Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME DO THE IRISH DESERVE A TRIP TO THE BCS CHAMPIONSHIP IF THEY FINISH 12-0? Point ✦ Counterpoint: Irish Deserve To Get In standings and which two teams will square off in January for a national championship, remember: It's out of your control. Really, it's out of Notre Dame's control. Sure, the Fighting Irish, ranked third in the BCS poll prior to facing Pittsburgh, do dictate whether or not they're part of the conver- sation based on winning out, which includes a season finale at USC that will have the biggest impact. Other than that, it's up to human voters and computer algorithms. If all things remain the same Before anyone gets too worked up about the BCS By Wes Morgan through the final week, and No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Kansas State, No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 4 Oregon all re- main undefeated, there's a very good possibility Notre Dame — which is the only team to have beaten four Associated Press top-25 opponents this season — will get snubbed. The Fighting Irish have also beaten two teams in the top 10, the only program that can say that. Notre Dame's schedule, thought Not Necessarily Head coach Brian Kelly's Irish are the only team to have beaten four Associated Press top-25 opponents so far this season, but will that be enough to earn them a spot in the BCS title game if they win out? PHOTO BY MIKE BENNETT/LIGHTHOUSE IMAGING to be the most difficult before the start of the season, hasn't turned out to be as impossible as originally expected. But it's still tougher than those of Kansas State and Oregon. The Ducks scheduled Arkansas State, Fresno State and Tennessee Tech outside of their Pacific-12 opponents. K-State's nonconference slate included home games against Missouri State and North Texas. It might not be enough of a distinction to get the ultimate ironic farewell to the worst playoff system in sports. Notre Dame is staring down the distinct possibility of finishing 12-0 with what was deemed the country's toughest schedule in August and missing out on a title shot. That would be the same Notre Dame that was harangued in the past for using its ubiqui- tous brand to push its way into bowl games in which it did not belong. The Irish are finally good enough to earn a spot in the BCS, and maybe the championship game, unmarred by claims that they're only there to sell tickets. Only this time there may be no room at the Inn. The SEC champs Somebody cue Alanis Morissette. This could be By Dan Murphy Notre Dame in the title game, which would be one of the last mistakes the BCS makes in its controver- sial history. it's not Alabama, the team that can find a way to ebb the Crimson Tide deserves a chance to win it all. That leaves Notre Dame, Kansas State and Oregon to fight it out for a seat in the challenger's corner. The Wildcats have the easiest path from 8-0 to 12-0. They deserve to fade behind Oregon or the Irish if either of the latter goes unbeaten. But the Ducks have a tough Pac-12 slate in the next three weeks before having to win a confer- ence championship game. If Chip Kelly and Brian Kelly both finish unbeaten, Chip should get his chance ahead of Brian. have one spot in Mi- ami locked down. If