Notre Dame football rises in Coaches Poll, AP Top 25 after beating Boston College
Notre Dame is on the move in the polls in the positive direction for the third week in a row. The Fighting Irish’s 44-0 beatdown of Boston College in addition to losses from other ranked teams was a recipe for ranking ascension for the Blue and Gold.
Notre Dame (8-3) moved up to No. 15 in the USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. The Irish were No. 19 last week. Head coach Marcus Freeman‘s team checked in at No. 13 in the Associated Press Poll. His squad was No. 18 last week.
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The Irish’s stretch of eight wins in their last nine games sets up a showdown with No. 5/5 USC (10-1) at the LA Memorial Coliseum this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC). The high-flying Trojans hung on to beat No. 18 UCLA, 48-45, at the Rose Bowl last night. Their lone loss came to Utah, 43-42, on Oct. 15. The No. 14/14 Utes lost to No. 9/10 Oregon, 20-17, in Eugene late last night.
The stakes are much higher for USC than they are for Notre Dame. A win over the Irish and a triumph in the Pac-12 Championship Game would likely seal USC’s first ever berth in the College Football Playoff. Notre Dame lost hopes of a third CFP appearance with a Week 2 loss to Marshall that dropped the Irish to 0-2 for the first time since 2011.
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Notre Dame is a much different team than it was in mid-September, though. It has learned to lean into its strength of running the ball. The Irish churned out more than 200 yards on the ground for the sixth time this season vs. Boston College. They are 6-0 in those games.
USC ranks No. 66 nationally in total rushing defense, allowing 147.2 yards per game. The Trojans give up 257.8 yards through the air per game, which ranks No. 105 in the country. Notre Dame junior quarterback Drew Pyne has feasted on the more porous passing defenses he has faced, most notably throwing for 289 yards and 3 TDs vs. North Carolina and 269 yards and 4 TDs vs. Navy.
Pyne has had his ups and downs in 2022, but he’s 8-1 as the Irish’s starter. He’s going to have to have one of his better days to push that to 9-1 when up against Heisman Trophy front-runner Caleb Williams of USC.
Week 13 Coaches Poll
- Georgia (11-0) (59 first-place votes)
- Ohio State (11-0) (1 first-place vote)
- Michigan (11-0) (2 first-place votes)
- TCU (11-0)
- USC (10-1)
- LSU (9-2)
- Alabama (9-2)
- Clemson (10-1)
- Oregon (9-2)
- Penn State (9-2)
- Tennessee (9-2)
- Washington (9-2)
- Kansas State (8-3)
- Utah (8-3)
- Notre Dame (8-3)
- Florida State (8-3)
- North Carolina (9-2)
- UCLA (8-3)
- Ole Miss (8-3)
- Tulane (9-2)
- Cincinnati (9-2)
- Oregon State (8-3)
- Coastal Carolina (9-1)
- Texas (7-4)
- UTSA (9-2)
Week 13 AP Top 25
- Georgia (11-0) (62 first-place votes)
- Ohio State (11-0) (1)
- Michigan (11-0)
- TCU (11-0)
- USC (10-1)
- LSU (9-2)
- Clemson (10-1)
- Alabama (9-2)
- Tennessee (9-2)
- Oregon (9-2)
- Penn State (9-2)
- Washington (9-2)
- Notre Dame (8-3)
- Utah (8-3)
- Kansas State (8-3)
- Florida State (8-3)
- UCLA (8-3)
- North Carolina (9-2)
- Tulane (9-2)
- Ole Miss (8-3)
- Cincinnati (9-2)
- Oregon State (8-3)
- Coastal Carolina (9-1)
- Texas (7-4)
- UCF (8-3)
