Matchup: Nation's #1 Defense vs. #29 Offense

How good is the Boston College defense? 

• #1 in Total Defense -- an NCAA FBS ranking
• #1 in fewest yards allowed per game (237 yds)
• #1 in fewest rushing yards allowed per game (71.7 yds) this season 
• #3 in fewest points allowed per game (14.1) this season.

They are very good!

Here's BC opponents -- and how they've fared against this defense:

• Maine -- scored 3 pts / 15.8 ppg avg.
• Howard -- scored 0 pts / 13.8 ppg avg.
• Florida State -- scored 14 pts / 30.9 ppg avg.
• Northern Illinois -- scored 14 pts / 35.8 ppg avg.
• Duke -- scored 9 pts / 30.8 ppg avg.
• Wake Forest -- scored 3 pts /  17.5 ppg avg.
• Clemson -- scored 34 pts /  38.5 ppg avg.
• Louisville -- scored 17 pts / 27.4 ppg avg.
• Virginia Tech -- scored 26 pts / 29.8 ppg avg.
• North Carolina State -- scored 24 pts / 32.8 ppg avg.
• NOTRE DAME -- scored ?? / 36.2 ppg avg.

National Rankings of Offenses that Boston College has / will play:

• #20 Clemson  -- 532 total yards vs. BC
• #21 Northern Illinois -- 153 total yards vs. BC
• #29 NOTRE DAME
• #42 Florida State -- 217 total yards vs. BC
• #44 Duke -- 228 total yards vs. BC
• #61 Louisville -- 365 total yards vs. BC
• #71 North Carolina State -- 351 total yards vs. BC
• #88 Virginia Tech -- 275 total yards vs. BC
• #112 Wake Forest -- 142 total yards vs. BC
• Maine (not FBS) -- 91 total yards vs. BC
• Howard (not FBS) -- 11 total yards vs. BC

Boston Globe Story: Brian Kelly Coming Home

Thought you'd enjoy this story...

LINK:  BRIAN KELLY -- COMING HOME

Inside Notre Dame's Senior Day -- Saturday!

Boston College's Addazio Talks Notre Dame

Here is a link to a video replay of BC's Head Coach Steve Addazio talking about Saturday's game against our Fighting Irish:

LINK:  STEVE ADDAZIO

Prayers for Doug Flutie & Family

Doug's parents -- Richard and Joan Flutie, died within an hour of each other this morning...  They were married 56 years.

Doug, the former Heisman Trophy winner from Boston College, is NBC's analyst for their broadcasts of Notre Dame Football.

LINK:  FLUTIE FAMILY

A 3rd Grade Class Going to ND vs. Stanford!

Best trick ever! Thanks to some wonderful generous people we will be attending the ND vs Stanford game! #waywaywayup pic.twitter.com/TBJvjX9Std

— Ms Silva's 3rd Grade (@alsil23) November 18, 2015

Notre Dame alum Tim Connors '89 -- was gracious enough to treat Ms. Allison Silva's 3rd Grade Class' (Taylor Leadership Academy - Stockton, CA) with a pre-game tailgate lunch and tickets to attend Notre Dame's game next week against Stanford.

The video above captures the moment the 3rd graders find out they're going to see the Fighting Irish in person!!!

Ms. Silva's 3rd Grade Class has adopted Notre Dame as their school -- see the story right here:  ND'S CLASS OF 2029

Boston College AD Talks Notre Dame Game

CFB Playoff Chair Talks ND & Big XII

ESPN Talks Notre Dame's CFB Playoff Ranking

Ten Teams Still in the Running for CFB Playoff

Folks, there are only TEN TEAMS that still have a realistic chance to be standing in the FINAL FOUR come December 6th -- here they are:

• ACC: Clemson or North Carolina
• SEC: Alabama or Florida
• BIG TEN: Ohio State, Iowa or Michigan State
• INDEPENDENT:  Notre Dame

On the outside looking in -- right now:

• BIG XII:  Oklahoma State or Oklahoma 

 

Notre Dame #4 Stays Ahead of Iowa and Big XII

We know our friends in Bristol have been lobbying hard for the Big XII to take ND's spot in the FINAL FOUR...

Well, the FIGHTING IRISH remain in the final Playoff position at #4!

It's all about who you play -- who you beat!
 

NBC's ND Football TV Analyst Models BC's Uni

Here is Doug Flutie, former Heisman Trophy winner and Boston College graduate -- modeling the "throwback" uniforms his Eagles will be wearing this Saturday night against our Fighting Irish.

Shamrock Series Week: Coach Kelly Presser

Four Days From Fenway for the Fighting Irish!

Here's a great aerial view of Notre Dame's "home field" in Boston...

BC vs. ND Not Televised by NBC Saturday Night

Fighting Irish fans -- this Saturday night's Shamrock Series game from Fenway Park between Boston College and Notre Dame is not on NBC.

