In the final stretch of the 2006 college football season, Southern California (USC) climbed to No. 2 in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings, overtaking Michigan after an impressive run of late-season victories.
A month earlier, USC’s national title hopes seemed dashed following a surprise loss to Oregon State. But after decisive wins over Oregon, California, and Notre Dame, the Trojans surged back into championship contention. Their 44–24 victory over then–No. 6 Notre Dame propelled them past Michigan in all three components of the BCS formula: the Harris Poll, USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll, and the computer rankings. Fans looking for a deeper breakdown of the rating methods can review the BCS rankings and formula to see how each component contributed to late-season movement.
With that, USC found itself one win away from another national title appearance — needing only to defeat UCLA in their annual rivalry game on December 2 to secure a trip to Glendale, Arizona, for the 2007 BCS National Championship Game against top-ranked Ohio State.
🏈 The State of the Title Race
As of this ranking, Ohio State remained the undisputed No. 1 team, holding the top position in every poll and computer model. Michigan, following its narrow loss to the Buckeyes, slipped to No. 3 but remained within striking distance should USC falter.
Florida, which had recently defeated Florida State, stayed at No. 4, leaving a narrow possibility of a rematch between Ohio State and Michigan if both USC and Florida stumbled.
Behind the top four, LSU and Louisville rose into the top six, while Notre Dame, Arkansas, and West Virginia saw their title hopes fade after late-season defeats.
🏟️ Late-Season Movement
- Notre Dame fell from No. 5 to No. 10 following its loss to USC.
- Arkansas, which was preparing for the SEC Championship Game against Florida, dropped from No. 6 to No. 9 after losing to LSU.
- West Virginia’s upset loss to South Florida sent the Mountaineers tumbling to No. 15.
- Boise State, now 12–0, remained at No. 8, keeping its hopes alive for another major bowl appearance as the top non-BCS conference representative.
With one week remaining in the regular season, only three teams — Ohio State, USC, and Florida — were still viewed as legitimate contenders for the 2006 national title. This narrowing of contenders illustrates how eligibility criteria for ranked teams shaped access to the championship game during the BCS era.
📊 Late November 2006 BCS Standings
| Rank | Team | Record | Harris Rank | Coaches Rank | Computer Avg | BCS Avg |
| 1 | Ohio State | 12–0 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 1.000 |
| 2 | USC | 10–1 | 2 | 2 | .940 | .946 |
| 3 | Michigan | 11–1 | 3 | 3 | .930 | .922 |
| 4 | Florida | 11–1 | 4 | 4 | .890 | .890 |
| 5 | LSU | 10–2 | 5 | 5 | .830 | .811 |
| 6 | Louisville | 10–1 | 7 | 7 | .780 | .762 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 11–1 | 6 | 6 | .590 | .710 |
| 8 | Boise State | 12–0 | 9 | 9 | .720 | .674 |
| 9 | Arkansas | 10–2 | 8 | 8 | .660 | .662 |
| 10 | Notre Dame | 10–2 | 10 | 12 | .670 | .626 |
(Standings continued through rank 25; BYU and Hawaii rounded out the list.)
📅 Historical Significance
This ranking release captured the tension of the 2006 season — a year marked by shifting momentum and intense debate over who deserved a shot at the title. USC’s late-season climb, combined with the enduring dominance of Ohio State, created one of the most closely watched championship races of the BCS era.The standings also reflected the increasing visibility of non–automatic qualifying programs such as Boise State, which would go on to earn a landmark victory over Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
