Miami Jumps Ahead of Ohio State for No. 1 in BCS
Nov. 18, 2002
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Coral Gables, Fla (www.hurricanesports.com) – Miami finally moved atop the Bowl Championship Series standings — by the slimmest of margins.
The defending national champion Hurricanes squeaked past Ohio State, which needed overtime to beat Illinois 23-16 Saturday, in the latest standings released Monday. They edged the Buckeyes by 0.01 points, and the top two BCS teams have never been closer.
Miami, No. 1 in the AP media and coaches’ polls, has 3.69 points to top the standings for the first time this season, while Ohio State has 3.70 points. Washington State is third with 9.11 points.
The tight margin will be meaningless if Ohio State (12-0) and Miami (9-0) — the only unbeaten teams remaining — win the rest of their games. The top two teams in the final BCS standings released Dec. 8 will play in the national title game at the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., on Jan. 3.
“The BCS really hasn’t entered my mind,” Miami coach Larry Coker said. “I don’t think it’s entered the minds of our players much. It’s one of those things that’s totally out of our control.”
The Buckeyes’ close win over Illinois was partly to blame for their drop. Ohio State lost the No. 1 spot in The New York Times computer poll to Miami this week, increasing its computer-rank average to 1.50 while the Hurricanes’ was lowered to 1.33. That ranking is an average of seven different computer polls.
Miami, which did not play Saturday, also picked up points when its strength of schedule went from 1.60 to 1.36 this week. Ohio State, which has a composite total of 4.50, is so close to Miami because of a 0.8-point quality-win deduction for a victory over BCS No. 3 Washington State earlier this season.
Ohio State plays its regular-season finale against No. 12 Michigan (9-2) at home Saturday. Miami, which has won 31 straight games, hosts No. 17 Pittsburgh (8-2) on Thursday, then plays at Syracuse (4-7) and home against No. 13 Virginia Tech (8-2) on Dec. 7 to close out the season.
The Buckeyes are not concerned with the latest BCS standings.
“I don’t care. It doesn’t matter,” Ohio State free safety Donnie Nickey said. “If we’re 1 or 2, we’re in the game. Let’s do it.”
The BCS formula uses the AP media and coaches’ polls, computer polls, strength of schedule, won-loss record and a bonus-point system.
Miami has 3.69 points — 1 for poll average, 1.33 for computer-rank average, 1.36 for strength of schedule, zero for losses and no bonus-point deduction.
Ohio State has 3.70 points – 2 for poll average, 1.50 for computer-rank average, 1.00 for strength of schedule and a 0.8 bonus-point deduction.
Washington State would be the biggest beneficiary if Ohio State or Miami slips up. Also hoping for help are No. 4 Oklahoma (10.75) and No. 5 Georgia (12.16). Notre Dame moved up one spot to No. 6, putting it in position to make a BCS bowl game.
The Fighting Irish (9-1) are guaranteed a spot if they finish in the top six of the final BCS standings. The Fighting Irish are not in a conference and play Rutgers on Saturday before ending the season at BCS No. 8 Southern California (8-2).
Oklahoma and Georgia received a 0.2 bonus-point deduction for beating Alabama even though the Crimson Tide are not listed in the standings. Preliminary BCS standings have the Crimson Tide at No. 9, but because of NCAA probation they cannot be included.
Without Alabama, Michigan is No. 9 and Texas is No. 10. The Longhorns dropped five spots after losing to Texas Tech 42-38 Saturday. Oklahoma also received a 0.1 deduction for beating Texas.
Miami hopes it doesn’t drop in the BCS and can play for a second straight title.
“We have three tough games left,” Coker said. “We know we have a much tougher challenge than just the BCS.”
