THE BOTTOM TEN

One of the true tests of a bad team is whether it can lose the close ones -- snatch defeat from victory.

Notre Dame showed it has the knack. The Fighting Rash, the only team in the nation to use a prevent offense, finally scored some points Saturday but still managed to fall short, 44-46, to Navy to regain the top spot in the Bottom Ten.

After an earlier loss to Boston College, Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis said that his team was “already out of bowl contention; it’s not like you’re going to the toiletbowl.com.” Don’t give up hope yet, coach. The Bottom Ten is trying to secure financing for just such a postseason classic.

And then there was the inspiring message that Lou Holtz gave Nebraska in a mock pep talk on ESPN the other day. “We’re changing Nebraska from this point forward,” Holtz declared.

Nebraska then lost, 39-76. Maybe Lincoln doesn’t get cable yet.

*--* Wreck Team (W-L) Last loss Next Loss 1. Notre Dame (1-8) 44-46, Navy Air Force 2. Florida Int. (0-9) 24-27, Arkansas St. Healing 3. Utah State (0-9) 27-38, Fresno St. Boise State 4. Nebraska (4-6)* 39-76, Kansas Kansas State 5. Duke (1-8) 10-47, Clemson Georgia Tech 6. Minnehaha (1-9) 17-44, Ill Iowa 7. Idaho (1-9) 16-28, La. Tech Healing 8. SMU (1-8) 28-38, Houston Rice 9. Tulane (2-7) 25-49, Tulsa UTEP 10. Ala.-Birm. (2-7) 7-37, S. Miss Central Florida *--*

* 11-14. Bill & Mary & Lewis & Clark (4-13 combined); 15. Syracuse (2-7); 16. Marshall (1-8); 17. Columbia (1-8); 18. Baylor (3-7); 19. To be announced; 20. UCLA (5-4)*.

*Will never win again.

* Crummy game of the week: Washington State (3-6) vs. Stanford (3-6).

* Rout of the week: Boise State (8-1) over Utah State (0-9).

* Shameless hype award: Previewing the Sunday night yawner between Houston and SMU, ESPN’s Eric Collins called SMU (1-8) “a team in transition.”

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steve.harvey@latimes.com