Oregon jumps back into BCS title contention

[November 14, 2011]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Oregon charged back into national championship contention, jumping to fourth place in the BCS standings Sunday after its big victory over Stanford.

LSU and Oklahoma State, both unbeaten, have the top two spots locked down and are on a path to meet in the BCS title game if they can stay perfect.

Alabama is third hoping for a stumble by the top two, Oregon jumped from seventh last week to fourth with its 53-30 victory against Stanford.

The losses by Stanford and Boise State allowed Oklahoma to inch into fifth.

Boise State's loss dropped the Broncos to 10th and gives them little hope to reach the BCS again. Undefeated Houston from Conference USA is 11th, solid position to be this year's BCS buster if it can keep winning.

Boise State was upset 36-35 by Mountain West Conference rival TCU. The Broncos missed a 39-yard field goal as time expired.

One champion from the leagues without automatic BCS bids -- such as C-USA and the MWC -- can earn an automatic berth by finishing in the top 12 of the final standings.

Houston would become the first Conference USA team to play in one of the four marquee bowl games if record-breaking quarterback Case Keenum and the Cougars can stay unbeaten through the toughest part of their schedule.

Houston closes with SMU and a road game against Tulsa. If the Cougars win the CUSA West, the championship game opponent will likely be Southern Miss, 20th in the latest BCS standings.

Back at the top of the standings, LSU is No. 1 in both polls (Harris and coaches') and tied for first with Oklahoma State in the computer ratings the BCS uses to determine which teams play for the national title.

Oklahoma State is second in each poll.

Alabama is third in all three components. Oregon is fourth in both polls and tied with Oklahoma for fourth in the computer ratings. The Sooners are fifth in the polls.

Arkansas is sixth in the standings and still lurking on the fringes of the national title race. The Razorbacks play LSU in the regular-season finale and still have a shot to win the SEC West.

[Associated Press; By RALPH D. RUSSO]

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