BCS Rankings 2011: Why Computers Got It Right Leaving Notre Dame Out
The BCS finally put Notre Dame football where they belong in 2011. The Irish didn't start the season well but they have picked up the pace to say the least.
Though the media poll awarded Notre Dame with over 100 votes, landing them just outside the top 25. The Irish have won four straight, but those wins only included one ranked opponent.
The Irish defeated Michigan State on Sept. 17 and that game started their run. Even with their recent winning ways, Notre Dame has not proven they should be grouped among the top 25 teams in the nation.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
The BCS is right to hold off on this placement until after the outcome of Week 8's matchup with the rival USC Trojans. The Trojans are not not having a wildly successful year, but it would mark the fifth straight victory for Notre Dame and that is hard to ignore.
Notre Dame chose to avoid their usually difficult schedule this year as they only have four ranked teams scheduled. The Irish dropped the first two of those games, when they lost to South Florida in the season opener and then blew a lead to the rival Michigan Wolverines.
Notre Dame has one more ranked team scheduled. That is the regular season finale against the No. 7 Stanford Cardinal.
| 1 | LSU | .9522 |
| 2 | Alabama | .9519 |
| 3 | Oklahoma | .930 |
| 4 | Oklahoma State | .857 |
| 5 | Boise State | .803 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | .771 |
| 7 | Clemson | .758 |
| 8 | Stanford | .748 |
| 9 | Arkansas | .626 |
| 10 | Oregon | .619 |
| 11 | Kansas State | .569 |
| 12 | Virginia Tech | .505 |
| 13 | Nebraska | .497 |
| 14 | South Carolina | .491 |
| 15 | West Virginia | .373 |
| 16 | Michigan State | .329 |
| 17 | Texas A&M | .308 |
| 18 | Michigan | .300 |
| 19 | Houston | .286 |
| 20 | Auburn | .265 |
| 21 | Penn State | .231 |
| 22 | Georgia Tech | .197 |
| 23 | Illinois | .152 |
| 24 | Texas | .135 |
| 25 | Washington | .087 |
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
