Running back depth a key for No. 1 Notre Dame on the way to BCS title matchup

Notre Dame running back Theo Riddick, right, gestures as he answers questions during a media availability, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Notre Dame is scheduled to play Alabama on Monday, Jan. 7 in the BCS national championship NCAA college football game. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2012, file photo, Notre Dame's Theo Riddick (6) runs out of the attempted tackle of Michigan's Kenny Demens (25) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind. With the national championship on the line, two throwback offenses will slug it out. No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Alabama rely heavily on the run, and that doesn't figure to change in the biggest game of the year. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File) (The Associated Press)

MIAMI – Looking for a key to tonight's BCS championship? One might be the performance of Notre Dame's running backs.

Notre Dame tailbacks Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood showed how interchangeable they are in the final two games of the regular season for the Fighting Irish.

Game 11 against Wake Forest, Wood ran for 150 yards, while Riddick had 20.

Game 12 against USC, it was Riddick running for 146 yards, and Wood for 20.

That's been the theme for the Irish this season: Two running backs — and sometimes three — are better than one. That approach has served Notre Dame pretty much since training camp, and the top-ranked Irish (12-0) are hoping it holds true Monday night against No. 2 Alabama (12-1).