Why Notre Dame Deserves the Top Spot

It took two big upsets on the same night, but it looks like the stars are set to align for the nation's lone bowl-eligible undefeated team, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, to be No. 1 in the country. Yes, it's been a long time coming, but folks, the Fighting Irish are back on top, and deservedly so.

The Irish grabbing the top spot in the BCS standings is a testament to the 2012 football team and, on a larger scale, to their defense. The frou-frou offenses that were in such high demand, being fawned over all season, have fallen by the wayside, and what we have left is the hardened, scarred bodies and balled-up fists of the Fighting Irish.

Unlike Oregon, Notre Dame survived overtime against the Stanford Cardinal. Unlike Kansas State, Notre Dame triumphed after being tested by a sub-.500 squad. UnlikeKenjon Barner and Collin Klein, Notre Dame's Heisman contender stood tallest when his team needed him the most.

Notre Dame most certainly deserves the top spot. Surviving and advancing is the name of the game when the regular season is your playoff. No one in college football has survived and advance as well as the Irish this season. They stand as the lone unblemished team this season, and props are in order for the players, the staff and their performance.

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For those who thought they played too many close games, so much for your style points. A close, hard-fought win is better than a loss any day of the week.

For those who thought their offense wasn't good enough, they scored six more points against Stanford than Oregon. While it has not always been pretty, the Irish have kept on winning and now, after Saturday night, no one else in the nation can say the same.

As it stands now, America seems destined for a treat of a BCS Championship Game: Notre Dame and Alabama in Miami. However, there is still work to be done.

Notre Dame plays a USC team that got embarrassed by UCLA (and quarterback Matt Barkley's status is uncertain after injuring his right arm), and that should be interesting. Alabama has the Iron Bowl and a date with Georgia in Atlanta.

The Irish deserve the top spot, and not even the "style points" voters can deny Brian Kelly's team now.

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