Seminole Win Clouds Bowl Picture

AP--Try this scenario: Ohio State completes the season with a perfect record, finishes No. I in the polls and does not get invited to play for the national championship.

Or this: Florida State ends up with one loss, finishes fifth in the polls and winds up with a ticket to Tempe to play for the title in the Fiesta Bowl.

Welcome to the unknown world of the Bowl Championship Series, where strength-of-schedule and power ratings count more than ever in college football's new plan to crown a true national champion.

Today, the first BCS standings will be released, The standings, based on a complex formula giving equal weight to the polls, computer ratings, strength-of-schedule and won-loss records, will determine who plays in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 4. The standings will be updated weekly, with the final list set to be released on Dec. 6.

The top-ranked Buckeyes (7-0) may win the rest of their games, but a weak schedule could knock them out of the 1-2 slots in the BCS standings.

On Saturday, Ohio State got no help with its strength-of-schedule as it beat a weak Northwestern team 36-10, while two of its toughest earlier opponents West Virginia and Missouri lost. The Buckeyes have only one Top 25 opponent left- No. 22 Michigan.

Florida State (7-1), meanwhile, has a good chance to gain ground under the new system. After a 34-7 win over No. 23 Georgia Tech on Saturday, the Seminoles moved up a spot to No. 5 and have two tough games left No. 15 Virginia and No. 6 Florida, They also have an earlier win over No. 8 Texas A&M.

No. 2 UCLA, a 28-16 winner over California, also had a productive day, Not only did the Bruins (6-0) remain unbeaten, but their strength-of-schedule received a boost form wins by Texas, Miami, Arizona and Oregon. UCLA plays its rescheduled game against the Hurricanes on Dec. 5. The Bruins have beaten Texas, Arizona and Oregon.

For those who thought the polls alone created enough reasons to argue about who's No. 1, have fun when the BCS standings take over. That's when it'll also be time to ask: Who's o 2?

Ohio St. 36, Northwestern 10

At Evanston. III., David Boston broke a school record with his 27th and 28th career TD catches as the Buckeyes (7-0-,4-0 Big Ten) beat the wildcats (2-6, 0-5) for the 21st straight time. Joe Germaine had his third straight 300-yard game, throwing for 342 yards and three TDs.

Ohio state coach John Cooper said the win wasn't pretty , but he'll take it.

"I've been in it long enough that I appreciate a victory," Cooper said. "It may be ugly, it may not be as one-sided as some people would have liked for it to have been, but I'll take it and day of the week."

UCLA 28, California 16

At Berkeley, Calif., the Bruins (6-0, 4-0 Pac-10) won their 16th a row as Cade McNown threw for two TDs and Jermaine Lewis ran for one and passed for another.

McNown was 15 of 27 for 182 yards and also scrambled for 57 yards as the Bruins are off to their best start since opening 7-0 in 1988.

Tennessee 35, Alabama 18

At Knoxville, Tenn., Peerless Price broke open a close game with a 100-yard kickoff return in the third quarter for the Volunteers (6-0, 4-0 SEC) beat the Crimson Tide (4-3, 2-3) for the fourth year in a row.

Kansas St. 52, Iowa St. 7

AT Manhattan, Kan., Michael Bishop threw for 216 yards and three TD passes before limping to the sideline and Eric Hickson broke Kansas State records for career rushing yards and rushing TDs.

Bishop left with 13 minutes left in the third quarter, and his status for next week's game at Kansas is unclear. The Wildcats (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) increased their winning streak to 15.

Florida St. 34, Georgia Tech 7

At Atlanta, the Seminoles (7-1, 4-1 ACC) broke open a tight game with a 24-point fourth quarter to create a three way tie for the league lead.

Peter Warrick caught two Td passes and scored on a 16-yard reverse, and Laveranues Coles added a 60-yard Td run. The nation's top ranked defense shut down a Tech team that had scored.

40 points in five straight games. The Yellow Jackets (5-2, 4-1) are tied for the ACC lead with Florida State and Virginia.

Nebraska 20, Missouri 13

At Lincoln, Neb., the Tigers (5-2, 3-1) were looking for a miracle catch this time, but couldn't find one as a the Cornhuskers (7-1, 3-1 Big 12) rallied for the win, their 47th in a row at home.

Backup quarterback Monte Christo ran for two second half TDs to give the Huskers the lead, but Missouri had a chance to tie tin the final seconds. At the Huskers' 22 with nine seconds left, Corby Jones' pass went though John Dausman's hands in to end zone, Jones was sacked on the next play to end the game.

Last year, Nebraska tied it on the final play of regulation when Matt Davison caught a pass in the end zone after it was kicked by teammate Shevin Wiggins. The Huskers went on to win in overtime 45-38.

Texas A&M 17, Texas Tech 10

At College Station, Texas holder Shane Lechler threw an 8-yard TD pass to Daniel Campbell on a fake field goal to help the Aggies (7-1, 4-0 Big 12) beat the Red Raiders (6-2, 3-2).

Wisconsin 31, Iowa 0

Row Dayne ran for 164 yards and a TD as Wisconsin (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) won in Iowa City for the first time since 1974. The Badgers won their eight straight game in one season for the first time since 1901.

Other Games

. Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter ran for 144 yards and passed for 147 and Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC) held on for a 28-26 win at Kentucky (5-3, 2-3), which failed to get off a last second, 49-yard field goal attempt.

. Without injured running back Reuben Droughns, Oregon (6-1, 3-1 Pac 10) held off USC (5-3, 3-2) 17-13 at home on quarterback Akili smith's 62-yard Td run early in the fourth quarter.

. At Morgantown, W. VA., Scott Covington hit Daryl Jones with a 3-yard Td pass with 1:37 left to lift Miami (4-2, 1-1 Big East) over West Virginia (4-2, 2-1) 34-31. Edgerrin James had three TDs for the Hurricanes.

. At Tucson, Ariz., Keith Smith threw two TD passes to Dennis Northcutt can ran for a third score, all in the first 15:07, as Arizona (7-1) topped northeast Louisiana 45-7.

. At Charlottesville, Va., Thomas Jones ran for a 117 yards and two TDs as Virginia (6-1, 4-1 ACC) bounced back from a loss to Georgia Tech with a 23-13 win over N.C. State (4-3, 2-2.