After Alabama's victory over LSU, it has become clear that the Crimson Tide aren't going anywhere soon. and right now, they have the luxury of completely controlling their own destiny. Along with Texas Tech, they are the only teams left in the country who know for a fact that if they win out, they will be in the National Championship game. There are other teams who are almost guaranteed a spot if they win out, but Alabama and Texas Tech are the only ones who know that for sure.

For everyone else in contention, it's not that simple. Here's a rundown of the 9 teams that I believe are still in National Championship contention after the Week 11 games, and what I believe needs to happen for each of them to gain a spot in the BCS Championship game on January 8, 2009.

Note: These are not necessarily my rankings. I ranked them in order of how strong I think their chances are of making the championship game by simply winning all of their remaining games. However, they are VERY close to what I believe the rankings should be.


#1: Alabama Crimson Tide
If they win out, they're in. Period.
Remaining schedule: Mississippi State, Auburn, Florida (SEC Championship)


#2: Texas Tech Red Raiders
If they win out, they're in. Period.
Remaining schedule: @Oklahoma, Baylor, Big XII Championship (if eligible)


#3: Florida Gators
If they win out, they're in. Period.
Remaining schedule: South Carolina, Citadel, @Florida State, Alabama (SEC Championship)

#4: Oklahoma Sooners
If they win out, I believe they're in over Texas. Even though the Sooners lost to the Longhorns earlier this year, I think that they would jump over them if they beat both Texas Tech and Oklahoma State. Those would be two huge wins, and they seem to count more when they happen later in the season. If they win out but still don't jump over Texas in the BCS rankings in time for the Big XII Championship, then they would need the Longhorns to lose in that game.
Remaining schedule: Texas Tech, @Oklahoma State, Big XII Championship (if eligible)

#5: Texas Longhorns
If they win out, they might sneak in. But I believe they'll need Oklahoma to beat Texas Tech, and then Oklahoma State to beat Oklahoma. The other scenario that could theoreticall happen is if either Oklahoma or Texas Tech wins out, and the winner of the SEC Championship game loses before that game, there might be an all-Big XII matchup, which would be a rematch between Texas and either OU or Texas Tech. It's doubtful, however, that the voters would allow this to happen.
Remaining schedule: @Kansas, Texas A&M, Big XII Championship (if eligible)

#6: USC Trojans
One of the preseason favorites really shot themselves in the foot with their loss to Oregon State. Their win over Ohio State doesn't look nearly as impressive as they thought it would, and their one loss has been killing them in the rankings. To make the NC game, I believe they would need to win out, and have at least 4 of the 5 teams above them to lose at least once. Depending on who they lose to, Texas Tech or Alabama might need to lose twice for USC to pass them, due to the Trojans' weak schedule.They need some serious help to make the game, but it's possible.
Remaining schedule: @Stanford, Notre Dame, @UCLA

#7: Utah Utes
This might sound crazy, but Utah has a very legitimate (albeit small) chance to play for a National Championship. For them to make it in, they would most likely need something very similar to USC, except they would need 5 of the 6 teams to falter, and would definitely need 2 losses from Alabama or Texas Tech to pass them.
Remaining schedule: @San Diego State, Brigham Young

#8: Boise State Broncos
The Broncos need the exact thing as Utah. It's a judgment call on who would get the nod if both of them were still undefeated, and the only 1-loss teams were one of the top 6 teams. Both teams have the advantage of having won a BCS bowl game before, so questions about their legitimacy generally fall on deaf ears. Would Boise State get in, out of respect for their more recent Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma? Or would Utah, by virtue of a slightly tougher schedule? Theoretically, we could see Utah AND Boise State in the title game, if everything worked out perfectly.
Remaining schedule: @Idaho, @Nevada, Fresno State

#9: Penn State Nittany Lions
Much like USC, the Fightin' Joe Pa's killed their chances big time with their lone loss. Unlike the Trojans, however, their loss came very late in the season. Losing to Iowa effectively killed Penn State's chances. They would need 7 of the following 8 things to happen: A loss for Boise State, Utah, USC, Texas, Oklahoma or Florida, or 2 losses from Texas Tech and Alabama. Even then, they would probably have to win very convincingly over MIchigan State in their finale to overcome their abysmal schedule strength.
Remaining schedule: Indiana, Michigan State


Based on the above, my prediction for the National Championship game is...