Oregon back in championship contention

Oregon charged back into national championship contention, jumping to fourth place in the BCS standings yesterday after its big victory over Stanford.

LSU and Oklahoma State, both unbeaten, have the top two spots locked down and are on a path to meet in the BCS title game if they can stay perfect.

Alabama is third hoping for a stumble by the top two, Oregon jumped from seventh last week to fourth with its 53-30 win over Stanford.

The losses by Stanford and Boise State allowed Oklahoma to inch into fifth.

Boise State's loss dropped the Broncos to 10th and gives them little hope to reach the BCS again. Undefeated Houston from Conference USA is 11th, solid position to be this year's BCS buster if it can keep winning. Boise State was upset 36-35 by Mountain West Conference rival TCU. The Broncos missed a 39-yard field goal as time expired.

One champion from the leagues without automatic BCS bids -- such as C-USA and the MWC -- can earn an automatic berth by finishing in the top 12 of the final standings. Houston is making a bid to be the first Conference USA team to play in one of the four marquee bowl games.