The 2011 college football regular season has come to an end. All the games are done and the conference champions have been determined and now get a look at how the voters for the AP and USA Today Coaches Poll set the rankings. The LSU Tigers completed their undefeated season with a dominant win in the SEC Championship Game and are the nation's top team by a long shot.
LSU not only went undefeated this season, but eight of their 13 wins came against teams that finished ranked in the top 25. They beat the nation's No. 2 team, Alabama, and now will likely get a rematch against the Crimson Tide in the BCS Championship Game. Alabama was the only team to give the Tigers a close game.
The Tide's only loss came in an overtime game to the dominant LSU Tigers which secures them in the second spot in the rankings. There's a chance, albeit slim, that the Oklahoma State Cowboys (3) will leapfrog Alabama and earn a shot at LSU in the BCS Title Game. The Bowl Selection show is Sunday evening at 8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. MT.
Oklahoma State broke a nine-game losing streak to their rivals, the Oklahoma Sooners, to win the annual Bedlam Game and secure the Big 12 Title. The Cowboys beat the Sooners 44-10.
The other big shake up at the top of the polls was the surprise loss by the Houston Cougars to the Southern Miss. Golden Eagles, 49-28, in the Conference USA Today Championship Game. The Cougars lost their chance at a BCS Bowl game and fell to 18 in USA Today rankings.
The final week in the Pac-12 was highly predictable. The Oregon Ducks romped the UCLA Bruins 49-31 in the first-ever Pac-12 Championship Game. The Ducks finish the season ranked fifth in the USA Today Rankings and head to the Rose Bowl to face the Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers beat the Michigan State Spartans in another thrilling game between these two Big Ten competitors.
The top of the USA Today Coaches Poll is:
- LSU
- Alabama
- Oklahoma State
- Stanford
- Oregon
- Boise St.
- Arkansas
- Wisconsin
- So. Carolina
- Kansas State
The AP rankings have the same top three with LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma State. The margin between the second and third spots, however is small. The Crimson Tide have 1,418 points compared to 1,400 for the Cowboys. That leaves the slightly door open for Okla. St. going to the BCS Championship Game. 22 AP voters switched from Alabama to Oklahoma State at No. 2.
The top of the AP is (full ranking here):
- LSU
- Alabama
- Oklahoma State
- Stanford
- USC
- Oregon
- Arkansas
- Boise St.
- Wisconsin
- So. Carolina