University of Houston Athletics
Football Continues Rise in BCS Standings, National Polls
11/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
BCS Standings (Nov. 1, 2009) in PDF Format 
HOUSTON - Off a thrilling, last-minute win in front of the hometown fans, the University of Houston football team continued its rise in both national polls and the latest Bowl Championship Series standings Sunday evening.
The Cougars rose three places to No. 15 in the latest BCS standings, compiling a .4209 average. Houston ranked behind No. 14 USC and ahead of No. 16 Ohio State.
With their upward move of three places, the Cougars joined Cincinnati for the biggest jump in this week's BCS standings. Cincinnati move from No. 8 to No. 5 in the latest standings.
This is the highest that a C-USA team has been ranked in the BCS standings since 2004 but marked the second straight year that a C-USA team earned a place among the top-25 leaders at any point during the season.
The Cougars moved to No. 13 from No. 15 in the most recent Associated Press poll, earning 707 points to stand behind No. 12 USC and ahead of No. 14 Pittsburgh.
Houston also moved up one place to No. 15 with 672 points in the latest USA Today Coaches' poll. Pittsburgh stood at No. 14 with 694 points, while Utah ranked at No. 16 with 567 points
The Cougars are fresh off a 50-43 win against Conference USA-rival Southern Miss on Saturday on John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium. After the Golden Eagles scored to tie the game in the final minute, the Cougar offense marched 77 yards in only 36 seconds and took the lead for good when junior quarterback Case Keenum hit sophomore wide receiver Patrick Edwards on a 28-yard touchdown with only 21 seconds remaining.
That also was the Cougars' 13th straight home win at Robertson Stadium. Houston has not lost at home since the 2007 season.
This marked the sixth week that the Cougars have been ranked during the 2009 regular season, the most since 1990.
ABOUT THE BCS
The Harris Interactive Poll, USA Today Coaches Poll and computer rankings each comprise one-third of the BCS Standings. To derive the three percentages, each team is assigned an inverse point total (25 for No. 1, 24 for No. 2 etc.). The two poll percentages are calculated by dividing each team's point total by a maximum of 2,850 possible points (Harris) and 1,475 points (USA Today).
The computer rankings percentage is calculated by dropping the highest and lowest ranking for each team and then dividing the remaining total by 100 (the maximum possible points).
The BCS Average is calculated by averaging the percentage totals of the Harris Interactive Poll, USA Today Poll and computer rankings.
The team's BCS Averages are ranked to produce the BCS Standings.
The six computer ranking providers are Anderson & Hester, Richard Billingsley, Colley Matrix, Kenneth Massey, Jeff Sagarin and Peter Wolfe. Each computer ranking provider accounts for schedule strength within its formula.
UP NEXT
The Cougars return to action at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, when they face Conference USA-rival Tulsa in a key West Division matchup. Saturday's win against Southern Miss, combined with UTEP's loss to UAB, moved into the Cougars into a tie with SMU for first place in the West Division.
The Cougars return to the friendly confines of John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium at noon, Nov. 21, when they play to Conference USA-rival Memphis.
RADIO/TELEVISION INFORMATION
Fans can hear Saturday's game live on 790 AM The Sports Animal with Tom Franklin calling the play-by-play action, Ted Pardee providing color analysis and Chuck Brown reporting from the sideline. The pregame show is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m., Saturday.
LIVE STATS INFORMATION
Fans can follow live stats over the Internet by clicking the Gametracker link at UHCougars.com.