The game will be televised LIVE beginning at 7:30 PM ET on the NBC Sports Network -- please check with your cable operator to ensure you have this channel.

If not, this is your FOUR DAY WARNING to make different plans to watch this game!

Muffet Talks About Her Incoming Hoop Talent

Must See: Rocket Ismail Telling a ND Story!

I never get tired of watching former Notre Dame football star Rocket Ismail tell this story!

Josh Adams Interview -- Next Man In...

Coach Kelly Talks Win Over Wake Forest

Yahoo! Sports' Pat Forde Has ND #3 This Week

Here's what Pat Forde thinks about who should be ranked where -- in the College Football Playoff...

LINK:  YAHOO! SPORTS

Aerial View: Notre Dame's Fenway "Home" Park

Here's what the finished field looks like from above -- as Notre Dame "hosts" Boston College at historic Fenway Park this Saturday night...

Both Notre Dame and Boston College will share the same sideline --- with a ten yard gap between the two teams - if you look to the side of the field closest to the Green Monster you'll see a 45 yard space designated for each team to stand.

The Band of the Fighting Irish will be on the field, sitting in front of the Green Monster, during the game.

Muffet McGraw's "HIGH HEELS" for Win #700!

Thought you'd enjoy the photographs taken after Muffet McGraw's 700th win at Notre Dame yesterday afternoon!

That's Muffet walking over to give her Mom a hug after the game -- in the third photo from the top...

Full Game Replay: Notre Dame 28 - WF 7

Here's the full replay of NBC's broadcast of Notre Dame's win over Wake Forest on Senior Day at Notre Dame Stadium...

LINK:  NOTRE DAME 28 - WAKE FOREST 7

Sneak Peek -- Inside ND Locker Room...

Latest Photos from "Fenway Football Field"

Looking pretty sweet!

Sneak Peek at Tuesday's CFP Playoff Ranking

Here's what I believe the College Football Playoff Rankings will look like this Tuesday -- the new Top Ten:

1. Clemson -- beat (3 - 7) Syracuse 37 - 27
2. Alabama -- beat #17 Mississippi State 31 - 6
3. Ohio State -- beat (5 - 5) Illinois 28 - 3
4. NOTRE DAME -- beat (3 - 7) Wake Forest 28 - 7
5. Iowa -- beat (4 - 6) Minnesota 40 - 35
6. Oklahoma State -- beat (3 - 7) Iowa State 35 - 31
7. Oklahoma -- beat (8 - 1) #6 Baylor 44 - 34
8. Florida -- beat (3 - 7) South Carolina 24 - 14
9. Michigan State -- beat (2 - 8) Maryland 24 - 7
10. TCU -- beat (0 - 10) Kansas 23 - 17 

Path to CFB Playoffs -- Notre Dame vs. Big XII

With Stanford and Utah's loss this evening -- the PAC 12 is done when it comes to sending a team to the College Football Playoff -- it robs Notre Dame of a season ending signature win -- and, it opens the door for an undefeated Oklahoma State to jump ND into the top Playoff if they remain that way.

Here's where I see things with two weeks left in the regular season for the top teams:

These THREE PLAYOFF SPOTS are a given -- in my opinion:

• ACC Champ:  CFB Playoff spot if it's Clemson or North Carolina
• Big Ten Champ:  CFB Playoff spot if it's Ohio State, Michigan State or Iowa
• SEC Champ:  Alabama

So, the fourth team in the PLAYOFF will come down to Notre Dame -- if they win their next two games -- OR, one of these two teams from the Big XII:

• Oklahoma State -- if they win both, they're in / ND is out
• vs. Baylor 
• vs. Oklahoma
• Oklahoma -- if they win both -- it will come down to (see analysis below)
• vs. TCU
• @ Oklahoma State

If Oklahoma and Notre Dame both end up 11 - 1 on the season, it will come down to a College Football Playoff Committee vote against teams with these resumes:

Oklahoma:

• Wins over ranked teams:  (3)  Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State
• Opponent's WIN/LOSS Record as of 11/14/15:  63 - 53
• Strength of Schedule Rank:  #21
• Common opponent:  Lost to Texas 24 - 17
• Record of team that beat them as of 11/14/15:  4 - 6

Notre Dame:

• Wins over ranked teams:  (5)  USC, Navy, Temple, Pitt and Stanford
• Opponent's WIN/LOSS Record as of 11/14/15:  67 - 53
• Strength of Schedule Rank:  #5
• Common opponent:  Beat Texas 38 - 3
• Record of team that beat them as of 11/14/15:  10 - 0

So -- what does this all mean:

1. We must win both of our games.
2. Oklahoma State needs to lose one of their remaining games.
3. If both happen -- WE ARE IN THE PLAYOFF!