In yesterday’s win, the Irish managed 31 points against the SEC’s best defense while holding the Tigers’ offense to 28 points, none of which came in the game’s fourth quarter. Given that a total of three Irish defenders on the field against LSU started every game during the regular season, Notre Dame’s ability to hold when needed was, frankly, remarkable. That points were surrendered to LSU’s Leonard “Heisman 2015” Fournette via a 100 yard kick return and an 89 yard run from scrimmage may have actually helped the Irish by getting their defense off the field and putting LSU’s back on the field where Notre Dame’s punishing drives took their toll.

Though one hesitates to dial a cliche, the old saw that “the best defense is a good offense” rang true in Nashville, for the Irish executed a masterful offensive game plan. They dominated the time of possession 37:00 to 23:00. Though they only out-gained LSU by 13 yards (449 to 436), the Irish put together grinding drives and, importantly, converted those drives into points. That this was done via a two-quarterback system speaks volumes to the talent of youngster Malik Zaire, the resurgent maturity of former starter Everett Golson, and the charms of a coaching staff able to effectively run both signal-callers through scripted and unscripted moments with nary a turnover.

Though Kyle Brindza deserves all the credit for kicking the winning field-goal in the game’s waning seconds, if kudos and laurels must be heaped upon one position-group, they clearly must be heaped upon the quarterback, for, whether Lucky Lefty or Erstwhile Everett, the Irish signal caller was able to convert and complete when needed. Going 11-17 on third down, the Irish extended drives, exasperating the Tiger defense, who could simply not get off the field. Zaire, the better runner of the two, threw for 96 yards and ran for 96 yards, while Golson threw for another 90 and ran but once, and then for only six yards.

Six Irish receivers caught passes, including a crucial gainer to Ben Koyack. For LSU, Fournette was everything, running for 143 yards on, get this, 11 carries. Honestly.

In all, this was a huge win for Notre Dame, as it both cauterized the nasty wound that 2014 had become and silenced the critics who brayed that Notre Dame, with its recruiting challenges and academic rigors, could never, really, compete with the nation’s new elite programs within the SEC.

Here are your highlights, courtesy of our conference overlords:

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Image courtesy @AuburnElvis

Playoff Rankings: Week 8

Each week, the T.C.B. Poll is an aggregate of all our inputs. Scroll down to see individual selections and opinions.

Also receiving votes: Baylor, Oregon, TCU.

TCB Committee Member Comments

@TheLSUElvis

College Gameday comes to Baton Rouge and The LSU Elvis will be there! Geaux Tigers

1. Mississippi State
2. Florida State
3. Ole Miss
4. Irish

@AuburnElvis

1. Mississippi State – Their remaining schedule sets up like a dream with an easy opponent before each remaining tough one. Pencil them in for the SEC Championship and a playoff berth after that.
2. FSU – I don’t think they’re the #2 team by a long shot, but this is where they’ll likely end up just because every story needs a good villain to defeat.
3. Ole Miss (or Auburn or Alabama) – If the SEC West’s #2 team only has 1-loss (to #1 MSU), their strength of schedule and quality non-conference wins should get them past an Ohio or Michigan State team without either. (Plus, I think Oregon’ll lose another game soon.)
4. TCU (or Kansas State or Baylor) – I don’t know who it’ll be, but a 1-loss Big 12 Champion will get the fourth spot. (BTW, I think Notre Dame is going to lose at least 1 more game.)

@HawkeyeElvis

I spent Saturday night at the Heartbreak Hotel after Iowa’s loss to Maryland. Unfortunately, Irish Elvis was there with me.

1. Mississippi State – That defense and that QB will carry them a long way yet this season.
2. Florida State – Does anyone outside of Tallahassee like this team?
3. Mississippi – I think both Mississippi schools make the playoff, especially if the Egg Bowl is a close, down to the wire game. Either way, that SEC Title is going to the Magnolia State this year.
4. Notre Dame – I will wait for you to stop screaming. Okay, may I continue? Thanks. The Irish schedule sets up for them to finish the season at 11-1. The Big 12 and Pac-12 are both way too volatile and either of those conference champs are likely to have 2 losses. We might get 2 SEC teams into a playoff, but we ain’t gonna get a third, so no Bama or Auburn (sorry Auburn Elvis). So who does that leave for a 1-loss team in the final spot? How about a team whose only loss was on the road at the undefeated National Champions in a controversial finish? You might even get a rematch on New Year’s Day in a huge bowl. That game would pull HUGE ratings. So chin up Irish Elvis, you may still have a shot at this thing.

The Hawkeyes have a bye this week so I’m headed for some Fun In Acapulco with some Girls! Girls! Girls! and get over these G.I. Blues.

