Auburn moves to No. 4 in latest BCS rankings; Alabama, Florida State hold steady

Gus Malzahn (left) and quarterback Nick Marshall can make a run at the BCS title game if they take down Alabama. (Pouya Dianat/SI)

A week before one of the biggest Iron Bowls in SEC history, Auburn has moved to No. 4 in the latest BCS rankings.

The Tigers are set to face No. 1 Alabama at home on Saturday in a rivalry game that will determine the winner of the SEC West. The Crimson Tide remain atop the BCS this week, followed by Florida State, Ohio State, Auburn and Missouri.

This week's complete BCS rankings:

1. Alabama

2. Florida State

3. Ohio State

4. Auburn

5. Missouri

6. Clemson

7. Oklahoma State

8. Stanford

9. Baylor

10. South Carolina

11. Michigan State

12. Arizona State

13. Oregon

14. Northern Illinois

15. Wisconsin

16. Fresno State

17. LSU

18. Oklahoma

19. UCF

20. Louisville

21. Texas A&M

22. UCLA

23. USC

24. Duke

25. Notre Dame

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A few thoughts:

• One season removed from a 3-9 overall record and a winless mark in the SEC, Auburn is very much alive in both the SEC and BCS title pictures. Baylor's loss to Oklahoma State this weekend helped the Tigers move up to No. 4 in the rankings, and if Gus Malzahn's crew is able to knock off the Crimson Tide on the Plains they would likely face Missouri in the SEC Championship Game for a shot at a BCS-title berth. Not a bad turnaround for Malzahn's first season on the job.

• Most expected to see Baylor holding court at No. 3 in the BCS this week, but thanks to the Bears' shocking loss at Oklahoma State that didn't happen. Instead Ohio State remains the No. 3 team heading into this weekend's rivalry game with Michigan. If No. 1 Alabama falls in the upcoming Iron Bowl, could the Buckeyes jump a one-loss Crimson Tide squad in the BCS title hunt? And how would Auburn factor into the mix against an unbeaten Ohio State squad, one likely to boast a Big Ten title-game victory over Michigan State on its résumé?

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Huskies

Jordan Lynch