS Title Game?

Personally, I’m not a believer in this team, but they still have more five-star prospects on their team than most teams have recruited in their program’s histories so they have a real shot if the QB play improves between Matt Barkley and Aaron Corp.

Other contenders who didn’t quite make the cut: Virginia Tech (not quite sold on them despite a fairly easy schedule), Iowa (same as Va. Tech), Cincinnati (should slip up at some point in the Big East despite amazing coaching job by Brian Kelly), Miami (too young), Ohio State (loss to USC was a killer).