BCS Rankings: Oregon, Auburn, TCU and Boise State Continue in Top Slots

For a fourth consecutive week, there is no change among the top four teams in the BCS rankings.

The latest rankings, released Sunday, have the same top teams – No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Auburn, No. 3 TCU and No. 4 Boise State – as the previous three rankings. Also, LSU is ranked No. 5 for a third consecutive week.

When did the "B" in the BCS rankings stand for boring?

Don't worry, there is the potential that next week's rankings could be turned upside down as Oregon, Auburn, Boise State and LSU all play teams ranked in the Top 25 this week.

On Friday, Oregon is at home against Arizona, Auburn tangles with Alabama in Tuscaloosa in the annual Iron Bowl and Boise State visits Nevada. On Saturday, LSU plays Arkansas in Little Rock. Meanwhile, TCU should have no upset worries, playing at 1-10 New Mexico on Saturday.

Following this weekend's games, there remains only one more week in college football's regular season: the league championship games on Dec. 4 along with the conclusion of the Pac-10 and Big East schedules.

The final BCS rankings will be released Dec. 5. The top two teams in the BCS rankings on Dec. 5 will play in the BCS title game in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 10.

If this week's rankings remain the same for the final BCS rankings, Oregon and Auburn would meet in the BCS title game. Also, TCU would then receive an automatic bid to the Rose Bowl, because the Rose Bowl must take the highest-ranked non-automatic qualifying team if the Pac-10 or Big Ten champion advances to the BCS title game.

If Boise State finishes fourth and behind TCU, the Broncos would be eligible for another BCS bowl as an at-large selection, but would not be guaranteed to be selected.

If either TCU or Boise State finishes in the top two of the final rankings and plays Oregon in the BCS title game, then the Rose Bowl is not required to replace Oregon with a non-automatic qualifying team. Most likely, the Rose Bowl would select Stanford to replace Oregon. The Rose Bowl's Big Ten representative will be either Wisconsin, Ohio State or Michigan State.