Associated Press/Danny Moloshok - Notre Dame running back Theo Riddick celebrates after Notre Dame defeated Southern California 22-13 in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, in Los Angeles.
Notre Dame prevails in LA, now on to Miami
The Fighting Irish earned a spot in the National Championship with their win over USC
Jonathan ThompsonNotre Dame (12-0) allowed Southern California (7-5, 5-4) to hang around Saturday night in Los Angeles, but the Fighting Irish were able to hang on, on their way to a 22-13 victory.
Notre Dame is no stranger to close scares this season, winning five games by seven or less. The Irish escaped Southern California with a two-score advantage, but a huge relief came over third-year coach Brian Kelly as his team completed a perfect regular season.
The Fighting Irish are pretty much guaranteed a spot in the National Championship game in Miami on Jan. 7. Now, Notre Dame just has to wait to see who they will face.
With the latest BCS Rankings released, it seems as the second spot in the championship game will be determined by the winner of the SEC Championship this week between the third ranked Georgia Bulldogs (11-1, 7-1) against the second ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (11-1, 7-1).
Either way, the SEC will be playing for its seventh consecutive national championship.
Notre Dame has answered any criticism given to them this season going 12-0 and finding ways to win, but the challenge of a SEC defense seems to loom large on those who still doubt the Irish.
The Fighting Irish offense will be a question facing the SEC Champion, but their defense deserves recognition, too. Not once, not twice, but six times they stopped USC on goal line stands in the fourth quarter to secure the game Saturday night.
Monti Te'o made his case for The Heisman and no matter what anyone says, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have made it to the National Championship, and deservedly so.
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