AP #24

[Lillyliverd]

Even if we destroy Pitt, I don't see us getting much of a bump in the polls. If BYU beats Wisconsin, then BYU could slip in to the bottom of the polls and if Notre Dame beats BYU then ND could get a slight bump up. If Stanford remains highly ranked by beating Oregon and if ND also beats Stanford then there is a chance ND gets up to #14.

However, I looked at the schedules of teams with a higher ranking than ND and many of them have favorable schedules. I don't think ND will be getting much help from teams losing.

I also looked at the BCS Notre Dame computer rankings and they are as follows:

Sagarin #31
Anderson & Hester #21
Colley Matrix #21
Massey #23
Wolfe #23
Billingsly #13

BCS throws out the highest and the lowest so that leaves ND with an average computer ranking of #22.

I think Sagarin is on crack this year. He has 5-3 Washington at #18, 4-4 Florida at #22, 4-4 K State at #28. ND is only 3 spots ahead of #34 North Dakota State.

To summarize, I don't think it would be enough for ND to win out to get into a BCS bowl. We also need Stanford and BYU to win all of their remaining games against opponents other than ND. Lots of "ifs".

 

[purguy12]

U never know. Have faith

 

[ChicagoIrish]

Just win out, and we'll be fine.

 

[Irish7478]

Just win out, and we'll be fine.

I agree

 

[NDHoosier101]

Just win out, and we'll be fine.

This. I think it'll be tough to keep a 10-2 ND team out of a BCS game. BYU and Stanford victories would push us over the top.

 

[craigk217]

Even if Stanford was ranked #1 and a miracle win wouldnt push us over the top IMO. Pipe-dreamin ...

This team is what it is ... and has way too many deficiencies to be a top contender in a BCS game. I stopped with the kool-aid after this Navy debacle.

 

[bbirish73]

I only want a bcs bowl if we play a team like Northern Illinois, Louisville, Miami etc????. I want to play a team we can beat.

 

[bksballer89]

If we win out and don't get to a BCS game I'll be fine. At the end of the day a 10-2 season with or without a BCS game is a great season with Rees as our QB

 

[bksballer89]

I only want a bcs bowl if we play a team like Northern Illinois, Louisville, Miami etc????. I want to play a team we can beat.

I want Oklahoma again. I feel like we let that one get away and would love another crack at them.

 

[craigk217]

I want Oklahoma again. I feel like we let that one get away and would love another crack at them.

To me, it was the Michigan game. That game is gonna haunt us to no end.

 

[Irish7478]

I would like to play Missouri or Ohio State.

 

[Microwahevo]

I would like to play Missouri or Ohio State.

I think OSU's mobile QBs would shred our D. Our LBs aren't fast enough to contain either one of them IMO.

 

[poewelch84]

I would love another crack at Michigan or Oklahoma, Oklahoma would probably have to be in a BCS bowl, Michigan not likely a BCS bowl but I would love it anyway.

 

[Lillyliverd]

Just win out, and we'll be fine.

We won't impress anybody even with a big win over Pitt. I think BYU is going to lose at Wisconsin and they won't even be on the ranking radar when we play them. A win over BYU won't impress anybody. I think Stanford will lose to Oregon and there is a strong possibility of Stanford losing to USC. If Stanford drops 2 games before we play them, they won't be ranked very highly. If we beat Stanford they won't even be ranked anymore. As I see it, I don't think ND controls its own destiny.

 

[purguy12]

100% we win out we make in the top 14. 10-2 ND team with this type of schedule makes it.

 

[poewelch84]

Stanford will probably only lose to Oregon, USC isn't good enough to beat them, I expect them to be ranked in the top 15 when Notre Dame plays them with Notre Dame ranked in the top 20.

 

[poewelch84]

Also BYU are at about #28 AP,29th in Coaches poll, 30th in the Harris poll, so a win against them isn't unimpressive.

 

[Lillyliverd]

Stanford will probably only lose to Oregon, USC isn't good enough to beat them, I expect them to be ranked in the top 15 when Notre Dame plays them with Notre Dame ranked in the top 20.

Utah wasn't good enough to beat Stanford and what happened? ND sure kicked USC's ass. Yep, no chance USC beats a visiting Stanford team.

 

[Lillyliverd]

Also BYU are at about #28 AP,29th in Coaches poll, 30th in the Harris poll, so a win against them isn't unimpressive.

BYU is on the road to play #24 Wisconsin. I think it is within the realm of possibilities that unranked BYU could lose that game. If BYU loses I don't think they will be listed as "others receiving votes". Then BYU will play FCS 3-6 Idaho State. That is why I said BYU may not even be on the ranking radar.

I know its a big "if", But if BYU loses before we play them, it will not be an impressive win.

 

[Lillyliverd]

100% we win out we make in the top 14. 10-2 ND team with this type of schedule makes it.

There would be a strong likelihood of ND getting to a BCS bowl if the Irish win out.

However, there is a possibility that a significant number of teams ahead of us stay strong and there is a possibility that the strength of our schedule weakens with the performance of our opponents. There are variables which are out of our control that can effect our ranking.