Kent State might be in position to steal a BCS slot by this time next week. They're 17th in the BCS ratings at present and are in good position to gain one spot with a win over #21 Northern Illinois in the MAC title game. UCLA sits in 16th spot, but UCLA and KSU would likely swap places if the Bruins lose to Stanford again in the Pac-12 championship.
As the best non-AQ school, KSU would get in if they are in the top 16 and are better than one or more of the AQ champs. With the Big East having two fewer top 25 teams than the MAC, that is a safe bet; seeing the winner of Rutgers-Louisville zoom all the way to 16 would be a stretch.
The Orange Bowl gets the last pick this year, so they would be the likely landing spot for Kent State were they to win in Ford Field this weekend. I'd like to see them get a Fiesta Bowl bid, for I could guarantee a KSU win in that one in a match against the Big 12 and MAC champs.
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