Oklahoma’s national title hopes stay alive with first BCS poll

Oct 13, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Trey Millard (33) carries the ball in the first quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the red river rivalry at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE

After seven weeks of meaningless polls, the BCS has finally arrived. These are the rankings that truly matter in college football. The AP and Coaches polls give us fans something to talk about it, but the BCS is the only thing that matters come mid-October to the end of the season.

Checking at no. 1 is, of course, Alabama. Right behind them, though, is fellow SEC member Florida. Oregon, Kansas State, and Notre Dame round out the top five, but ranked ninth is none other than the Oklahoma Sooners.

OU picked the right time to start blowing out opponents with back-to-back routs. While running the table the rest of the way would probably guarantee a BCS at-large bid, the Sooners should not refrain from thinking about a spot in the national title.

They are not low in the BCS standings, but not high enough where a loss would be devastating. The Sooners sit comfortably in the top ten with what appears to be a much easier schedule than expected.

Kansas should be no problem. Notre Dame will look good on Oklahoma’s resumé. Iowa State and Baylor are road bumps at best. West Virginia is definitely beatable after their humiliating loss to Texas Tech. The Pokes are back to being the Pokes. And TCU should be a quality end-of-season test.

OU would probably love a bye week somewhere in there, but if they have momentum on their side, who needs a week off?

While it seemed like impossible for the Sooners to contend for a title a few weeks ago, things are now looking a lot brighter in Norman. By no means is it far-fetched for anyone to think Oklahoma can’t make it to the big game.

Just take a look at who is in front of them. Four SEC schools that at least two will pick up another loss. Two Pac-12 schools that have yet to play each other. Notre Dame stands in the way, but Oklahoma has the opportunity to take care of them. Also, if the SEC beats up on each other, would a Kansas State-Oklahoma national championship game not be the greatest thing ever for the conference?

Oklahoma is playing some of the best football it has played in years. The offense is clicking and the defense may be the best in the conference, which has seven schools represented in the first BCS standing.

The hope is still alive, Sooner Nation. And the rest of country should be worried.