Notre Dame Set To Jump In Polls

Hey, if you're a Notre Dame fan, you gotta love this.

No. 3 Louisville loses. No. 5 Auburn loses. No. 8 Cal loses. No. 6 Florida should have lost (we'll see if slipping past a mediocre South Carolina squad 17-16 hurts them in the polls).

The No. 9 Irish, meanwhile, rolled over Air Force 39-17 to improve to 9-1. It's the first time they've had back to back 9-win seasons in 13 years.

As usual, quarterback Brady Quinn was spectacularly efficient (207 yards passing, four touchdowns), receiver Jeff Samardzija had his usual big plays (six catches, 106 yards, one touchdown) and tailback Darius Walker busted loose for 153 yards and a score.

Add it up and you figure Notre Dame will make a big jump in the polls. How big? That depends on No. 4 Texas and No. 7 USC, who have yet to play. If they both win, and Notre Dame impressed enough to pass Florida, it could be No. 5. If they both lose, the Irish could jump all the way to third.

So brace yourself. These BCS prospects are looking better all the time.