Notre Dame And Kansas State Make A Big Jump In New BCS Standings

I wonder what Rick Reilly is thinking today. Not that the ESPN "journalist" will admit to it, but only a few weeks ago he was telling the world that Notre Dame football is irrelevant. Somebody forgot to tell the Irish and head coach Brian Kelly that.

Thanks to a resounding victory in Norman, Oklahoma, the Fighting Irish are all the way up to third in the latest BCS standings. Notre Dame was ranked at #5 going into the showdown. But the Irish aren't the only shakers and movers as Bill Synder's Kansas State Wildcats, if the season ended today, would be playing for their first national championship as the Cats are now positioned at #2 with a schedule that, if they keep winning, should keep them there. Oklahoma State, TCU, Baylor and Texas are left for K-State in addition to a possible Big 12 championship game.

Rounding out the top five this week: Oregon at #4. the Ducks used and abused the Colorado Buffaloes 70-14 and at #5 is LSU who, despite having issues at QB (what else is new), are in at the 5th spot. This week marks the return engagement as LSU hosts Alabama Saturday night in Baton Rouge. The Crimson Tide continue to be #1 but the gap has closed a trifle. Alabama scored a very impressive blowout win over previous #11 Mississippi State this past week.

The big surprise for me is how a two loss team, that being South Carolina, can be back to #8 and in fighting distance if things break right for the Game Cocks. What a joke! How do you go from #13 to #8 and all you did was beat average Tennessee by a field goal? Hey, I like the BCS but I never said it wasn't without issues!

The rest of the top 10: Georgia is hovering at sixth after toppling #2 Florida in the world's largest outdoor cocktail party this past week. Florida falls only one spot below the Dawgs at #7. After South Carolina at #8 you find Florida State at #9 after blasting Duke and at #10 is undefeated Louisville. The Cardinals have a weak schedule as they play in the inept Big East.

The schedule this week not only finds Alabama taking on LSU in the mega game and Kansas State hosting dangerous Oklahoma State but Notre Dame is home to an average Pitt team. Oregon will tangle with USC. At one time this game looked HUGE but after USC blew this week's lead and game at Arizona, it's not so much anymore.