Notre Dame ranks just seventh in both the Associated Press and USA Today college football polls, but the Irish are reportedly getting much more love from the computer programs that help determine the Bowl Championship Series standings.
According to Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports, Notre Dame is the nation’s top-rated team is two of the six computer rankings used in the BCS formula.
Alabama, the No. 1 team in the AP and USA Today polls, tops just one of the computer ratings, according to Forde. Oregon, the No. 2 team in the AP and USA Today polls, tops another computer rating, as does Florida. The sixth computer rating hasn’t been made public.
Forde reported that Oregon is ranked no higher than sixth in the computer rankings other than the one that has the Ducks at No. 1.
Alabama, Notre Dame and Florida are all 5-0. Oregon is 6-0. The other Football Bowl Subdivision teams that remain undefeated are South Carolina, West Virginia, Kansas State, Oregon State, Louisville, Mississippi State, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Louisiana Tech and Texas-San Antonio.
Ohio State is also unbeaten but is ineligible for postseason play due to NCAA sanctions.
The first BCS standings are due to be released Sunday.