Oregon, K-State in driver's seats

Kansas State and Oregon are now on course to play for the BCS national championship.

After Alabama was upset by Texas A&M, the new BCS standings have the Wildcats (.9674) first and the Ducks (.9497) second.

Notre Dame (.9396) is third, not too far behind, but most likely in need of a loss by Oregon or Kansas State to reach the title game on Jan. 7 in Miami.

"These teams are in their order, and the only way that order changes is if somebody gets beat," said Jerry Palm of CBS Sports and collegebcs.com.

As for Alabama's run at three championships in four seasons, and the Southeastern Conference's string of six straight BCS titles, both are in peril.

Five SEC teams follow Alabama in the standings: Georgia, Florida, Louisiana State, Texas A&M, and South Carolina. But it will take a couple of upsets to give the SEC champion a shot to reach the BCS title game.

Kansas State is second in both BCS polls - the coaches' and Harris - and in the computer rankings. The Wildcats have two games left, at Baylor on Saturday and home against Texas on Dec. 1, the day of most of the conference championship games.

Oregon is first in the both polls and fourth in the computer ratings. The Ducks have two more regular-season games left, against Stanford on Saturday and the next week at Oregon State. They can clinch the Pac-12 North and a spot in the conference title game with a win against Stanford. If they get there, the Ducks would play either UCLA or Southern California in the league title game.

Late Saturday, Marcus Mariota and Oregon turned a tight game into another blowout, this time a 59-17 win over host California. Mariota threw the third of his school record-tying six touchdown passes on the first play after an interception to break open what had been a close game midway through the third quarter.

The Fighting Irish are third in the polls and first in the computer ratings. The Irish play Wake Forest on Saturday and are at Southern Cal two days after Thanksgiving.

Everett Golson ran for a touchdown and threw for two more on Saturday night to help Notre Dame win at Boston College, 21-6. Taking the field soon after Alabama lost, the Irish eased past a BC team hoping that a victory would salvage its dismal season.

Leach questioned again. Washington State president Elson Floyd has called for a review of claims of abusive behavior by coach Mike Leach and his staff toward players. Wide receiver Marquess Wilson made the claims.

The decision by Floyd came one day after Wilson quit the team. Wilson said he left the program because of the actions of Leach and his staff. Wilson said the new staff has "preferred to belittle, intimidate, and humiliate us," and that included physical abuse.

Leach is in his first season as Washington State coach after spending two years out of coaching. He spent 10 seasons as Texas Tech coach before being fired in 2009 after claims of mistreatment from a player.