in the same fashion."

Former Kentucky and Oregon coach Rich Brooks said he wasn't swayed to move Alabama from No. 2 after routing the Sooners, citing Oklahoma's three losses.

Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger reporter Tom Luicci said prior to Oklahoma State's win that he would keep Alabama at No. 2 no matter what the Cowboys did. "Only one team in the country has come close to LSU," Luicci said. "So, to me, it's case closed."

Washington Times reporter Patrick Stevens, who didn't get to watch much of Saturday's games due to work obligations, said he will vote Alabama No. 2 "by a nose."

"Oklahoma State lost in overtime to Iowa State and Alabama had every opportunity to beat the best team in the country," he said.

Kansas City Star reporter Blair Kerkhoff is goingas is the case this season.

Big East and Conference USA officials said earlier this week they expected that if the SEC got only two up in the BCS, their leagues would play in Birmingham. The SEC will stay at two in the BCS since LSU defeated Georgia.

Because the SEC won't be in Birmingham, a higher team in the Big East pecking order goes to the Liberty Bowl to play the SEC. That will likely be Cincinnati to play Vanderbilt.

That leaves the BBVA Compass with a fairly unattractive Big East option for both sides: Pittsburgh, again. CBSSports.com reported the Big East told Pitt it's going to the BBVA Compass but the Panthers are resisting and it's up in the air.

Pitt (6-6), which has beaten one Football Bowl Subdivision team