Notre Dame helps create logjam at top of college football polls

Notre Dame’s big win at Oklahoma on Saturday night has created a possible nightmare scenario in the BCS as four undefeated teams possibly vie for two national title spots.

Despite its impressive win, Notre Dame was not able to leapfrog the three unbeaten teams ahead of the Irish.

Alabama (8-0) and Oregon (8-0) held on to the top two spots in two major polls released Sunday. Kansas State (8-0) took advantage of Florida’s defeat to move up to No. 3 while Notre Dame (8-0) moved to No. 4.

The problem is none of the top four teams play one another, leaving the possibility that all could be undefeated at the end of the season. Only the top two teams in the final standings will play for this year’s BCS national title in South Florida.

Louisiana State, which hosts Alabama next weekend, is No. 5 in the Associated Press poll, followed by Ohio State, Georgia, Florida, Florida State and Clemson.

No. 7 Oregon State, which lost at Washington in a late Saturday night game, fell to No. 13, while USC’s loss at Arizona dropped the Trojans from No. 10 to No. 18.

UCLA, with its last-second win at Arizona State, moved back into the poll, at No. 25.

The USA Today coaches’ poll has LSU at No. 5, followed by Georgia, Florida State, Florida, Clemson and Louisville. The coaches’ poll does not recognize Ohio State (8-0) because the Buckeyes are on NCAA probation.

The AP is no longer part of the BCS formula but crowns an independent champion that could include Ohio State.

The Harris Interactive poll, which is part of the BCS system, features the same top four teams as AP and the coaches’ polls, followed by LSU, Georgia, Florida State, Florida, Clemson and Louisville. USC is No. 16 and UCLA is No. 28.

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