\

Blacksburg, VA — The Virginia Tech Hokies are ranked 11th in both the AP and USA Today polls and 12th in the all-important BCS standings. The only ACC team ranked ahead of them is No. 10 Georgia Tech, which lost this weekend to in-state and unranked rival Georgia.

The Yellow Jackets now have two losses (Miami and Georgia) and should they lose Saturday to Clemson in the ACC championship game, the Hokies (6-2, 9-3) could end up as the ACC’s highest ranked team in the BCS standings. That doesn’t mean that the Hokies will get a BCS bid ahead of Georgia Tech, but it does present an undesirable situation for the BCS.

Should Clemson win, the BCS will have to take a four-loss ACC champion that is not ranked in the BCS standings, over a pair of ranked teams. This scenario will likely fuel outcry by any top 10 team that gets left out and the annual cries for a playoff system will grow a bit louder. It would also mean that the Hokies could move ahead of No. 10 Georgia Tech in the BCS standings, leaving the Hokies as the highest ranked ACC team.

Either Florida or Alabama will play for the national championship against Texas, assuming the Longhorns can avoid an upset to Nebraska in the Big XII title game on Saturday. The loser of the SEC title game will most certainly get an at large BCS bid, as will Texas if they are upset.

There are five BCS games: BCS national championship game (No. 1 vs. No. 2), FedEx Orange Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and the Rose Bowl presented by Citi (Pac-10 vs. Big Ten). That means 10 teams get invites. Here is the current BCS top 10 standings and likely bowl scenario.

1. Florida – Win or lose, will get a BCS invite; plays Alabama in SEC title game, Dec. 5.
2. Alabama – Win or lose, will get a BCS invite; plays Florida in SEC title game, Dec. 5.
3. Texas – Win or lose, will get a BCS invite; plays Nebraska in Big XII title game, Dec. 5.
4. TCU – FInished season 12-0 and will likely get an invite.
5. Cincinnati – Locked up Big East championship, automatic BCS bid, plays Pittsburgh Dec. 5.
6. Boise State – Finished undefeated, no conference championship, probable BCS bid based on past BCS performances and it would be tough to justify keeping them out.
7. Oregon – Plays Oregon St. on Thursday, 6 p.m., on ESPN; for Pac-10 title and BCS bid to the Rose Bowl to play Ohio State. If the Ducks lose, they may not receive a BCS invite.
8. Ohio State – Locked up Big Ten title and BCS Rose Bowl bid to play winner of the Oregon vs. Oregon State game.
9. Iowa – The Hawkeyes could be the odd team out. The Big 10 already has its automatic bid in the Buckeyes, so Iowa could be the team snubbed if Texas loses to Nebraska, because Texas will likely get a BCS invite should they lose to Nebraska, which would get the automatic bid.
10. Georgia Tech – Expected to win the ACC title game Dec. 5, but the ACC gets an automatic bid regardless.

On the outside looking in are Penn State (10-2), Virginia Tech (9-3) and LSU (10-3). All are eligible for a BCS bowl invite, but are considered long shots.

Regardless of where the Hokies end up in the pre-bowl game BCS standings, it looks more likely that they will play in the Chic Fil A against an SEC team. The Hokies have played two games in Atlanta this season and lost both; the first to Alabama, 24-28, in the season opener; and to Georgia Tech, 23-28, on Oct. 17.

Popularity: 46% [?]