The Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s X Factor Against Alabama

January 7th seems like a date off in the distance, but before we know it the Alabama Crimson Tide and Notre Dame Fighting Irish will take the field in Sun Life Stadium for a shot at the 2012 BCS National Championship.

Alabama will come into the contest as the established program-winning more games than any other program since 2008. Meanwhile Notre Dame has been a program on the cusp, finishing 8-5 in head coach Brian Kelly's first two seasons, will enter after finishing 12-0 in Kelly’s 3^rd season.

ESPN.com Notre Dame Blogger Matt Fortuna noted that the Fighting Irish’s success this season is a year ahead of schedule in large part to a number of different factors.

Fortuna noted that a big reason for the Irish’s success offensively has come from sophomore quarterback Everett Golson, who could prove to be Notre Dame’s biggest strength, or weakness against the Crimson Tide.

The Game is Tuscaloosa’s only daily sports talk program featuring Ryan Fowler and Mick Gillispie.  The show airs Monday-Friday on Tuscaloosa’s Sports Authority, 99.1 WDGM. The entire interview can be found here.