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Iowa still trails Penn State in both the Coaches' and Harris polls, but the Hawkeyes are increasing their lead over the Nittany Lions in the latest BCS standings.

Both teams moved up two spots this week, as Iowa checks in at No. 9 and Penn State at No. 11. But the Hawkeyes now lead Penn State in BCS average by .0529, up from .0253 last week. The computers continue to favor Iowa, which ranks 10th in computer average, nine spots ahead of Penn State. The Lions' win against Temple lost some luster after the Owls fell to Ohio on Saturday.

One of the two squads likely will receive a BCS at-large berth, but both will be eligible, so the bowls could certainly select Penn State.

Ohio State moves up two spots to No. 8 in the BCS standings. The Big Ten is the only league with three teams in the top 12 of the BCS.

Style points might be hurting Iowa in the human polls, but not where it matters most.

The Hawkeyes remained ahead of Penn State in the latest BCS standings, moving up two spots to No. 11 after Saturday's victory against Minnesota. Penn State moved up only one spot to No. 13 after its dominating win against Michigan State, but Oklahoma State is now sandwiched between the two Big Ten squads at No. 12.

It's a safe bet that at least one of those three teams will earn a BCS at-large berth, and possibly two (Oklahoma State and a Big Ten squad). Iowa and Penn State both have completed the regular season, so you'd expect things to stay more or less the same the rest of the way.

Penn State is ranked ahead of Iowa in the AP, Coaches and Harris polls, but the Hawkeyes are well ahead in computer average (10 vs. 18).

Even though Iowa is ahead of Penn State in the BCS standings, the bowls can select any team in the top 14, so Penn State remains in good shape as well. I'll break down the BCS at-large case for each time on Monday.

Ohio State remained at No. 10 in the BCS standings, as the Buckeyes' computer average (11) hurts them. Wisconsin fell out of the standings after its loss to Northwestern.

Iowa fans are outraged today, and they have every right to be.

The fact that the Hawkeyes dropped below both Penn State and Wisconsin in the coaches' poll and below Penn State in both the AP and Harris polls speaks to how little the voters analyze these teams and these games. I thought Iowa earned more national respect in its overtime loss to Ohio State than in several of its too-close-for-comfort victories earlier this season. If it makes Iowa fans feel better, several Big Ten-based voters I spoke with today voted Iowa ahead of Penn State and Wisconsin.

How can so many voters overlook the fact that Iowa beat Penn State by 11 points in Happy Valley and Wisconsin by 10 points in Madison?

Fortunately, Iowa remains ahead of both Penn State and Wisconsin in the latest BCS standings, checking in at No. 13. Iowa dropped three spots after its loss to Ohio State, which moved up a spot to No. 10. Penn State moved up four spots to No. 14 after its win against Indiana, while Wisconsin advanced four spots to No. 16 after thumping Michigan.

All three teams are in good shape to finish in the BCS top 14 if they win their remaining games. A team must finish in the top 14 to be eligible for an at-large berth.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

If you're an Iowa fan, go give your laptop a big kiss. If you own a desktop, wrap your arms around it. Mac or PC, it doesn't matter. You don't discriminate.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have moved up two spots to No. 4 in the BCS standings, and they can thank the computers for the bump. Iowa ranks No. 1 in computer average, the result of three quality road victories and a win against No. 20 Arizona that looks better by the day. Despite an average margin of victory of just 8.88 points, Iowa is getting rewarded for a very strong schedule.

The human voters still need some convincing, as Iowa ranks No. 8 in both the Coaches' Poll and Harris Poll. The Hawkeyes really could use some lopsided wins down the stretch, beginning Saturday against Indiana (ESPN, noon ET). It will be interesting to see what happens if both Iowa and No. 3 Texas run the table, as the Longhorns rank higher in the human polls but are fifth in computer average.

Iowa should continue to root for Arizona and Penn State the rest of the way.

