Notre Dame Clinch #1 Spot In BCS National Championship Game With 22-13 Win Over USC

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have cemented their trip to the BCS National Championship game with a 22-13 win over USC yesterday. The Fighting Irish have ended their season 12-0 and ranked number 1. Notre Dame is the only team in the BCS rankings to finish the season undefeated.

The Fighting Irish are waiting to find out who the winner of Number 2 Alabama and Number 3 Georgia who play for the SEC title next week. The winner will go on to play the Irish for the national championship in Miami.

Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly said of the team:

“It’s what we are. That’s who we are.”

Either way, the Irish will be up against an SEC team. The SEC will have yet another chance to bring the title home. They are 6 for 6 playing out of conference teams for the championship.

The Irish put their methodical game on display when giving USC a beating on the field yesterday. The game was uncomfortably close on the scoreboard. But it was never really all that close—not given how this team continues to beat everybody.

Kelly said:

“We have the pressure at Notre Dame to win every week. I think what we’ve done … is to play the game the way it should be played.”

The Irish have been masters at closing out close games this season, a trait not shared by Alabama.

Kyle Brindza kicked five field goals for the Irish, including a career-long 52-yarder to close the first half.

Running back Theo Riddick was a force, with 20 carries for 146 yards and the team’s only touchdown.

In the end, as it was for the Irish all season, it wasn’t even close once the Irish took the lead.

Do you think Notre Dame is going to go all the way this season?