@IrishElvis

1. Mississippi State – They still have a couple games with landmine potential, but they’re unbeaten and have looked like the most complete squad to this point in the season.
2. Florida State – They should have no more challenges up to and including their conference title game.
3. Oregon – I’m not sure why I have such fascination with the quacks out west…perhaps it’s the theory that losing early is beneficial, perhaps they’re still riding Chip Kelly’s coattails in my pompadoured head. Maybe I’m just not convinced we’re going to find a Big 12 team with fewer than two losses. Whatever the reason, I think the Ducks are an attractive option if they carry their lone loss into December.
4. Notre Dame – If there’s any way for a loss to be a positive, it’s this one. To clarify: this loss was *not* a positive for my heart or liver…so no more of that, please and thank you.

With the Elvii LSU and Hawkeye voting in lockstep for all four teams, this week’s poll was all but set. After MSU and FSU, there’s a yawning chasm in the TCB Poll voting for the final two playoff spots. We will see no more than 2 undefeated teams by the end of the year, which means there’s going to be a whole passel of one-loss teams (and maybe even legitimate two-loss teams?). Buckle up over the next month, college football fans — the TCB Poll is about to be All Shook Up.

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Image courtesy @AuburnElvis

Playoff Rankings: Week 6

Each week, the T.C.B. Poll is an aggregate of all our inputs. Scroll down to see individual selections and opinions.

Also receiving votes: Ole Miss.

TCB Committee Member Comments

@TheLSUElvis

One of the King’s best gospel songs was “Crying in the Chapel” and there were quite a few football fans crying in their chapels of football glory on Saturday after a very exciting weekend…as for the LSU Elvis’ top 4 only Florida State remains and three new teams to add to the list. Should I include one ACC team and 3 teams from the SEC West???? Well these teams would all have to beat each other just once and have everyone else in the country lose as well. Will this happen? I don’t know but crazier things have happened in college football. Here is my top 4 for the week.

1. Florida State – Sorry for moving you down a spot in my previous poll. You keep winning and I will keep putting you at Number one. In two weeks when my fellow Elvis Brother and the Irish play y’all will be quite the game.
2. Mississippi State – they play host to Auburn and I think Dak Prescott is starting to remind a lot of people of Cam Newton – who won the Heisman and brought his team home a national title.
3. Auburn – so the number 2 and 3 teams in the country beat my beloved LSU Tigers. One of these two will lose Saturday but the dream to still play in football playoff is not over. Slight edge to Mississippi State for two reasons – Cowbells and the birthplace of the King
4. Ole Miss – Well Hotty Toddy – I never thought I would have the Rebel black bears in my top 4 but they have done it. They still have Auburn, Mississippi State and travel to LSU…..you get through that schedule with one loss or fewer then you can stay in the top 4 my friends.

@AuburnElvis

1. Auburn. It looks like their O-line reshuffling issues have normalized, and that spells trouble for opposing defenses. Auburn is the only team in America that could get through Auburn’s schedule.
2. Mississippi State. Dang, these guys look good. If Auburn didn’t exist, I think THIS would be your eventual national champion.
3. Baylor. I don’t actually think Baylor will win the Big 12, but I’m putting them here as a placeholder for either Oklahoma, or more likely… Kansas State.
4. Notre- Ha, just kidding. FSU. I don’t think the Seminoles are one of the top four teams, or even that they’ll go undefeated. I just think Florida State is so lucky they’ll probably fall backwards into the playoffs on the final week after 3 teams ahead of them lose.

@HawkeyeElvis

My Hawkeyes figured out a genius way not to lose this past Saturday: don’t play. As you might imagine, a big ‘ol hunka-hunka burnin’ shake-up in the Hawkeye Elvis Top 4:

1. Florida State – Welcome back ‘Noles. Oh and that home game against the Irish is looking pretty big now.
2. Auburn – Can these Tigers survive their trip to the Magnolia State?
3. Mississippi State – Welcome to the TCB Top 4, Bulldogs. Let’s see if you can stay here more than a week.
4. Baylor? – Sure why not. Their lackluster win over Texas aside who goes here? I can’t put a third team from the same division (let alone conference here). A spot will be open after this week anyway.

@IrishElvis

Oh, October College Football, how I have missed you. There’s blood everywhere in the TCB Top 4, but somehow I managed to carry over two teams from last week into my Top 4, mostly because I dropped Alabama some weeks back knowing the Lane Kiffin Effect would eventually strike.

1. Florida State – C’mon back up to the top spot, defending champs! It’s entirely possible that no one is dominant this season.
2. Auburn – Do we crown Auburn Elvis as “King Creole” because of his head-to-head victory over LSU Elvis last week?
3. Ole Miss – Tough road game in College Station next week…let’s see if Dr. Bo is licensed to practice in the state of Texas.
4. Baylor – Atrocious strength of schedule, and they host TCU after the Purple Frogs take down Oklahoma. I think they get it done this week, but they won’t last long in this slot. I think Auburn handles the Cowbells so I can’t very well put MSU here…

Astute fans may notice a certain team is curiously absent from my top 4, and they will remain a Devil In Disguise unless/until they find a way to win in Tallahassee on October 18. After that…well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

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