Three weeks into the 2012 season, Florida State, Notre Dame and Ohio State are a combined 9-0 and ranked fourth, 11th and 16th, respectively, in the latest Associated Press poll.
As should have been expected, the talk has turned to, especially as it pertains to the Seminoles, whether the three traditional powers are we-really-mean-it-this-time back. Of course, the early-season schedule has played a significant role in the unblemished marks, with just one win over a ranked opponent (the Irish over then-No. 10 Michigan State and victories over the likes of two FCS-level programs (FSU), Miami of Ohio (OSU) and winless Navy (ND).
All told, the threesome’s 2012 opponents are a combined 11-14.
On Thursday’s NBC Sports Talk program, host Erik Kuselias discusses with the New York Times’ Pete Thamel the very headline of this post: are Florida State, Notre Dame and Ohio State back?