This week, we can look at the excitement on the field and the craziness of the BCS standings and the two major football polls as prime examples of why we might never know who the best teams are.

A week ago, Penn State was third in both The Associated Press and USA Today polls and No. 3 in the BCS standings. With No. 1 Texas losing last week, the Nittany Lions didn’t move into one of the precious top two spots. Last week, once-beaten USC, which was fifth in the BCS, routed Washington 56-0 and it dropped two places in the rankings.

"I think it stinks. I don’t think it’s the way it should be," USC coach Pete Carroll said concerning this twisted BCS process. "But all we can do is keep talking about it. I don’t understand how the thing works, I don’t really know. Maybe you guys will answer for it one of these days. Maybe you know and I don’t. I’m sure you do.

“What is the criteria of the process? Is it to pick the team that has the best season, that has the season that you like the most and feel best about voting for? Or is it the best team at the end of the year, the team that would win a playoff system if you did have it?”

Last week, once-beaten Oklahoma was fourth in the BCS rankings and both the AP and USA Today polls. The Sooners then went out and trounced Nebraska by 34 points (62-28) and fell two places in the BCS and AP polls.

“I imagine it has a little to do with who plays who, and at what time,” said OU coach Bob Stoops during his weekly conference call on Monday. “All I know is we still have three big games left (including back-to-back games with Texas Tech and Oklahoma State to finish out the regular season). ...There’s a lot that can happen and all we can do is take care of business. ...I can say whatever (about the system), but if we don’t go out and win, all I’ve done is wasted a lot of breath.”

But even if Stoops and the Sooners “take care of business,” that infernal BCS computer could still be sitting there waiting to ruin or make their day. The Big 12 South is arguably the strongest group of teams in the country, and before this season ends, there could be a three-way tie among Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. That would happen if Texas and Oklahoma win out and Texas Tech's only loss is at Oklahoma on Nov. 22.

Guess how the South division champ is decided then?

Whoever has the highest ranking in the BCS standings.

Gawd, I loath that darned computer.

Also on NBCSports.com Howard: Look at what Agassi is now, not was PFT: Cowboys on rise in our power rankings NCAA FB: Ready for player exodus?  |    Top juniors   MLB blog: A look at the top 111 free agents Twitter: Follow us @nbc_sports

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