NEW YORK (AP) — Rarely better than No. 2 in its own state, Oklahoma State is now the Big 12’s best bet to play for a national championship.

The Cowboys moved up to third Sunday in the BCS standings, replacing rival Oklahoma as the team behind LSU and Alabama best positioned to reach the national title game. It’s Oklahoma State’s best showing in the BCS standings.

First-place LSU and second-place Alabama will play on Nov. 5 in Tuscaloosa. The winner will have the inside track to reach the BCS championship game in New Orleans.

The Southeastern Conference has had at least one team first or second in 26 of the last 27 standings, dating to Dec. 2, 2007.

Oklahoma, which lost at home to 41-38 to Texas Tech, dropped to ninth and Wisconsin, which lost on the last play 37-31 at Michigan State, fell to 15th.

The BCS standings use the coaches’ poll, the Harris poll and a compilation of six computer ratings to determine which teams play in the five marquee bowls.