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BCS comes as advertised

THERE WERE NO real surprises in the season's first BCS standings. Louisiana State was first, by a narrow margin over Alabama, followed by Oklahoma. That's the same order as the polls. But it gets a little different at No. 4, where Oklahoma State checks in with its highest ranking ever. In 2008, OSU started No. 6 and finished 13th.

Not surprisingly, LSU is atop the season's first BCS rankings. (Wade Payne/AP)
Not surprisingly, LSU is atop the season's first BCS rankings. (Wade Payne/AP)Read more
    by MIKE KERN
    Published 

THERE WERE NO real surprises in the season's first BCS standings.

Louisiana State was first, by a narrow margin over Alabama, followed by Oklahoma. That's the same order as the polls. But it gets a little different at No. 4, where Oklahoma State checks in with its highest ranking ever. In 2008, OSU started No. 6 and finished 13th.

Boise State is next.

The rest of the top 10 reads: Wisconsin, Clemson, Stanford, Arkansas and Oregon.

Penn State checks in at No. 21.

The BCS is a three-pronged formula that uses the Harris Interactive (media) vote and the USA Today (coaches) ballot, plus the average from six computer rankings.

Last year, Auburn was fourth in the first standings, Oregon second. They played for the national title. The only time the top two teams in the first standings made it to the final game was 2005 (Texas and Southern Cal).