BCS and Heisman with a Win

[KAPLAN]

This game has not had so much on the line for us in a long time.

I think when we win we will be in the drivers seat for a BCS game.
If we lose the BCS is probably not going to happen

When we win Clausen will be everyone's heisman favorite and the award will be his to lose.
If we lose he might not get an invite to NYC and Teabags or McCoy will get the award.

 

[irishfan]

If we win, do we have any chance at the NC? Let's say Texas loses to Oklahoma and with the Florida/Alabama SEC Championship do we have a chance at 11-1? It's pretty obvious we would be ahead of Boise State/TCU and maybe even an undefeated Cincy/USF but I'm curious what they would do with us at 11-1 compared to a 1-loss Texas, VA Tech, OSU, PSU, Iowa, or Miami? Say if Florida is the only unbeaten left at the end of the year, who would be #2? An 11-1 ND or another 1-loss team? Oh, and NDOM and phork need not reply.

 

[IrishSLC]

As much as I wish we would be in the National Championship hunt if that were the case. I think we would be on the outside looking in like Texas& Utah last year. Strength of schedule would play a factor. While I don't think ND's schedule is that bad, the country and media does.

On that note, 11-1 and to be in the discussion would be amazing and would exceed my expectations for this year...

GO ND!!!

 

[NDFLA]

If we win, do we have any chance at the NC? Let's say Texas loses to Oklahoma and with the Florida/Alabama SEC Championship do we have a chance at 11-1? It's pretty obvious we would be ahead of Boise State/TCU and maybe even an undefeated Cincy/USF but I'm curious what they would do with us at 11-1 compared to a 1-loss Texas, VA Tech, OSU, PSU, Iowa, or Miami? Say if Florida is the only unbeaten left at the end of the year, who would be #2? An 11-1 ND or another 1-loss team? Oh, and NDOM and phork need not reply.

Thet would put Alabama in the NC and have a replay of the SEC Championship. Especially if it is a good game the first time.

 

[TDHeysus]

If we win, do we have any chance at the NC?

I dont think so, hard to argue that we have a NC caliber defense. The offense is there, the offense is good enough to win a NC. The defense, however, is a year or 2 behind.

 

[irishfan]

I dont think so, hard to argue that we have a NC caliber defense. The offense is there, the offense is good enough to win a NC. The defense, however, is a year or 2 behind.

I'm just saying, there could be a big mess at #2 this year

Say if FLA wins the SEC championship over 12-0 Bama and finishes #1 and 13-0

1) SEC: Bama is out-no one will want a rematch of SEC Champ. Game
2) Big 12: If Texas loses to Oklahoma and goes 11-1, they have no chance. Loss to Oklahoma equals losing the Big 12 South, and I don't think they'll get in without winning the conference
3) Pac 10: USC-obviously if we beat them they have no chance
4) BIG 10 Champ: A 1-loss team still wont get voted in, ppl dont want a Big 10 team in the championship. PSU and Iowa played no one out of conference also.
5) Big East Champ: Only chance seems to be if Cincy goes through unbeaten
6) ACC: Va Tech and Miami seem like the only options...Va Tech wont be voted ahead of Bama due to head-to-head. Miami wont be voted ahead of Va Tech due to head-to-head.
7) Boise and TCU just about have no chance

Looking at it positively, it seems that with a win over USC and an 11-1 record, ND needs...

1) Florida and Bama to go 12-0
2) Oklahoma to beat Texas
3) Iowa to lose at some point
4) Cincy to lose at some point

...to have a chance

 

[TDHeysus]

you are making a case for ND to get the championship game, that is possible. Winning that game is a different story. Defensively I just think they are outgunned, I have seen next to nothing from the defense as far as consistanty stopping our opponents. Set aside the 3 goaline stands in the UW game, and what has the defense done?

as long as we can play the game between the 10yardline and the goalline, we're set.

 

[KAPLAN]

I think they would put Boise in before us. Unless we really start crushing some people. Alot of season left, we are about to play game 6 out of 12. Alot of stranger things have happened.

 

[irishfan]

you are making a case for ND to get the championship game, that is possible. Winning that game is a different story. Defensively I just think they are outgunned, I have seen next to nothing from the defense as far as consistanty stopping our opponents. Set aside the 3 goaline stands in the UW game, and what has the defense done?

as long as we can play the game between the 10yardline and the goalline, we're set.

My bad I meant to play in the NC, not to win it.

 

[irishfan]

I think they would put Boise in before us. Unless we really start crushing some people. Alot of season left, we are about to play game 6 out of 12. Alot of stranger things have happened.

