Amid the weirdness, 10 college football teams remain undefeated

The strangest half a season in memory is over and a lot of it was forgettable.

The Big 12 Conference will be home for Christmas, just barely, but check back regarding the Big East Conference.

Texas A&M followed through on plans to join the Southeastern Conference, the one big lead the Aggies haven’t blown this year.

The departure suspends a rivalry with Texas that started in 1894. Texas A&M called Texas about continuing the series but Texas said “let me check my schedule” and reported it was booked through 2018.

Missouri, a school that has never won a Big 12 football title, is holding everyone hostage as it contemplates moving to the SEC.

This is more dumbfounding than Texas A&M, a school with one Big 12 title, previously holding everyone hostage.

Arizona Coach Mike Stoops and Tulane’s Bob Toledo didn’t make it to the finish line and the stopwatch is ticking on UCLA’s Rick Neuheisel.

Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson, a transfer from North Carolina State, has electrified Madison and was this season’s biggest steal until the Cincinnati Bengals swindled the Oakland Raiders in the NFL.

Biggest surprise: Kansas State.

Coach of the year so far: Bill Snyder, Kansas State.

Biggest flop: Florida State, 4-3 after starting No. 5 in the USA Today preseason coaches’ poll.

Second-half team to watch: Notre Dame. The Irish have won four games in a row since turning the ball over 10 times in losses to South Florida and Michigan that came by a total of seven points.

Looking forward, 10 undefeated teams remain and, believe it or not, some actually are in contention for the national title.

Here’s a look at those schools, in order of their chances of playing for the Bowl Championship Series title:

1. Alabama (7-0): Louisiana State is No. 1 in the first BCS standings and has impressive nonconference wins over Oregon and West Virginia. But that doesn’t matter because Louisiana State and Alabama are playing Nov. 5.

Alabama has been our No. 1 since the start and, as we expected, is growing up on the job. Alabama also gets Louisiana State in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

No coach in America has more laser-focus than Nick Saban, who considers “outside noise” anything beyond his office door. Reporters agitated Saban this week with questions about conference expansion and other bothersome annoyances.

“I could give a [bleep] about that, excuse my French,” Saban barked. “I mean, come on, let’s talk about the game.”

Saban does not suffer fools — or smart people — gladly.

2. Louisiana State (7-0): These are your guys if you believe in Les Miles, destiny and maybe even voodoo. The Tigers have won the last two BCS title games played in New Orleans and guess where they’re playing this season’s game?

The Tigers don’t need luck to win the title but is getting some. For the third consecutive week, Louisiana State faces a team with fresh meat at quarterback.

Louisiana State played Florida the week after the Gators lost their top two quarterbacks to injuries and Tennessee a week after it lost Tyler Bray. This week, Auburn’s Clint Moseley makes his first start at Baton Rouge, La.

3. Oklahoma (6-0): The Sooners don’t need to care about being No. 3 in the first BCS standings because the teams ahead of them must play each other. Oklahoma only needs to keep winning through what essentially is its title-game play-in game at Oklahoma State on Dec. 3.

Oklahoma should care about three turnovers and misfiring in the red zone during an otherwise predictable 47-17 win at Kansas last week. Oklahoma State scored 56 points on Kansas in two quarters.

4. Oklahoma State (6-0): The Cowboys control their destiny. Last week’s victory at Texas was huge given that Oklahoma State was 3-22 against the Longhorns. The Cowboys are No. 1 in the BCS computer index despite a defense that ranks No. 100.

5. Stanford (6-0): The Cardinal is lagging at No. 8 in the BCS standings because it hasn’t really been tested. Stanford has won 14 games in a row by an average of 28.8 points, but has not defeated a team this season that has a winning record. That’s about to change as the Cardinal faces Washington, USC, Oregon and Notre Dame between now and Thanksgiving weekend.

6. Wisconsin (6-0): A lot will depend on how the Badgers fare against the back end of their Big Ten Conference schedule. Wisconsin isn’t afraid of piling on points to improve its poll position, but has no remaining games against schools ranked in the BCS top 15.

7. Boise State (6-0): The Broncos have a signature win over Georgia and appear poised to go 12-0, but because of a weaker schedule, need a lot of undefeated teams to lose to reach the BCS title game.

8. Clemson (7-0): The Tigers have had a remarkable year but could easily get squeezed out, even at 13-0. Impressive wins over Auburn and Florida State may not look as good if those teams continue to absorb losses down the stretch. South Carolina, a future Clemson opponent, may be severely diminished with the loss of star back Marcus Lattimore to a season-ending knee injury.

9. Kansas State (6-0): The Wildcats control their fate all the way to the BCS title game. However, we’re just not ready to grasp that wild prospect. Kansas State still has to play Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas. If Snyder coaches his team through that meat-grinder, wouldn’t it have earned the right to play an undefeated Louisiana State-Alabama winner?

10. Houston (6-0): Sorry, not even that big win over UCLA will be enough to propel Conference USA’s Cougars to the BCS title game. One-loss Oregon and Arkansas (and others) would be infinitely better positioned for title consideration.

Houston, No. 19 in the first BCS standings, could earn a spot in a BCS bowl berth if it finishes as the top non-automatic-qualifier champion ranked in the top 12. In other words, finish undefeated and hope Boise State loses.

chris.dufresne@latimes.com