From No. 7 to No. 1! The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have completed their climb to the top of the ESPN Power Rankings, joined by fellow ACC powerhouses North Carolina and NC State, both cracking the top 10. The Irish also snagged the No. 1 spot in the AP and coaches' polls, though not without some debate.
Texas, despite two overtime losses to Notre Dame and South Carolina earlier in the season, remains a contender. Their subsequent 10-game win streak, including six victories over ranked opponents and a rematch win against South Carolina, has kept them in the conversation. UCLA also garnered some No. 1 votes after their lone loss to crosstown rival USC, who now leapfrogs them in our Power Rankings due to recent performance emphasis. Let's be real, ranking teams at this point in the season is a juggling act.
But let's talk about Notre Dame's dominance. They've racked up 18 consecutive wins, with all but one being decided by double digits. Only Clemson managed to keep it close (a nine-point loss on Jan. 12) since the Irish's November stumbles against TCU and Utah in the Cayman Islands.
In their first game as the No. 1 team, the Irish powered through Duke's defense for a 64-49 victory, led by Hannah Hidalgo's 19 points and four assists. Hidalgo, Olivia Miles, and Sonia Citron form a dynamic guard trio that wreaks havoc on both ends of the court. And let's not forget Liatu King. Her impact as a transfer, averaging a double-double, can't be overstated. The team is now at full strength with the return of Maddy Westbeld and Liza Karlen from injury.
While some might argue the SEC's strength (eight teams in the NCAA NET rankings top 20) surpasses the ACC (four teams), Notre Dame has undeniably earned its No. 1 ranking. However, the ultimate prize – the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament – still requires more work.
The Irish currently sit at No. 4 in the NCAA's top 16 seed reveal, trailing UCLA, South Carolina, and Texas. Mark your calendars: we'll get another glimpse at the seed picture on Feb. 27. Stay tuned!