Penn State moved up one spot to No. 12 in the BCS standings, while Ohio State advanced two spots to No. 17. Wisconsin, which was No. 21 in last week's standings, was knocked following its bye week.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The Big Ten regular season wrapped up last week, so neither Penn State nor Ohio State had a chance to improve in the BCS Standings. Not surprisingly, both teams didn't budge when the latest standings came out this afternoon. 

As I've written many times before, it's a crime that Penn State remains No. 8 in the BCS standings, behind both Utah and Texas Tech. The Lions are ranked ahead of the Utes and the Red Raiders in the human polls, but they're a good distance behind No. 5 USC.

Add in a terrible computer average (No. 9), Penn State slips down the BCS standings despite a very impressive regular season. The BCS standing doesn't really matter, as Penn State no longer remains in the national title hunt and can validate its season by beating USC in the Rose Bowl. 

Ohio State held at No. 10, behind BCS at-large competitor Boise State (No. 9). But the Buckeyes likely will get the nod over the Broncos for the final at-large spot after Oregon State stumbled Saturday night against Oregon. Ohio State isn't too popular with the computers, either (No. 11). 

Michigan State dropped two spots to No. 21, and Northwestern moved up two spots to No. 22 despite not being ranked in the computer average. How does that happen?

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The latest BCS standings are out, and quite frankly, Penn State deserves better. 

The Nittany Lions remained at No. 8 despite crushing Michigan State by 31 points. I don't see a whole lot of blemishes on Penn State's record -- the Lions notched 10 of their 11 wins by 14 points or more -- but evidently voters see a team that doesn't belong in the first tier.

Utah shouldn't be ahead of Penn State. Neither should Texas Tech, which looked pathetic Saturday night in Norman. Penn State is a last-minute field goal away from an undefeated season, and the Nittany Lions get no credit for annihilating an Oregon State team that beat USC. 

The Big Ten is viewed as a mediocre-to-bad league right now, and a very good Penn State team is paying the price. It doesn't really matter, since Penn State is Rose Bowl bound no matter what.

Ohio State remained at No. 10 in the BCS standings despite three dominant November victories. It's a bit surprising Boise State remained ahead of the Buckeyes. Michigan State dropped three spots to No. 18 and Northwestern re-entered the standings at No. 24. 

If the Big Ten is going to change its national perception, it will need an extremely strong performance in the postseason. 

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The newest BCS standings are out, and Penn State paid a price for its loss to unranked Iowa. The Nittany Lions slipped from No. 3 to No. 8 after suffering their first setback of the season. Their computer numbers are struggling (tied for 10th), and the voters have slotted them outside the elite group of national championship contenders.

None of this is a surprise. Penn State players and coaches all but acknowledged their hopes for a national championship disappeared at Kinnick Stadium. 

Ohio State remained at No. 11 in the standings despite a 35-point road win at previously ranked Northwestern. Michigan State moved up three spots to No. 15 after improving to 9-2. And that's it for the Big Ten. 

Assuming that Penn State wins its final two games and the Big Ten's BCS tiebreaker that goes with it, Ohio State's position will be interesting to watch if the Buckeyes win out. The final BCS at-large spot could come down to Ohio State and a second non-BCS team (Utah or Boise State). The powers-that-be from the big bowls would have a hard time not choosing the Buckeyes, who boast a sizable fan base and a roster filled with future NFL players. 

So despite Penn State's loss, the Big Ten remains in good shape to get two teams into BCS bowls. 

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

The rest of the country doesn't think much of the Big Ten, but the BCS computers seem to like the league.

Four Big Ten teams appear in this week's BCS standings, led by Penn State at No. 3. Ohio State dropped three spots to No. 12 after Saturday's loss to Penn State, but the Buckeyes are tied for 10th in computer average. Still, Ohio State can officially be cropped from the national title picture.

The surprising Minnesota Golden Gophers rose to No. 17 this week, boosted by a computer ranking that ties for 15th with Ball State. And Michigan State is back in the BCS standings at No. 21. With a computer average that ranks 19th, the Spartans should continue to rise if they beat Wisconsin this week.

Because of the computer averages, Ohio State, Minnesota and Michigan State all rank higher in the BCS standings than in the human polls.