Notre Dame got a two-spot bump in the latest USA LBM Coaches Poll, rising to No. 6 in a Week 8 release that stirred plenty of head-scratching along the way.
The Irish had fallen to No. 8 after last weekend’s loss to BYU, but the new poll flipped the script after the Cougars were beaten by UCF in overtime and slid all the way to No. 9.
Notre Dame now sits ahead of BYU despite not having a ranked win, while BYU’s 6-1 record still includes a victory over now-No. 21 Arizona.
Elsewhere in the top 10, Utah moved up to No. 5 after its comeback win over now-No. 19 Houston, and that rise pushed Notre Dame up with it.
Indiana checked in at No. 4 even though its only ranked win is a 29-26 home victory over No. 18 Northwestern, while undefeated Utah is behind the Hoosiers despite beating Houston.
Texas also made a significant jump, climbing seven spots to No. 11 after beating then-No. 7 Ole Miss, even though the Longhorns have dropped two of their last three.
The poll also delivered a few choices that raised eyebrows outside South Bend. Wisconsin, at 5-2, remains unranked despite blasting USC 24-7 on Friday night.
The Badgers’ only losses are to No. 6 Notre Dame and No.
7 UCLA, and their best win is that same 17-point result over the Trojans. USC, meanwhile, is sitting at No. 25 even though it has been beaten by Wisconsin and also lost at home to unranked Oregon.
For Notre Dame, three future opponents remain in the Coaches Poll top 25. BYU is still in the rankings at No.
9, Miami stayed at No. 1 after its 52-23 win over Pittsburgh, and SMU climbed to No. 16 after a 59-20 blowout of California. SMU was trailing 20-17 at halftime before taking over in the second half.
Notre Dame is set to host Miami on November 7 and SMU on November 21.
COACHES POLL
- Miami Hurricanes - 7-0
- Ohio State Buckeyes - 6-1
- Georgia Bulldogs - 6-1
- Indiana Hoosiers - 7-1
- Utah Utes - 7-0
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 6-1
- UCLA Bruins - 7-0
- Kentucky Wildcats - 7-1
- BYU Cougars - 6-1
- Alabama Crimson Tide - 6-2
- Texas Longhorns - 5-2
- Ole Miss Rebels - 5-2
- LSU Tigers - 6-2
- Texas Tech Red Raiders - 6-1
- Wake Forest Demon Deacons - 6-1
- SMU Mustangs - 6-1
- Tennessee Volunteers - 6-2
- Northwestern Wildcats - 6-1
- Houston Cougars - 6-2
- Florida Gators - 5-2
- Arizona Wildcats - 6-1
- Boise State Broncos - 6-1
- Missouri Tigers - 5-2
- Iowa Hawkeyes - 5-2
- USC Trojans - 6-2
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The immediate concern is Navy, but the bigger worry around the program is what this looks like with Miami approaching. Notre Dame believes this cluster of injuries will matter even more in that matchup, where available bodies and rotational flexibility tend to be tested far more aggressively, especially on defense. [Read more 🡒]
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Notre Dame Fans Finally Get A First Look At Hidalgos New Support
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For a team that already knows what it has in Hidalgo, the bigger question is how quickly those new pieces can settle in and change the way Notre Dame plays. Exhibition games do not answer everything, but they can offer a first glimpse at chemistry, roles and the kind of support the Irish hope will make this group deeper when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]