From unranked to unbeaten: How sweet it is

Twelve games away sat number 1 seeded USC. This was said to be Notre Dame's hardest game. Critics complained that if Notre Dame expected to have BCS hopes, the Irish needed to beat Oklahoma and USC. It's safe to say that nobody thought USC would be the team with nothing to lose in the last game of the season.

For Notre Dame, every week was an upset alert. Teams want to beat Notre Dame. Every week teams were playing their best games against Notre Dame. Yet, when teams played their best games, Notre Dame still prevailed. Not once this season was Notre Dame handed a win. Every single game was a victory that the Irish earned. Whether the Irish beat opponents by a large margin or won in overtime, Notre Dame fans stayed loyal and believed in the blue and gold. Trending on twitter is the Notre Dame hashtag StaND. StaND symbolizes Notre Dame standing strong when their backs were against the wall. When trailing against Pitt, when judgement swirled, when critics questioned; the Fighting Irish took a StaND. Brian Kelly and Irish played all season with a target on their back. That target only got bigger and bigger. Now that the Irish have hushed the haters and woke up the echoes, it's safe to say they did it. They are undefeated and are going to the National Championship.


Aside from the undefeated recored and championship game, beating USC is the goal of every Notre Dame football coach. Losing to the Trojans mine as well be a losing season. Notre Dame beat a great football team this Saturday. After all of the hype and judgement, Notre Dame completely owned the Southern Cal' defense. Everett Golson looked as good as ever with 217 yards passing and 47 yards rushing. Two things stand out from the game. The play of Theo Riddick and the goal-line stop by the Notre Dame defense.

Those two things optimize the season of the Fighting Irish. Theo Riddick a workhorse pounding the ball and being a force to be reckoned with. Riddick had 188 all purpose yards with a touchdown and could not be tackled all night. On the goal-line stand to end the game, the Irish defense made four straight stops, not allowing a rush into the endzone. Theo Riddick wasn't going to be taken down, like the championship hopes for Notre Dame, and the Irish defense held their ground not allowing anybody to upset the Notre Dame season.

After Beating USC, the Irish are undefeated and have clinched a National Championship birth.
Brian Kelly and the Fighting Irish played a well-rounded game. Everything was clicking and working together on offense. This is a special team that is having a special season. Enjoy this Notre Dame, you've earned it.