Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/204831
Under the Dome Point ✦ Counterpoint: Is Notre Dame's Place In The Top 25 Polls A Potential Problem? Running Out Of Climbing Room Just Take Care of Business By Dan Murphy By Andrew Owens Notre Dame entered the month of November The day after Notre Dame's win at Air Force ranked No. 25 in the BCS standings and the USA Oct. 26, the polls were released and, much to Irish Today coaches' poll, and waitfans' dismay, the program was ing at the doorstep of the Asnot ranked in the Associated sociated Press' top 25. The Press poll and was 25th in the Irish are running out of time BCS and coaches' listings. First, to climb back up the ladder. the AP poll has no practical Notre Dame needs to jump value as it is not a component in 11 spots to qualify for a BCS the BCS formula. The coaches' bowl, and the only possibilpoll makes up one-third of ity for a truly validating win the BCS rankings, which are of comes against Stanford. A win course the ultimate deciders for over the Cardinal could lose the elite postseason bowls. some luster, though, if StanSocial media and message ford loses to Oregon and USC boards lit up with concerns in the next two weeks. over why the Irish were behind A 10‑2 Irish team is a slam Head coach Brian Kelly's team needs two teams they beat (Michigan dunk for the BCS in most years, to takes care of business in its final State and Arizona State) and if but with eight teams starting four games to have a shot at a BCS they could sustain a late-season November without a loss, and berth. push strong enough to even photo by bill panzica qualify for the top‑14 BCS reseveral other respectable programs ahead of Notre Dame in the polls and in the quirement. If Notre Dame wins out to finish 10‑2, win column, gaining ground won't be easy. The there is very little to worry about. Fans forget that biggest potential threats are undefeated Fresno plenty of ranked teams will suffer a loss or even State and Northern Illinois, teams that could stake multiple losses in the season's final month. Climbing a claim to at-large bids if they finish the season from 25th to 14th with six weeks of other teams without a loss. dropping and with two quality opponents remaining The more worrisome part for Irish fans, however, on the schedule should be enough to calm Notre may be the nationwide trend for teams that fall Dame fans' nerves. off fast after a trip to the title game. In four of the Remember in early November 2012 when Notre last five years, one of the two teams to play for a Dame appeared to be on the outside looking in of national championship in the previous season has the BCS National Championship Game? The Irish ranked 24th or lower in the polls after 10 weeks of took care of business and the rest solved itself. the season. Notre Dame joins Auburn, Texas and There's a much better chance of a 10‑2 Notre Oklahoma in that category, and all three of those Dame team ascending into the top 14 this year schools have been underperformers since their than finishing the regular season No. 1 after Alarespective title shots. bama, Oregon and Kansas State all lost a year ago.