Notre Dame takes over top spot in BCS standings

Notre Dame is a win away from playing for the BCS championship. Alabama and Georgia each need two wins, and could have to go through each other.

A day after Oregon and Kansas State lost to give up control of the BCS race, the Fighting Irish (.9973) moved into first place.

Notre Dame was No. 1 for the first time in 19 years in the Associated Press poll released Sunday, and Alabama was No. 2 after a pair of stunning Saturday night upsets rearranged the rankings. When the BCS standings came out, they lined up the same way.

Notre Dame (11-0) needs only to beat slumping rival Southern California (7-4) on Saturday in Los Angeles to earn its first trip to the BCS title game. And Southern Cal will be without quarterback Matt Barkley, who suffered a sprained shoulder when he was sacked in the final minutes of the Trojans' 38-28 loss to UCLA. Coach Lane Kiffin said that redshirt freshman Max Wittek will make his first career start in place of Barkley.

Alabama (.9333) and Georgia (.8763) also have rivalry games Saturday. The Crimson Tide host Auburn, and the Bulldogs play Georgia Tech at home.

If the favorites win, the Southeastern Conference championship game will be a national semifinal of sorts, with the winner advancing to the BCS title game. Georgia moved up to No. 3 in the AP poll and the same spot in the BCS standings.

Oregon (10-1) still has a chance to be in the mix for the national championship game. The Ducks have to beat rival Oregon State (8-2) on Saturday.

Stanford (9-2), led by poised freshman quarterback Kevin Hogan, knocked Oregon off the top of the AP rankings with a 17-14 overtime win Saturday night. As a result, Oregon fell from No. 1 to No. 5 in the AP top 25 and Notre Dame moved up from No. 3.

Kansas State (10-1) - which also was undefeated until a stunning, 52-24 loss to unranked Baylor (5-5) on Saturday - dove from No. 2 to No. 7.

Dooley out. Coach Derek Dooley was fired after posting Tennessee's longest run of consecutive losing seasons in more than a century. Dooley had a 15-21 record that included an 0-15 mark against top-25 teams.

The Vols (4-7, 0-7 SEC) must beat Kentucky on Saturday to avoid going winless in the SEC for the first time ever. Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney will serve as interim coach.

Gophers receiver quits. Minnesota's leading receiver, A.J. Barker, quit the team and said he intends to transfer to another school, preferably in the Big Ten. The walk-on had 30 receptions for 577 yards and seven touchdowns.