Something terrible happened this weekend.

The transgression that transpired wasn’t terrible for Arkansas fans – in fact, it was a good thing. When teams ranked above you lose, it usually works out well.

This calamity, this bummer, was Alabama’s loss to South Carolina.

And it doesn’t matter what team lost. The problem was that Alabama was undefeated, ranked No. 1 in the nation and above some other, let’s call them less-competitive, teams.

I’m talking about Boise State and, to a lesser degree, TCU. After Bama’s loss last weekend, these two teams both jumped up one position in the polls, Boise to No. 3 and TCU to No. 4. And Alabama dropped to No. 8, with no first-place votes to boot.

Yep. Not a typo. The Crimson Tide dropped that far in the polls after an SEC road loss to a top 25 team.

Here’s the problem: Boise State and TCU are now in better position to contend for a spot in the national championship game.

C’mon, they don’t deserve it.

And it may not be their fault. Boise State plays in the Western Athletic Conference and TCU resides in the Mountain West Conference.

They each play soft, soft schedules. Boise squeaked by then No. 10 Virginia Tech in week one. The Hokies then turned around and lost to James Madison, an FCS team. After that, Boise’s schedule featured bangers like Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech and San Jose State.

TCU is only a little better. They feature the likes of New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, SMU and once again, poor old Wyoming.

There’s no incentive for Boise and TCU to try to change conferences or attempt to grab a tougher schedule, either. To climb the rankings, all a team has to do is remain undefeated against cupcakes when other teams drop to juggernauts.

Using this formula and looking at their remaining opponents, TCU and Boise are in a good position to stay where they are at, and most likely to continue to climb. The big-time teams behind them, including Nebraska, Oklahoma, Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, South Carolina and now-forsaken Alabama, won’t leapfrog over them unless the Horned Frogs and Broncos lose. And the two teams above them, Ohio State and Oregon, play in elite conferences.

The Buckeyes have No. 18 Wisconsin, Penn State, No. 15 Iowa and Michigan left. The Ducks battle against USC, No. 17 Arizona and No. 24 Oregon State.

So it seems teams that play tough schedules and hard opponents get punished while teams that reside in easier conferences and feature lesser opponents get rewarded.

What a travesty.

How can there not be a strength-of-schedule component in the BCS? How can Alabama not be rewarded for playing at Arkansas, against Florida and at South Carolina, all in a row? And then playing at LSU and against Auburn later in the season?

Arkansas is in the same boat. The Hogs best not lose at Auburn, at South Carolina or against LSU if they want to remain in the Top 25.

With all the teams switching conferences next year, maybe big-time programs in the SEC, PAC-10 or ACC should look into it.

I hear the MAC is hiring.

Danny Meyer is the assistant sports editor for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Wednesday.