Notre Dame got one first-place vote in the coaches' poll last Sunday - head
coach Brian Kelly's. Against Wake Forest, the Fighting Irish reinforced his faith in his team. Everett Golson threw three touchdown passes and Cierre Wood scored on a 68-yard
run as No. 3 Notre Dame beat Wake Forest 38-0 Saturday to finish the season
undefeated at home for the first time since 1998 and keep its national
championship hopes alive. ''I told them tonight I'm proud of them,'' Kelly said. ''I voted them No. 1 for
a reason, because I think they're the best team in the country. I think they
played like that tonight.'' Kelly, who saw his 12-0 Cincinnati team left out of the BCS title game in 2009,
said he has no doubt his 11-0 team deserves to play for the championship if they
win the season finale at Southern California. That's all he wants his players
focused on, he said. ''They cannot do anything else but beat USC,'' Kelly said. ''The rest is up to
other people to decide.'' The reality of that situation is either Oregon or Kansas State - the top two
teams in the BCS rankings and, separately, the AP Top 25 - will likely have to
lose for Notre Dame to get a place in the championship. Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe seemed to think the Irish have as much right as
anybody to be there. ''No question about it. But maybe a couple of others should be, too. That's kind
of the deal right now,'' Grobe said. ''I can't imagine anybody from what I saw
today playing any better than Notre Dame. But I think there are some other
really, really good teams. They impressed me today. I think there as good as any
team in the country.''
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