BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Bucks, 'Canes earn title shot

Ohio State and Miami are the only two remaining unbeaten teams.
By RICHARD ROSENBLATT
AP FOOTBALL WRITER
No BCS controversy this time -- Miami and Ohio State are a perfect match for the national title game in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3.
The top-ranked Hurricanes beat No. 18 Virginia Tech 56-45 Saturday and earned a shot at defending their national crown when they take on No. 2 Ohio State in Tempe, Ariz.
With Miami (12-0) and Ohio State (13-0) the only unbeatens left, there can be no argument over who should be playing in the Bowl Championship Series' title game.
Both teams were officially invited to the Fiesta, even though the final Bowl Championship Series standings that determine the top two teams won't be released until today. Miami and Ohio State were first and second on the last BCS list.
Other games
Matchups for the other BCS games took shape when Washington State beat UCLA, 48-27. The Cougars (10-2) clinched the Pac-10 title and will play in the Rose Bowl, likely against the Big 12 champion (Oklahoma or Colorado).
Washington State's win probably sends Southern California (10-2) to the Sugar Bowl to play the SEC champion (Georgia or Arkansas), while the Orange Bowl will match ACC champion Florida State (9-4) against Iowa (11-1).
Six conference champions were automatic qualifiers for BCS games, with two-at large teams also selected.
Saturday's results mean that Notre Dame (10-2) probably is out of the BCS picture, costing the Irish a $13 million payout. The Irish probably will play in the Gator Bowl against North Carolina State. The payout from that game is $1.6 million.
Miami will face Ohio State for just the third time. The Buckeyes beat Miami in 1977, and the Hurricanes evened the series with a 23-14 victory to start the 1999 season.
Miami has won 34 games in a row, including last year's title game against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers made it to the Rose Bowl after losses by Florida, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Tennessee, sparking debate about which one-loss team deserved to play the 'Canes for the title.
There was controversy in 2000, too. Miami, after losing to Washington, beat Florida State in the regular season but then ended up behind the Seminoles in the final BCS standings. Florida State went on to play Oklahoma for the title in the Orange Bowl.
Lineup
The current bowl lineup:
New Orleans (Dec. 17): North Texas (7-5) vs. Cincinnati (7-6)
GMAC (Dec. 18): Marshall (10-2) vs. Louisville (7-5)
Tangerine (Dec. 23): Clemson (7-5) vs. Big 12
Las Vegas (Dec. 25): Pac-10 No. 5 vs. New Mexico (7-6)
Hawaii (Dec. 25): Tulane (7-5) vs. Hawaii (9-3)
Motor City (Dec. 26): Toledo (9-4) vs. Big Ten No. 7
Insight (Dec. 26): Pac-10 No. 4 vs. Pittsburgh (8-4)
Houston (Dec. 27): Big 12 vs. Southern Mississippi (7-5)
Holiday Bowl (Dec. 27): Big 12 vs. Pac-10 No. 2
Alamo (Dec. 28): Big 12 No. 4 vs. Wisconsin (7-6)
Continental Tire (Dec. 28): Big East No. 4 or 5 vs. ACC selection No. 4 or 5
Music City (Dec. 30): Minnesota (7-5) vs. SEC No. 6
Seattle (Dec. 30) ACC vs. MWC No. 4
Humanitarian (Dec. 31): At large vs. Boise State (11-1)
Sun (Dec. 31): Pac-10 No. 3 vs. Purdue (6-6)
Liberty (Dec. 31) Colorado State (10-3) vs. TCU (9-2)
Silicon Valley Classic (Dec. 31): Fresno State (8-5) vs. At-large
Peach (Dec. 31): Maryland (10-3) vs. Tennessee (8-4)
San Francisco (Dec. 31): Air Force (8-4) vs. Big East No. 4 or 5
Outback (Jan. 1): Michigan (9-3) vs. Florida (8-4)
Cotton (Jan. 1): SEC selection vs. Big 12 No. 2
Capital One (Jan. 1): Penn State (9-3) vs. SEC No. 2