Gaps in the standings indicate standings differences more than 0.06 in the standings.

Notes are made for the highest ranked teams from each conference, independents (ind), and all non-automatic qualifying conference members. (non-AQ)

Team must be in the top 14 to be eligible for a BCS at-large bid.

Number of top 25 teams per conference:
5: SEC
4: PAC 10
3: Big 10, Big East, ACC
2: Big 12, MWC
1: WAC, C-USA
0: MAC, Sun Belt

What this all means after the jump...

The gaps in the standings are significant because they establish lines where teams are not likely to cross without a loss or a top 25 win.  Essentially the gaps separate the field into groups and teams rarely move from one group to another.

My estimated NCG lineups have changed slightly:

• Texas
• Florida
  
• Alabama

• USC
• Texas, with a loss and Big 12 championship game participation
• Florida, with a loss and SEC championship game participation
• Alabama, with a loss and SEC championship game participation
• Iowa

• TCU
• LSU, SEC champion
• Texas, with a loss to Big 12 South champion Oklahoma State
  
• Cincinnati
  
• Alabama, with a loss to SEC West champion LSU
  

• Boise State

Oregon appears to have proved me wrong by joining LSU.  Either Oregon will lose or they will seperate from the teams behind them.  If they win against USC and Arizona and Boise State remains unbeaten it will be interesting to see if they would pass Boise State.

Next week I will start tracking the BCS conference races.

TCU has taken the lead for that spot reserved for those without a conference automatic qualification and will keep that lead unless they lose.  Boise State is next in line.  Utah can settle it on the field against TCU but would need a Boise State loss.  Houston would need a Boise State loss and a loss by the eventual winner of the TCU-Utah game to be guaranteed a spot.  Even then, they might not be ahead of TCU.

All teams in the top 25 should expect that winning their games is all they need to become eligible for a BCS berth.  Of particular interest is Notre Dame, who would likely be selected over just about anyone regardless of rank.

Some interesting rules come into play if the top 14 become constrained due to the provision that a conference may not qualify a third team as an at-large selection.  This is unlikely, but the increase of SEC and PAC 10 teams offers some hope.  Parity in the ACC could help to clear them out of their top spots as well.

The MWC lost a team in the BCS top 25 this week, but BYU is not far down in the ORV's columns.  The only way the MWC appears to end the season with three ranked teams is if Utah upsets TCU and BYU then upsets Utah.