Because their direct pipelines to Satan, NBC and the NCAA get them special favors. (Or maybe it is just Satan, and he does the rest) Seriously, ND is not going to have the resume to make the BCS title game as a 1-loss independent team with their more than 50% total cupcake schedule and giving up almost 50 points to Michigan. There is no way they will be ahead of the TOSU-Mich loser even if they manage to beat USC (very doubtfull) and Florida loses. Having GTech (Geo, ACC champ) and USC (Cal/UCLA) win all their other games would help bolster their case, but not enough to catch a 1 loss TOSU or Mich IMO who won't play after this saturday. ND isn't alone, there is no way Arkansas or Rutgers (undefeated and much higher in computers than ND) will make it either, But I get the spirit of your question and hope I answered it. I still wonder why so many Texans around here hate the two best teams in Texas football, America's Team and the Longhorns. But whatever.