Notre Dame ends season No 1 in BCS poll

Notre Dame finished the season atop the final Bowl Championship Series rankings released Sunday, with Alabama and Georgia remaining Nos. 2 and 3. The final list means the undefeated Fighting Irish (12-0) will face either the Crimson Tide or the Bulldogs (both 11-1) in the Jan. 7 national championship game at Miami. The conference rivals will square off against each other Saturday in the SEC championship game with a shot at the BCS championship on the line. The Irish retained their No. 1 ranking with a near-perfect .998 average after a victory at Southern California Saturday. Florida, Oregon, Kansas State, Louisiana State, Stanford, Texas A&M and South Carolina rounded out the final Top 10.