How beating Navy moved Notre Dame football in Coaches Poll, AP Top 25
Notre Dame is on the move in the polls after the Fighting Irish beat Navy 35-32 in Baltimore yesterday. The Irish sit at No. 19 in the USA Today AFCA Coaches Poll and and No. 18 in the Associated Press Top 25.
Notre Dame was No. 25 in the Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the AP Top 25 last week. The Irish nearly blew a 22-point lead over the Midshipmen, but as head coach Marcus Freeman and junior quarterback Drew Pyne said postgame, a win is a win. Four ranked teams lost to unranked foes Saturday. Notre Dame made sure it was not one of them.
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The Irish (7-3) return home for Saturday’s home finale at Notre Dame Stadium vs. Boston College (3-7) at 2:30 p.m. ET (NBC).. The Eagles are fresh off a 21-20 upset of No. 16 NC State. Redshirt freshman Emmett Morehead won in his first career start. He was playing in place of injured Notre Dame transfer Phil Jurkovec.
The Irish finish the regular season at No. 6/7 USC (9-1) on Nov. 26. The Trojans face No. 16/16 UCLA (8-2) this weekend. They likely need to win out for a chance to reach the College Football Playoff. That could make their game vs. the Irish a desirable watch for college football fans everywhere.
In his first year on the job, Freeman has a chance to keep Notre Dame’s program-best stretch of consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins alive. The Irish have won 10-plus times in each of the last five years. If they take care of Boston College, USC and win their bowl game, they’ll make it six.
But as the second half of the game against Navy showed, it’s going to be easier said than done. Here is a look at both of Sunday’s rankings releases.
Week 12 Coaches Poll
- Georgia (10-0) (61 first-place votes)
- Ohio State (10-0) (1)
- Michigan (10-0) (1)
- TCU (10-0)
- Tennessee (9-1)
- USC (9-1)
- LSU (8-2)
- Alabama (8-2)
- Clemson (9-1)
- Utah (8-2)
- North Carolina (9-1)
- Penn State (8-2)
- Oregon (8-2)
- Ole Miss (8-2)
- Washington (8-2)
- UCLA (8-2)
- Kansas State (7-3)
- UCF (8-2)
- Notre Dame (7-3)
- Florida State (7-3)
- Cincinnati (8-2)
- Tulane (8-2)
- Coastal Carolina (9-1)
- Oklahoma State (7-3)
- NC State (7-3)
Week 12 AP Top 25
- Georgia (10-0) (62 first-place votes)
- Ohio State (10-0) (1)
- Michigan (10-0)
- TCU (10-0)
- Tennessee (9-1)
- LSU (8-2)
- USC (9-1)
- Alabama (8-2)
- Clemson (9-1)
- Utah (8-2)
- Penn State (8-2)
- Oregon (8-2)
- North Carolina (9-1)
- Ole Miss (8-2)
- Washington (8-2)
- UCLA (8-2)
- UCF (8-2)
- Notre Dame (7-3)
- Kansas State (7-3)
- Florida State (7-3)
- Tulane (8-2)
- Cincinnati (8-2)
- Coastal Carolina (9-1)
- Oklahoma State (7-3)
- Oregon State (7-3)