TCU should be ahead of Boise by the end of the year

 

[jason_h537]

Too far behind in the polls and those are alot of ifs Irishfan. Oregon can finish with one loss and beat SC making our win look weaker as well. This has to be a year like 07 for us to have a shot

 

[JefMaj]

If losses all fall in line - it's Boise St. in the BCS NC game - who's gonna beat them? And after Utah manhandled Bama last year - they have a legit claim. I see Bama v. Boise.

 

[phork]

People are already talking a FLA/ALA rematch in the BCS game if both teams go unscatched and its a close game in the SEC championship game. As it is right now, Texas would end up being 4th in BCS standings right now with VaTech being third. If the SEC championship game is not close, and all things end up being what they are now, VaTech could end up in the NC game.
ND won't get a sniff, there is to much ground to make up and after USC there is no one of consequence on our schedule.

 

[irishfan]

If losses all fall in line - it's Boise St. in the BCS NC game - who's gonna beat them? And after Utah manhandled Bama last year - they have a legit claim. I see Bama v. Boise.

ya the big win by boise over uc davis impressed me too

 

[WaveDomer]

This game has not had so much on the line for us in a long time.

I think when we win we will be in the drivers seat for a BCS game.
If we lose the BCS is probably not going to happen

When we win Clausen will be everyone's heisman favorite and the award will be his to lose.
If we lose he might not get an invite to NYC and Teabags or McCoy will get the award.

This is true, especially for the Heisman. If this game is a win, or a great, gutsy performance by Clausen, he is in the driver's seat to get to NYC. I don't know if he's in the driver's seat for the award because the glow on Tebow is so bright right now. It's Tebow's to lose, as far as I see it right now.

For the BCS this game is a must win. I don't see us sniffing the NC, even with a one loss season, unless there is a total bust at the top of the polls. Meaning, Florida, Texas, Boise, Bama, VA Tech, OH St., Miami, Iowa all bust. There's too much ground to make up there. If we beat USC this weekend, we'll jump in the polls, but I don't see us jumping that far.

 

[IrishGolden09]

I agree we won't jump that far, that's why I almost wish SC would have beat Washington, a one loss SC team looks a lot stronger than a two loss one. We're gonna win and people are going to say it's a down year for the Trojans, but that's a fight we can't win and have no bearing on so who cares, a win over SC is a win over SC. Plus they loved smacking us when we were down. I pray we roll these guys, no mercy payback for the past couple of years.

 

[wakeuptheechoes]

Colt Mcoy is probably in the drivers seat with Tebow's and Bradford's injuries. Clausen could make a good case if he has a great game vs SC and the rest of the schedule and if ND can go 11-1 or 10-2. But if he wins the Heisman, it would probably move up his potential draft placement and he may leave.

 

[IrishInFl]

We may have a shot at the NC if we win out, but boy do we need help. I don't think we can win out. Even if we beat SC, we still have BC next on our schedule, and we always lose to them, regardless of the differance in talent level. I may be in the minority, but I think that as long as we don't lose more than one more game, Jimmy is getting a free trip to New York.

 

[irish4ever]

If we win, do we have any chance at the NC?

No! Even IF the Irish run the table they would have (1) loss (to scUM), crtics will use the SOS against the Irish, will be half way thru the season and the Irish still won't be any higher than 15th (even after beating a 2-loss U$C team at home), so the answer is NO ... not this year!

 

[irishandy]

If ND wins this weekend we need to enjoy it for the next couple of days. The season will just be half over after the USC game. Don't forget we got Pitt. and Stanford on the road, I compare the Stanford game like the North Carolina game of last year. After the win I want to see how many recruits we get and enjoy the national positive attention.

 

[phork]

SOS is a joke. Compared to some other programs, using Sagarins SOS, we see whats up. ND is ranked 28th. Florida 49, BoiseST 59, tOSU 37, Iowa 30, Cincinnati 109, TCU 75, Texas 100, Oklahoma 55, PennSt 113, Kansas 125, Washington is #1.

 

[wakeuptheechoes]

I don't think SOS is the problem, the problem is that we are 25th now. Game 7 coming up, not only would take ND winning out but also a lot of losses for those teams ahead of us. I don't believe any team ranked 25th in week 7 has ever moved to the top with 5 games left. If it was to be remotely possible, We would have to beat USC and start demolishing teams left on the schedule with scores like 38-10, 41-17, or other scores of the like. Otherwise it is just wishful thinking.