The best scenario for Notre Dame would be against Oregon State or Miami in the Fiesta Bowl. But if the Fiesta Bowl chooses Miami and Oregon State, the Irish could slide to the Sugar Bowl. Their competition for that slot would be Virginia Tech and Nebraska.

By the numbers, both are more deserving than the Irish. Tech is 10- 1, ranked fifth in the BCS poll, and has the game's most exciting player, if not the best (when healthy), in quarterback Michael Vick. Nebraska is eighth in the BCS rankings, has the same record as Notre Dame (9-2), and beat the Irish in South Bend in September.

The Eagles are locked into the Aloha Bowl on Christmas Day and will play Oregon if Oregon State does not make the BCS, and almost certainly Georgia if Oregon State makes the BCS and Oregon slides up a notch to the Holiday Bowl.