No hoax! Notre Dame wins National Championship; defeats Stanford 28-24

When Notre Dame struggled past Louisville to open the tournament, whereas Alabama, Oregon, and Stanford cruised, generally the Irish were counted out of the National Championship chase. However, with Stanford courteously removing SEC schools Florida and Alabama, ND ended up eliminating the Pac-12's Oregon and Cardinal to win the another National Championship in their glorious gridiron history.

Notre Dame took the early lead and held it for the duration. With just under 10 minutes left in the opening quarter, ND QB Everett Golson hit TJ Jones on a 5 yard TD pass for the Irish 7-0 lead.

At about the same point of the second quarter, Irish RB Theo Riddick ran it in from six yards out, and ND held a two TD lead. Stanford was determined to keep it close. The Cardinal responded with a 1 yard Anthony Wilkerson TD run, to cut the lead to 14-7.

ND was on their game this night, and Cierre Wood ran it in from 7 yards out for the 21-7 lead. But Stanford quieted the Irish followers on the ensuing kickoff, as Kelsey Young return for 94 yard TD trimmed the lead to 21-14, which was the score as teams retreated for halftime.

The game remained tight in the third, with no scoring. Early in the fourth, Stanford kicker Jordan Williamson's 24 yard FG cut the ND lead to 21-17. With five minutes to play, Everett Golson ran in a touchdown from 15 yards out to provide a 28-17 cushion. Stanford tightened the game on a 19 yard Kevin Hogan to Jamal-Rashad Patterson TD pass, and the lead was 28-24. But Stanford never threatened, as Notre Dame recovered an onside kick, and Theo Riddick runs killed the clock. Notre Dame wins the National Championship!

Final 2012-2013 tournament results:

FIRST ROUND:

In Atlanta:
7 Florida State 21
10 Wisconsin 14

In Chicago:
8 Northern Illinois 10
9 Louisville 25

BCS BOWLS (Quarterfinals):

Fiesta:
1 Notre Dame 17
9 Louisville 10

Orange:
4 Oregon 35
5 Kansas State 17

Sugar:
2 Alabama 42
7 Florida State 17

Rose:
3 Florida 23
6 Stanford 34

Semi-Finals in Arlington, Texas: (January 12th)

1 Notre Dame 49
4 Oregon 27

2 Alabama 7
6 Stanford 20

BCS Championship in Miami: (January 26th)

1 Notre Dame 28
6 Stanford 24