(MCT) — Seven games into an increasingly remarkable season, enjoying exalted position in the national polls, Brian Kelly has been here before: undefeated, but apparently not as undefeated as a few others.

This happened in 2009, when his upstart Cincinnati team remained spotless week after week but remained at a loss when others also never dropped a game. It’s happening again in 2012 with Notre Dame, which is unscathed through seven games and lingering at No. 5 in the latest Bowl Championship Series standings.