2011 BCS Rankings, Week 9: Michigan State Moves To No. 11

Michigan State's upset of Wisconsin has paid off in terms of the BCS rankings. The Spartans are now the highest rated team in the Big Ten at No. 11 after they upset the Badgers on the final play of Saturday night's primetime contest. Michigan State has quite a ways to go in order to reach the BCS title game, but they are well positioned for the teams with one loss. Only the Oregon Ducks, Oklahoma Sooners and Arkansas Razorbacks have a loss ahead of them in the BCS standings:

1. LSU

2. Alabama

3. Oklahoma State

4. Boise State

5. Clemson

6. Stanford

7. Oregon

8. Kansas State

9. Oklahoma

10. Arkansas

11. Michigan State

12. Virginia Tech

13. South Carolina

14. Nebraska

15. Wisconsin

The Spartans will have a chance to gain ground next week when they face the No. 14 Nebraska Cornhuskers in a key Legends Division battle. The better that Wisconsin does going forward will also help Michigan State. The Badgers now have a tough road game at Ohio State next week.

College Football Rankings: AP Top 25 Ranks Michigan State 9th

Michigan State jumped from 13th to 10th in the new USA Today Poll. That seemed like quite a rise considering so few teams in front of MSU lost, but the Spartans' jump in the AP Top 25 was even bigger. MSU went from 15th last week to ninth in the new AP Top 25. Voters were extremely impressed with their win over Wisconsin, and they have rewarded the Spartans by making them a top 10 team in the Week 9 polls.

Here's a full look at the new AP Top 25:

1. LSU (49)

2. Alabama (10)

3. Oklahoma State

4. Stanford

5. Boise State (1)

6. Clemson

7. Oregon

8. Arkansas

9. Michigan State

10. Kansas State

11. Oklahoma

12. Wisconsin

13. Nebraska

14. South Carolina

15. Virginia Tech

16. Texas A&M

17. Michigan

18. Houston

19. Texas Tech

20. USC

21. Penn State

22. Georgia

23. Arizona State

24. Cincinnati

25. West Virginia

Just like the USA Today Poll, Michigan is 17th in the AP Top 25.

College Football Rankings: USA Today Poll Moves Michigan State To No. 10

Even though Michigan State beat Wisconsin on Saturday night, there was no guarantee the new college football rankings would move the Spartans up more than a couple spots. Because only a couple teams in front of them lost, a top 10 ranking seemed a bit unlikely. However, the new rankings are out, and the Spartans have in fact achieved top 10 status.

Here's a look at the USA Today Poll, which now has MSU 10th in the nation:

1. LSU (41)

2. Alabama (18)

3. Stanford

4. Oklahoma State

5. Boise State

6. Clemson

7. Oregon

8. Arkansas

9. Oklahoma

10. Michigan State

11. Wisconsin

12. Kansas State

13. Nebraska

14. South Carolina

15. Virginia Tech

16. Texas A&M

17. Michigan

18. Houston

19. Penn State

20. Arizona State

21. Georgia

22. Texas Tech

23. Cincinnati

24. West Virginia

25. Southern Miss

Michigan, which had a bye, stayed at No. 17 in the USA Today Poll. With Purdue coming to town next week, Michigan will have a chance to inch back into the top 15 with a win.

College Football Rankings: Michigan State Cements Spot In Top 15

Michigan State's win over Wisconsin means the Spartans will be in the top 15 in next week's college football rankings. It's unlikely they will jump to the top 10, though.