The first BCS standings are out, and Boise State is already chasing a couple of teams from the power conferences.

Oklahoma was first, and Oregon was second Sunday, with Boise State in third place and in need of plenty of help to become the first team from a conference without an automatic Bowl Championship Series bid to play for the BCS title.

Jerry Palm, who analyzes the BCS standings at collegebcs.com, said despite a better early season showing in the polls than ever before, Boise State is a long shot to play for the national championship.

“They just need too much to happen to get excited about their chances,” Palm said.

With 10 undefeated teams in major-college football, there’s serious potential for BCS controversy this season, even beyond whether Boise State from the Western Athletic Conference or maybe a Mountain West Conference team such as TCU or Utah gets a chance to play in the biggest BCS game.

The Sooners from the Big 12 and Ducks from the Pac-10 begin this race from the front row, but they can’t quite say they’re in control of it. Only once in 12 seasons of the BCS have the teams that were at the top of the first standings played in the championship game: 2005 with USC and Texas.