SO WHAT DO WE KNOW about college foot- ball today that we didn't know a week ago? A few things, although the crystal ball is still a little hazy.

Predicting bowl scenarios and Heisman favorites is a waste of time for now. So let's stick to what we can say for sure:

Notre Dame is for real, and N.C. State is looking more like a contender than a pretender.

The Irish's emergence means Virginia Tech may need more than a 13-0 record to reach the Fiesta Bowl--and given the Hokies' uninspired recent performances, that'll take some doing.

There's a chance that six major-college teams could finish unbeaten--and if you ever needed an argument for a playoff, you'd have it.

We should start petitioning now for an Iowa-Ohio State matchup, since both look like they could finish unbeaten in the Big Ten without playing each other.

Virginia didn't embarrass itself with a loss at Georgia Tech. but the Cavaliers' unexpected bowl hopes are mighty tenuous.

Let's start with the Irish, who have shut up their critics with impressive road wins at Air Force and Florida State in the past eight days. Yesterday's romp in Tallahassee (softened by two late FSU touchdowns) could demote the Seminoles--like Florida and Nebraska before them--into uncharted territory outside the Top 25. Welcome to the real world, Bobby Bowden.

Notre Dame's offense still scares no one. But the Irish have a ferocious, turnover-hungry defense and a competitive arrogance unseen since Lou Holtz's early days in South Bend. Ty Willingham virtually has coach of the year sewn up, and if the Irish win out, they'll be in the Fiesta Bowl.

That's bad news for Virginia Tech, which trails Notre Dame in the BCS standings. In a 13-game season, every team endures doldrums, and the Hokies have muddled through a couple of sleepwalking efforts against the dregs of the Big East, Rutgers and Temple.

They'll need to snap out of it in a hurry, with dangerous Pittsburgh coming to Blacksburg next weekend. It's clear now that one loss will almost surely dash anyone's national title hopes, so the third-ranked Hokies (8-0) can't afford a single misstep.