The Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame doesn't look unbeatable to Boston College.

Eagles players say the fourth-ranked Irish (8-0) look an awful lot like the Notre Dame team they beat last season - the one that finished 5-6 and had its coach fired at the end of the season.

"We know it's the same players we beat last year," BC linebacker Josh Ott said. "They have a different coach but the same players, and we know we've got players who can beat them."

Today, the Eagles will see quite a few similarities between the Irish team they beat 21-17 last year and this year's version. Both of those teams had tough defenses - the Irish defense is rated 12th in the nation, giving up 293.6 yards a game, compared to last season when it was 14th at 304.9 yards a game.

But Notre Dame's offense has struggled, just like last year, ranking 109th in the nation, compared with 110th last year.

The big difference has been that the Irish have found ways to win every game - primarily by the defense forcing timely turnovers. Notre Dame has 14 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries leading to 95 points - nearly half the Irish's points this season.

BC running back Derrick Knight calls that luck.

"They are just on a lucky streak," Knight said. "They've gotten a lot of breaks. They're not supermen. ...

"They don't have this big forceful defense like Miami does. I wouldn't put them on a caliber of that."

BC coach Tom O'Brien disagreed, though, saying the Irish's defense reminds him of both Miami and Virginia Tech in the way it can quickly change the momentum of a game. The key for the Eagles (4-3) will be to protect the football and to establish a running game, O'Brien said.

But the Irish have held six of their eight opponents this season to less than half their previous rushing averages.