(MCT) — CHICAGO — Out in crisp, near-midnight air late Saturday, the thaw began. Notre Dame players lingered on the turf of Boston College’s Alumni Stadium knowing that one loss — just one — by one of two teams might mean a shot at a national title. It was now too bright and too tantalizing a reality to deny, diminish or otherwise disregard.

“You can’t really ignore it, as much as you say you want to focus on yourself,” Irish tight end Tyler Eifert said, smiling. “Obviously we still have two more games, but we notice when people lose.”