Yes, Ohio State can win a national championship in 2012

Despite not being eligible for the postseason, Ohio State can still win the national championship. Or a share of one, at least.

The Buckeyes' NCAA ban prohibits them from participating in any games beyond Saturday's date with Michigan, meaning undefeated OSU can't even meet Nebraska in early December as the winner of the Big Ten Leaders Division.

But it's not just Alabama, Georgia, Florida State and Florida who were helped by Oregon and Kansas State losing on Saturday: It's also Ohio State, which is now only one of two undefeated teams left in the FBS, along with Notre Dame.

OSU won't win the BCS, of course – seeing that you have to actually play in the BCS to take home that specific hardware. But the Buckeyes could conceivably end the year ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press poll, which the program could then list as an official national championship.

All it would take is a loss by Notre Dame, either against USC on Saturday or during the BCS championship game. If that happens, OSU would be the last perfect team left standing.

Up next, voters in the poll – media members – would have to make the executive decision to put a 12-0 Ohio State team No. 1, ahead of other potential options like 12-1 Alabama, 11-1 Notre Dame, 12-1 Oregon, 11-1 Kansas State and so on.

It could happen, and you might want to be at least somewhat prepared. There have been split titles in the BCS era, though none involving a team under NCAA probation.

In 2003, LSU won the BCS championship game against Oklahoma and was named No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. USC, which beat Michigan 28-14 in the Rose Bowl, was named No. 1 in the final Associated Press poll.