The national championship picture became clearer Sunday.

Barring the absolute chaos that afflicted the final weeks in 2007, the survivors of the Big 12 and Southeastern Conference season-long steel-cage matches will meet for the Bowl Championship Series title in Miami.

The title game would represent a fitting climax: the two top teams in the two best conferences going head-to-head. Members of the SEC and Big 12 monopolized the first five spots in this week's BCS standings.

Alabama was atop the standings again, followed by Texas Tech, a solid second choice after Penn State's upset loss at Iowa and now leading the computer rankings. Next on the list: Texas, Florida and Oklahoma.

While Alabama and Texas Tech control their destiny, any of the first five teams remain viable for a championship appearance

"There's a lot of football still to be played," said Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, whose team hosts Texas Tech on Nov. 22, one of several key games.

Tech, which closed the BCS gap significantly on Alabama, can clinch the Big 12 South title and a spot in the conference championship game with a win, even before the regular-season finale with Baylor. All the scenarios don't really matter in Lubbock right now.

The Red Raiders' mission: Win and they're in.

"We've said it all year, that we have a chance to do something special," quarterback Graham Harrell said.

"Being 10-0 is great, but we've still got two more football games ahead of us. "

One of those requires a trip to Norman, where Stoops has compiled a career record of 60-2. The Sooners still remember last season's national title hopes ending with an upset loss in Lubbock, where quarterback Sam Bradford was injured early.

Texas fans now face the strange emotional conflict of rooting for Oklahoma, as a way of opening the door to the BCS.

An Oklahoma win against Tech could conceivably create a three-way tie in the South between OU, Tech and Texas.

In that scenario, the tie-breaker would be the BCS standings.

How much would Tech be punished for a loss at OU? What kind of love would OU get from the computer polls, which have viewed the Sooners skeptically? And would Texas get credit for its 10-point neutral-site win over Oklahoma this season and blame for a one-point loss at Tech?

Even the usual BCS gurus aren't sure what would happen.

The SEC seems more certain.

Alabama and Florida clinched spots in the conference title game with wins Saturday.

Each faces rivalry games en route. A loss would seriously endanger the national championship hopes for either team.

Alabama will play turmoil-plagued Auburn, which has won six straight Iron Bowls.

Florida has to travel to Doak Campbell Stadium to face Florida State. The Gators have won the last four games in the series.

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BOWL PROJECTIONS

BCS title game:

Alabama vs. Texas Tech

Rose Bowl:

Southern California vs. Penn State

FedEx Orange:

North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh

Allstate Sugar Bowl:

Florida vs. Utah

Tostitos Fiesta:

Texas vs. Ohio State

AT&T Cotton:

Oklahoma vs. LSU