WHO'S HOT
Florida
Since the Gators lost to an inferior Mississippi squad in September, Florida has done everything necessary to prove they are the best team in the nation. The Gators are not just beating teams, they're demolishing them. Florida has beaten their last six opponents by an average of 39 points, and this has not been a cupcake schedule for the Gators. During the streak the Gators defeated then-No. 4 LSU 51-21, No. 6 Georgia 49-10 and No. 25 South Carolina 56-6. Florida's closest game during this streak was a 42-14 victory over Vanderbilt. If they can win their two remaining regular season games and beat Alabama in the SEC Championship, they'll be national title-bound.
Oregon State
The Pac-10 has sent powerhouse USC to the Rose Bowl the last three years, but that will change if the Beavers win their final two games. Oregon State and the Trojans both have one loss in the conference, but because the Beavers beat USC in September, they have the tiebreaker, meaning if Oregon State doesn't trip up against Arizona or Oregon, they'll be in Pasadena on New Year's Day. Ever since Oregon State got the big win against USC, they've taken care of business in the Pac-10, winning their last six in-conference match-ups. Now the Beavers can win their first conference title since 2000.
Shonn Greene
After a disappointing 2007 season, leading rusher Shonn Greene is the main force behind Iowa being in position for a return to a bowl game. Greene is making a serious push for the Big Ten Player of the Year award with his 1,585 rushing yards and 6.2 yard average per attempt. Greene has rushed for over 100 yards in all 11 games this season for Iowa and even eclipsed the 200-yard mark against Wisconsin and Purdue. In the Hawkeyes' marquee victory over then-No. 3 Penn State, Greene took the ball 25 times for 117 yards. Iowa's record this season will keep Greene out of Heisman consideration, but he will still be taking home some hardware when all is said and done.
WHO'S NOT
Kansas
Last year Kansas came out of nowhere to surge to a top 5 ranking and eventually beat Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. But with heightened expectations this season, the Jayhawks flopped. It started when Kansas lost their third game of the season to South Florida, who is now 1-4 in the Big East. The Jayhawks won their next three, but then lost four of their last five. For the most part, junior quarterback Todd Reesing and the offense have been getting it done, but the Jayhawks' defense has been a letdown, especially in big games. Kansas gave up 35 points against Texas, 45 to Oklahoma and 63 to Texas Tech.
Auburn
After a 4-1 start, the Tigers have completely collapsed. Auburn has lost five of its last six games, with the lone win coming at home against Tennessee-Martin. Arkansas would be winless in the SEC if it weren't for its victory over Auburn. Much of the blame has to fall on the Tigers' offense, which ranks 10th in the conference. Auburn isn't getting anything out of their quarterback position with sophomore Kodi Burns, who has a 2-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. At 5-6, Auburn needs a win in its final contest against No. 1 Alabama to be bowl eligible.
ACC
In 2004 the Atlantic Coast Conference scooped up Miami and Virginia Tech from the Big East, then grabbed Boston College in 2005 in hopes of establishing itself as a power football conference. But since the additions, the conference has failed to produce an elite squad, and this year is no exception. In the last ten years, the conference is 1-9 in BCS Bowl Games, and adding to that win total this year does not look likely. The ACC is the only BCS conference not to have a team in the top 20 of the BCS Standings. This year, the cream of the crop in the conference is North Carolina, Miami and Maryland, but none of those squads have fewer than three losses this season.
- Compiled by Scott Kellogg
