Perfect squads take big tumble

Time for a bonus round of "Who Plays for the National Title?"

We all know only two teams can play in the Bowl Championship Series title game at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 3. And if more than two teams finish unbeaten, those left out will be quite perturbed.

But what happens if there are no undefeated teams when the final BCS standings come out Dec. 9? Which one-loss teams get in? Nebraska, Oklahoma or Texas from the Big 12? Miami or Virginia Tech from the Big East? Oregon, Stanford, UCLA or Washington from the Pac-10? Florida from the SEC? Michigan from the Big Ten?

What about Oklahoma vs. Nebraska for a third time in Pasadena?

At this point, anything is possible.

"There's enough excellent football teams around the country that the big picture is still unclear," Huskers coach Frank Solich said.

With five teams losing for the first time Saturday, only No. 1 Miami, No. 2 Nebraska and No. 13 BYU remain unbeaten with six weeks to go in the season.

The Hurricanes (6-0) and Huskers (9-0) would be the perfect title matchup should both win out, but their roads to a perfect season are anything but easy.

Miami still has to play No. 11 Washington (7-1) at the Orange Bowl on Nov. 24 and then travel to No. 12 Virginia Tech (6-1) on Dec. 1. No. 2 Nebraska, after its 20-10 win over Oklahoma Saturday, still has to win at No. 25 Colorado on Nov. 23, then probably face the Sooners in a rematch for the Big 12 title on Dec. 1.

Even if BYU (8-0) wins out, the Cougars of the Mountain West Conference remain a title-game long shot because of a weak schedule.

So with losses by defending national champion Oklahoma, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Washington State, the BCS standings today will likely have Nebraska-Miami 1-2. But the run for the Rose Bowl is wide open.

Here's a look at the conference races, with the league champions qualifying for a BCS berth in either the Rose, Sugar, Fiesta or Orange bowls.

Atlantic Coast

With Florida State's 21-point, fourth-quarter splurge, the Seminoles knocked off Maryland 52-31 Saturday in Tallahassee, creating a three-team race. The Terrapins (7-1, 5-1) have a half-game lead over Florida State (5-2, 4-1) and North Carolina (5-3, 4-1). The Tar Heels beat the Seminoles on Sept. 22, while the Terps beat North Carolina on Sept. 1.

Florida State still has ACC games against Clemson, NC State and Georgia Tech; Maryland plays Clemson and NC State; North Carolina has Georgia Tech on Thursday night, then Wake Forest and Duke.

Big East

Add Syracuse (7-2, 4-0) to the race after the Orangemen upset the Hokies 22-14 in Blacksburg, Va.

While Miami (6-0, 3-0) is the class of the conference, don't count out the Orange, winners of seven in a row and with a Nov. 17 game against the Hurricanes at the Orange Bowl.

Big 12

All kinds of possibilities here, including a remote chance for the third game between Nebraska and Oklahoma in the BCS' title matchup.

Should both win out, they would meet again in Dallas for the Big 12 title on Dec. 1. And if the Sooners win -- and Miami has a loss -- the BCS standings could spit out Sooners first, Huskers second in the final rankings that determine the Rose Bowl teams.

Right now, the Huskers (9-0, 5-0) lead the North by a game over Colorado (6-2, 4-1); the Sooners (7-1, 4-1), Texas (7-1, 4-1) and Texas A&M (7-1, 4-1) are tied for first in the South.

Big Ten

Michigan (6-1, 4-0), after its 32-26 win over Iowa, has sole possession of first. Illinois (6-1, 3-1) and Purdue (5-1, 3-1) are tied for second, but meet next Saturday in West Lafayette, Ind.

The Wolverines have league games left with Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio State. The Buckeyes visit Ann Arbor on Nov. 24.

Pac-10

Four teams -- Oregon, Washington, Washington State and Stanford -- are tied for first with 4-1 league marks, with UCLA a half-game back at 3-1.

Saturday, Oregon beat Washington State 24-17, Stanford defeated UCLA 38-28 and Washington beat Arizona State on a final-play, 30-yard field goal by John Anderson.

This is the toughest of the six major conferences to figure: UCLA still has games against Washington State next Saturday and Oregon on Nov. 10; Washington plays Stanford next Saturday and Washington State on Nov. 17.

UCLA's DeShaun Foster, held to 77 yards on 21 carries, knows his team is still in the title chase. The Heisman Trophy hopeful started the game as the nation's leading rusher, but fell to fourth this week.

"We can still win the Pac-10 championship," Foster said. "There are a lot of teams with one loss, so hopefully we can just keep rolling."

SEC

With Florida (6-1, 4-1) beating Georgia 24-10 and Tennessee (5-1, 4-1) defeating South Carolina 17-10 Saturday, the East picture seems clear: The winner of Vols at Gators on Dec. 1 will be playing in the league title game on Dec. 8.

In the West, Auburn (6-2, 4-1) has a half-game lead over Mississippi (6-1, 3-1). The Tigers were upset by Arkansas 42-17, while the Rebels beat LSU 35-24 on Saturday.