In all the "Who's No. 1" controversy involving Florida State, Nebraska and West Virginia, the team that may end up with the most legitimate claim to being national champion is Notre Dame.
What happens if the favored teams win New Year's Day, that is, Florida State beats Nebraska, Florida beats West Virginia and Notre Dame defeats Texas A&M.?There would be no unbeaten teams left, with the exception of 11-0 Auburn, which is on probation and therefore can't be in a bowl game.
Florida State is No. 1 in the Associated Press or writers poll and No. 3 in the USA Today/CNN or coaches poll while Notre Dame is No. 4 in both.
However, enough time has passed since Notre Dame's shocking 41-39 loss to then No. 17th-ranked Boston College in late November to allow poll voters to focus on this fact if it comes down to voting for Florida State or Notre Dame for No. 1: When the two met on Nov. 13 in South Bend, Ind., the score was Notre Dame 31, Florida State 24.
What scuttled Notre Dame in the polls was the timing of its loss to Boston College - it was Notre Dame's last game of the regular season. So, pollsters had this dilemma: Florida State went from No. 1 to No. 2 after its loss to the unbeaten Irish because these two teams were clearly the best in the land and the loss was in South Bend and not Tallahassee. Talks of a rematch in the Fiesta Bowl surfaced with Florida State being mentioned as a 6 to 7 point favorite.
When the Fighting Irish lost to Boston College, the prevailing thinking was, how could a team that had just lost still stay No. 1? Florida State hadn't the week before. So Notre Dame dropped not only behind the team it had previously beaten but also below unbeatens Nebraska and West Virginia.
The scenario used for comparison is 1989 when Notre Dame and Miami finished with just one loss but Miami defeated Notre Dame, 27-10, during the regular season and therefore was voted national champion, despite Notre Dame having a tougher schedule.
The difference is that Miami's lone loss came early in the season, ironically against Florida State, giving the Hurricanes time to regroup and climb in the polls going into the bowls.
January 1 is going to be a numbers game. Just a win won't assure either Florida State or Notre Dame of the title. How impressive the victories are will likely determine No. 1. For example, if Florida State crushes Nebraska 48-14 and Notre Dame squeaks by underdog Texas A&M 17-14, the Seminoles will probably get their first national title regardless of the head-to-head loss to the Irish. If, though, Notre Dame hammers Texas A&M 35-10 and 17-point favorite Florida State edges Nebraska, 27-24, then the Irish have a good chance of regaining No. 1.
All scenarios and speculation will be moot if Nebraska wins. The Cornhuskers are No. 1 in the USA Today/CNN poll and No. 2 in the AP poll. They would likely be unanimous No. 1 with a victory, particularly if Florida defeats West Virginia.
If West Virginia defeats Florida and Nebraska loses, the Mountaineers will likely win the championship in the coaches poll and Florida State or Notre Dame the title in the writers poll.