Technically, Missouri and West Virginia might still have a chance, too, to become the first two-loss team to play in the title game. Still, Palm said it’s hard to imagine either surviving given the size of Missouri’s loss and the magnitude of West Virginia’s upset.

Of course, with the title game still in the air, it’s hard to figure how the rest of the BCS games will be slotted.

That traditional USC-Ohio State dream matchup in the Rose Bowl is gone. Now, USC-Illinois is the best hope of getting a Big Ten-Pac-10 meeting in the “Granddaddy of ’Em All.” The Rose Bowl might also pick a team from outside its favored conferences.

Virginia Tech would be an Orange Bowl participant if it doesn’t make the title game. West Virginia, still the Big East champ and a BCS team despite its loss, might have a spot in this game, too.

Oklahoma, which wasn’t looking like BCS material before Saturday’s win, is now a Fiesta Bowl candidate, which will knock Kansas, Missouri or both out of the BCS picture. Arizona State won Saturday night to keep its Fiesta hopes alive.

LSU can plan on a trip to New Orleans; the Tigers would play in the Sugar Bowl the week before the title game if they’re passed over for the championship.

Another Sugar Bowl slot was expected to go to No. 11 Hawaii after the Warriors completed a perfect regular season with a 35-28 victory over Washington.

MORE FROM COLLEGE FOOTBALL

College football Section Front

SEC not all it’s cracked up to be Bowl Projections: Big Ten blows BCS spot Opinion: 10 bowl matchups that would be a treat CFT: ‘By the numbers’ — McCoy goes for record CFT: Iowa’s Stanzi could return for bowl game CFT: Meyer says Florida ‘lacking the big hits’ Tribe stops school from dropping nickname   Vote: Which is the best conference? CFT: Mystery over for No. 5 Cincinnati — Pike will sit Iowa-Ohio St. in-depth video preview, analysis College football Section Front   Add College football headlines to your news reader: