Bottom Ten CFB: Notre Dame Isn’t No. 1, but the Irish Have the History
By Steve Harvey
Special to the Los Angeles Times
While the EMUs of Eastern Michigan (0-9) remained No. 1, the Bottom Ten gave a career lack-of-achievement award to No. 20 Notre Dame.
USA Today pointed out that over the last 16 years, the Fitful Irish are 1-9 in bowl games, 7-25 against teams in the top 10, and 22-40-1 against ranked opponents — true Bottom Ten-type numbers.
Notre Dame’s latest setback came against Navy, a team that had thrown 28 passes in six previous games — none against Wake Forest.
So what happened?
Navy attempted three passes in a 23-21 win over the Irish and afterward a Notre Dame defensive tackle said Navy had “outschemed us.”
What, Navy ran left more than it ran right?
Wreck/Record/Last Loss/Next Loss
1. Eastern Michigan/0-9/6-50, Northern Illinois/Western Michigan
2. New Mexico/0-9/14-45, Utah/BYU
3. Western Kentucky/0-9/20-40, Troy/Louisiana-Monroe
4. Miami (Ohio)/1-9/32-34, Temple/Bowling Green
5. Ball State (1-8)/17-20, Ohio (Ohio)/Northern Illinois
6. San Jose State/1-7/7-62, Nevada/Utah State
7. Vanderbilt/2-8/3-27, Florida/Kentucky
8. North Texas/2-7/6-33, Louisiana-Monroe/Fla. International
9. Washington State/1-8/7-48, Arizona/UCLA
10. Fla.International/2-7/21-48, Middle Tennessee/North Texas
11. Maryland (2-7); 12. Syracuse (3-6); 13. Tulane (3-6); 14. Memphis (2-7); 15. Florida State (4-5); 16. Michigan (5-5); 17. Out of the country on business; 18. Tie among Notre Dame, Penn State, Iowa (all winless in November).
Crummy game of the week: North Texas (2-7) at Florida International (2-7).
Rout of the week: Brigham Young (7-2) at New Mexico (0-9).
Milestones: Oklahoma, a 3-10 loser to Nebraska, fell out of the Associated Press top 25 for the first time since 2005.
Jurisprudence: Texas Christian, a frequent member of the Bottom Ten in the 1970s, has been banned for life for winning its first nine games this year.
