STEWART MANDEL'S Extra Points

Navy's third win in four seasons over Notre Dame was no fluke. Led by quarterback Ricky Dobbs, the Midshipmen gashed the Irish for 367 rushing yards in a 35--17 victory that showed how powerful Navy can be when its triple option is clicking and how bare the defensive cupboard still is in South Bend.... The No. 1 team in the AP poll or BCS standings has lost on the road three straight weeks, and top-ranked Oregon is walking into a similar trap on Saturday at No. 24 USC. The Trojans, ineligible for the postseason, will treat this showdown as if it's their bowl game.... Hats off to Baylor (6--2), which became bowl eligible for the first time since 1995, entered the AP poll (No. 25) this week for the first time since '93 and sits alone atop the Big 12 South standings.

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