FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Notre Dame is playing for its first national championship since 1988 when the No. 1 Irish (12-0) play No. 2 Alabama (12-1) in the BCS title game Monday.

But even after fans waiting for more than two decades for another title and with a seven-week break between games, Irish running back Theo Riddick said he refuses to think about hw far the program has come.

"There's no time to reminisce, even with seven weeks off," Riddick said. "There is no time for that, because that means nothing if we don't win this game."

Other players have allowed themselves to think about what this season means to the program and the Irish fans.

"I feel lucky just to be part of the team right now and be on the team that kind of brought Notre Dame back," tight end and former Bishop Dwenger star Tyler Eifert said. "There's been a lot of teams before us, and for us to come back and go to national championship, put Notre Dame where everyone thinks we belong and where we do belong, it's been pretty special."