Notebook: Notre Dame gains on Miami in BCS
Notre Dame moved closer to the top in this week's Bowl Championship Series standings, which were released yesterday.
Oklahoma, Miami and the Fighting Irish remain first, second and third, respectively. But Notre Dame narrowed the margin between itself and the Hurricanes from 0.66 points to 0.30.
Oklahoma has a big lead, with a BCS total of 3.33. Miami is at 6.69 and the Irish at 6.99.
BCS rankings are used to determine who plays for the national title on Jan. 3 in the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz. The only BCS poll that really matters is the one unveiled Dec. 8 — the final rankings of the season.
There are four components to the BCS standings: the two major polls, seven computer rankings, a strength-of-schedule factor and a team's win-loss record. There also is a "quality victory" component, with the final BCS standings determining quality-win points. Teams receive a bonus for beating a team in the BCS Top 10.
Miami is No. 1 in the Associated Press media and USA Today/ESPN coaches' polls, but the seven computers used by the BCS don't like the Hurricanes as much as they like the Irish. Notre Dame is ranked first by two computers, second by three and third by two. Miami is ranked second by one computer, fourth by one and fifth by the other five.
Under BCS rules, the lowest computer ranking is tossed out and the other six averaged. Notre Dame's computer average is 1.83 and Miami's is 4.33.
The teams' opponents Saturday could lead to a change in the BCS next week. Miami plays lowly Rutgers and Notre Dame faces a solid Boston College team; given all the computer and strength-of-schedule variables, Miami and Notre Dame could swap places if each wins.
Playing a "bad" opponent hurt Virginia Tech in the BCS. The Hokies were fourth last week but dropped to sixth this week after a victory over Temple.
Georgia and Ohio State each moved up a spot, to fourth and fifth, respectively.
Pac-10 teams listed in the standings are No. 8 Washington State and No. 11 USC.
Florida State demotes Rix
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Sophomore Chris Rix will be replaced as Florida State's starting quarterback by classmate Adrian McPherson for Saturday's game at Wake Forest.
Rix, who has started 20 straight games, threw a pass that was intercepted and lost a fumble on consecutive possessions in the third quarter that led to 10 Notre Dame points in a 34-24 loss to the Fighting Irish on Saturday.
Rix completed 13 of 32 passes for 207 yards against Notre Dame, while McPherson was 8 of 11 for 118 yards and two scores after replacing Rix in the fourth quarter.
"The way he came in there and took us down there twice, we just felt like we had to have him back there," Seminoles Coach Bobby Bowden said of McPherson. "We feel this is something we should do that might create a spark for us."
Notes
• Despite increasing grumbling from fans about the sudden decline of Syracuse (2-6), Paul Pasqualoni was given a vote of confidence by the university as he endures his worst season in 12 years as head coach.
"This is not a snapshot in a one-year situation," Athletic Director Jake Crouthamel said before Pasqualoni's weekly news conference. "It is a long-term evaluation, and we are very conscious of making sure that we don't just do a knee-jerk reaction, that we visit these things and revisit them on an annual basis over a long period of time."
• Receiver/punt returner Damien Gary of Georgia will be sidelined indefinitely after having emergency surgery Sunday on a bleeding muscle tear in his left leg.