SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - At least one BCS official believes fourth-ranked Notre Dame has all but assured itself of playing in the Fiesta, Rose, Sugar or Rose bowls this season.

Fiesta Bowl executive director Robert Shelton says he thinks the Fighting Irish (8-0) would be an attractive option - even with two losses.

Rose Bowl chief administrative officer Kevin Ash says his bowl aims to pit a Big Ten team against a Pac-12 team. If that can't happen, Ash says the Irish would be an attractive alternative, in part because of its history. Knute Rockne guided a Notre Dame squad that featured the Four Horsemen to a 27-10 victory over Stanford in 1925.

The Irish are third in the BCS standings heading into Saturday's home game against Pittsburgh (4-4).