(UHND.com) – With their impressive 41-17 win over Penn State Saturday, the Irish jumped back up in the polls Sunday, a week after they fell despite winning their opener against Georgia Tech. While last week’s unimpressive victory dropped the Irish to 4th (AP) and 5th (Coaches), this week’s old fashioned beat down of the Nittany Lions moved the Irish back to up to their preseason rankings in both polls.
With Texas losing to Ohio State we knew the Irish would move up at least one spot in both polls, but after steamrolling Penn State, Notre Dame jumped over USC in the AP Poll and Aubrun in the Coaches poll.
With USC idle this week, voters in the AP poll pushed Notre Dame ahead of their bitter rival despite USC’s own impressive win a week ago. Voter’s in the Coaches poll weren’t as generous to the Irish, but still voted them ahead of team who won its game Saturday in Auburn.
While the second through fifth spots can be debated the first spot was cemented by Ohio State with their tough road win over Texas 24-7.
Despite the rather lopsided loss, the Lions remained in the AP Poll at #25 and received the most votes in the “others receiving votes category” in the Coaches poll.
Other Irish opponents in the latest Top 25 include USC who is ranked 4th (AP) and 2nd (Coaches) respectively and this week’s opponent, Michigan, at 11th (AP) and 13th (Coaches)
