There have been many debates as to whether or not the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have a favored status within the BCS.

True, they don't get an automatic berth like the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC champions do, but they do, as an independent, get an automatic berth if they finish in the top eight.

No other independent is afforded that luxury, nor do any of the non-BCS conferences have that same guarantee—they must finish in the top 12 (or top 16 and their ranking higher than a BCS conference champion.)

Irish apologists will point out that some BCS conference champions have had a lousy record, but because they are a BCS conference champion, they get a hall pass into a BCS bowl. After all...

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