CANES, HOKIES STILL IN BCS BOWL MIX ACCORDING TO FOOTBALL LORDS – THE BCS

USC (No. 20 BCS, No. 24 AP), LSU (No. 15 BCS, No. 17 AP), Miami (No. 17 BCS, No. 19 AP) and N0. 14 (both) Virginia Tech are among eight teams that cannot earn an automatic BCS bid, but are still in contention for an at-large invite to a marquee bowl game.

BCS officials announced Tuesday that a total of 20 teams are still in the running for spots in the national championship game and the Rose, Fiesta, Sugar and Orange bowls.
Ten teams, including No. 1 Florida, No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Texas, are in position to earn an automatic BCS bid as a conference champion or an at-large pick.

Either No. 6 Boise State or No. 4 TCU could earn an automatic bid by winning its non-automatic qualifying conference and finishing in the top 12 on the final BCS standings. Both are eligible for an at-large selection if they don't get an automatic bid.

Joining USC, LSU and Miami as teams still in the mix solely for BCS at-large bids are Brigham Young (No. 19 BCS, No. 18 AP), Iowa (No. 11 BCS, No. 13 AP), Oklahoma State (No. 12 BCS, No. 11 AP) and Penn State (No. 13 BCS, No. 12 AP).