Why Irish Fans Should Root for Stanford to Win the Pac-10

With the college football season about three months away, Notre Dame fans are excited and hoping for a return to glory. A BCS bowl, even a trip to the Title Game, are real possibilities. Some Irish fans are even predicting an undefeated season.

Looking at the schedule, that isn't as unrealistic as it may seem. It all begins in September against Nevada and ends Thanksgiving weekend at Stanford in prime time.

If the Irish can go undefeated, then not only will the BCS be discussed but also a trip to Pasadena for the title game.

The only thing that could keep an undefeated Notre Dame team out is strength of schedule.

SEC teams always play a brutal schedule. Whoever comes out of that conference is  almost a lock to go to the title game, even with one loss. Also, don't expect Florida to lose many games. The Gators could go undefeated in the SEC.

The other power conference is the Big 12.

Texas and Oklahoma appear to be the best teams. The winner of their game could go undefeated. A Big 12 schedule is also tougher than Notre Dame's next season.

Two other teams that could go undefeated are Penn State and Ohio State, both in the the Big Ten.

Although Ohio State plays USC outside the conference, Penn State shouldn't be eligible for the title game because its non-conference schedule really makes you want to gag.

Based on all that, even an undefeated Notre Dame team would have a tough time making a case to be in the title game.

Unless Stanford is the Pac-10 champion when Notre Dame comes in.

The Pac-10 champion gets an automatic BCS berth. Therefore, a victory over the Cardinal could launch the Irish into the title game. If Stanford isn't the Pac-10 champion, let's hope the team is at least pretty close.

Jim Harbaugh does seem to have the program going in the right direction. This could be the year the Cardinal pull it all together.

As Irish fans we have to hope they do. If they don't, an Irish victory over them would be useless.

If Stanford has the Pac-10 locked up it would also come into the Notre Dame game with loads of confidence, which would make a Notre Dame victory even bigger.

Certainly Notre Dame has to worry about taking care of its own business first. However, if Stanford can have a great year, it would benefit the Irish.