re: I get the unhappiness with Ohio State jumping LSU, but why would you want them to lose?

Not sure if you are serious...
It was only 5 years ago.

Here is a closer look at how the math that produces the BCS rating works. There are four components that contribute to a team's rank.

Subjective polla
Computer rankings
Strength of a team's schedule
Number of Losses

Each of these factors is represented by a numerical value. Teams are assigned a certain number of points for their performance in each category. These four values are then totaled to produce a team's final score. The team with the lowest point total gets the number one spot for the week.

This link gives a detailed look into the 4 factors
how stuff works BCS rankings