Forde Continues where Dufresne Left Off

The Dash looked it up: since the AP poll cranked up in 1936, no national champion has ever lost by as many as 26 points, as the Fighting Irish did against Michigan Sept. 16. The closest was Miami's first national title team, in 1983, which lost its opener 28-3 to Florida and then ran the table -- capped by that epic Orange Bowl upset of juggernaut Nebraska. (Note, too, that Miami's loss to Florida was on the road. Notre Dame's maize-and-blue beating came at home.)

Pacific-10 Conference

Their ad: (Open with ground-up video of Pete Carroll (20) standing tall in L.A. Coliseum.) "The other leagues tried to tell you that USC would take a step back in 2006, and the Pac-10 would backslide with it." (Roll tape of John David Booty (21) throwing a touchdown pass to Dwayne Jarrett (22).) "They said the Trojans would never be the same after losing Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush." (Roll tape of the USC defense suffocating Arkansas, Nebraska and Arizona.) "They said it was time for someone else to assume the role of the preeminent program in the country." (Roll tape of Traveler, the USC song girls, the USC marching band. Cue stand-up of Will Ferrell (23).) "This is Will Ferrell, inviting you to check the rankings and see how far USC football has fallen. Fight on."

The attack ad: (Open with the logos of nine conference schools not named USC.) "Guess which schools the Pac-10 forgot to mention in its misleading and deceptive ad." (Roll tape of Tennessee trampling California.) "All but one." (Roll tape of Auburn throttling Washington State.) "The Pac-10 is a single-issue candidate in terms of competition for the national title. When the conversation doesn't involve USC, they change the subject." (Roll tape of LSU slaughtering Arizona.) "How much longer do we have to stand for this one-trick Trojan horse of a league?" (Roll tape of Boise State crushing Oregon State.) "How bad can we afford to allow it to get?" (Roll tape of Stanford failing to tackle anyone.) "And we won't even mention the officiating." (Black-and-white still shot of The Villainous Replay Ref.)