NEW YORK (AP) - Ohio State, Southern California and Michigan topped the first Bowl Championship Series standings released Sunday, putting the Big Ten powers and the Trojans in control of the national title race.
The first-place Buckeyes and third-place Wolverines play in Columbus on Nov. 18. If they can avoid a major upset before then, the winner of that game is all but assured of a spot in the BCS title game.
Second-place USC has the toughest part of its schedule ahead of it, but if the Trojans remain unbeaten they'll most likely play in a third straight championship game.
The top two teams in the final BCS standings will meet Jan. 8 in the title game at the new stadium in Glendale, Ariz., that will also be the site of the Fiesta Bowl. For the first time, the BCS title game will played about a week after the four major bowls - the Rose, Orange, Fiesta and Sugar.
The Buckeyes have a commanding lead in the coaches' poll and the Harris poll, which count for two-thirds of a BCS average. Ohio State (7-0) comes in third behind USC (6-0) and Michigan (7-0) in the computer rankings used to come up with the other third of the BCS average.
http://ncaafootball.com/index.php?s=...ange_well_id=2
Ohio State, USC and Michigan take the front row in BCS race
Ohio State, USC and Michigan take the front row in BCS race
Linear Mode
