USC’s BCS title hopes aren’t dead yet.
Yes, the Trojans have lost a game and lost ground. But no other one-loss team ranks higher in the coaches’ and Harris Interactive polls, the two that factor into the BCS rankings. USC also has fewer teams to hurdle after a weekend full of upsets.
USC landed at No. 7 in the first Harris poll, released Sunday (see below). The top six are unbeaten Oklahoma, LSU, Alabama, Missouri, Texas and Penn State. Would-be title contenders Georgia and Florida are 10th and 11th, respectively, after stumbling at home Saturday.
The Trojans fell from first to ninth in the coaches’ poll, with BYU and Texas Tech also sneaking ahead of them. Georgia dropped from third to 10th, Florida from fourth to 13th.
USC’s next opponent, Oregon, jumped from 22nd to 20th in the coaches’ poll after destroying Washington State, 63-14. The Ducks are 21st in the Harris poll. They are the only other Pac-10 school in either Top 25.
The first BCS standings, which also use the average of six computer rankings, come out Oct. 19.
Harris Interactive Poll: harrispoll092808
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Todd
Which poll gave USC the #1 spot pre-season?
The fact that “USC has fewer teams to hurdle” is not necessarily a good thing. It’s going to take a 2-loss SEC team for us to get back into the hunt. The computers will give a big boost to Georgia and maybe Florida and they will definitely jump ‘SC. Same with Big 12 teams, although it’ll depend on when they lose.
Main thing, lots of games to play. Nothing is decided for another couple months.