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‘Bama vaults to 3rd in BCS standings

Ralph D. Russo Associated Press

NEW YORK – Alabama is on deck.

The Crimson Tide moved into third place – slightly ahead of Miami – in the Bowl Championship Series standings Monday, putting unbeaten ‘Bama in position to play for a national title if Southern California or Texas stumbles down the stretch.

The first-place Trojans and Longhorns remain locked into the top two spots and on course to play for college football’s championship at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4.

USC raised its BCS average to .9802 this week and kept its lead on Texas (.9765). For the first time in the BCS’ eight-year history, the same teams have held the top two spots for the first four standings. USC has been in first for three weeks and Texas one.

And they’re both way ahead of Alabama. The Tide has a BCS average of .8814, leaving it barely ahead of Miami (.8805). This is Alabama’s best showing ever in the BCS standings.

The Hurricanes (7-1) defeated previously unbeaten Virginia Tech 27-7 on Saturday to make it possible for both them and the Tide to move up two spots this week. The Hokies had been third in the BCS standings.

“It really doesn’t matter right now, because the bowls aren’t next week and they’re not this week,” Tide linebacker DeMeco Ryans said Monday. “The season isn’t over yet, so being 3 or 4 isn’t a big deal.”

Penn State is fifth, followed by Virginia Tech, LSU, Ohio State, Georgia and Oregon. Like Miami, all have one loss. No team with one loss has ever been ranked lower than fourth at this point in the season and played in the BCS title game.

Notre Dame (6-2) moved up three spots to 11th, meaning the Fighting Irish are in place to become BCS eligible by winning their final three games. Notre Dame needs at least nine regular-season wins and a final BCS ranking in the top 12 to be eligible for selection by one of college football’s four big-dollar bowl games.

Alabama is facing a difficult stretch run with LSU coming to Tuscaloosa on Saturday and the Iron Bowl at Auburn on Nov. 19. If the Tide survives, it’d play in the SEC title game.