Oregon passes Notre Dame in BCS standings

[November 05, 2012]  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- One down, one to go for Oregon.

The Ducks moved up a spot and passed Notre Dame in the BCS standings on Sunday, moving into third place behind Alabama and Kansas State.

Oregon is coming off its biggest victory of the season, winning 62-51 at Southern California on Saturday night. That result, combined with Notre Dame's overtime victory against a middling Pittsburgh team, helped nudge the Ducks by the Irish this week.

Alabama (.9957) is a rock solid No. 1 in both the polls and the BCS computer ratings this week. The Tide needs only to win out to reach the BCS title game for the third time in four seasons.

Kansas State (.9318) is third in the polls and in the computers, but second overall.

The Ducks (.9166) are a solid No. 2 in both polls, but still fifth in the computers.

But the Ducks have a stronger schedule than Kansas State from this point forward, making Oregon a strong bet to pass the Wildcats if it keeps winning and earn a spot in the BCS title game in Miami on Jan. 7.

The Ducks play at California on Saturday before finishing their regular season against two teams in the BCS top 15, Stanford and Oregon State. If they get to the Pac-12 title game, UCLA or USC would be the likely opponent. Both are in the BCS top 20.

Kansas State is at TCU and Baylor the next two weeks, before finishing with Texas on Dec. 1. The Longhorns are 17th in the BCS standings.

Notre Dame (.9050) is in fourth place with only two opponents with a winning record left on its schedule. The Fighting Irish are at Boston College on Saturday, then come home to face Wake Forest before a finale at USC.

Behind the Irish in the standings are four Southeastern Conference teams -- Georgia, Florida, LSU, South Carolina.

[Associated Press; By RALPH D. RUSSO]

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