SYRACUSE, N.Y., Nov. 29 (UPI) -- The college football spotlight this weekend turns to top-ranked Miami (10-0), which can set up an undisputed heavyweight title bout with No. 2 Ohio State by winning Saturday at Syracuse and next week at home against Virginia Tech.
The Hurricanes will be most watched team in the sport, particularly by one-loss teams such as Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Georgia and Iowa, all of whom are looking for a backdoor route to the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., where the national championship game will be played.
Miami continues its quest Saturday when it brings a 32-game winning streak to upstate New York for a meeting with the Orangemen. The defending national champions endured a close call last week before escaping with a 28-21 win over Pittsburgh at the Orange Bowl.
"No teams are going to give it to us," said quarterback Ken Dorsey.
Syracuse has posed a minimal threat in recent years. Miami has won the last three games in the series by a combined score of 130-13, and leads the all-time series, 13-7.
In addition, the Hurricanes have posted shutouts in the last two meetings, 26-0 at the Carrier Dome in 2000, and 59-0 last year at the Orange Bowl.
The Hurricanes have won 22 straight Big East Conference games and 16 straight overall on the road. They also are 22-0 under Coach Larry Coker.
Should Miami stumble, the team next in line for a Fiesta Bowl berth likely would be fourth-ranked Oklahoma (10-1), which moved up to third in the latest BCS standings after Washington State lost to Washington last week.
Oklahoma clinched a berth in the Big 12 title game against Colorado with a 60-15 pasting of outmanned Texas Tech last week, and will visit Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon in the latest edition of the Bedlam Game.
Last year, the Cowboys shocked the Sooners, 16-13, in Norman in one of the season's biggest upsets. The loss cost Oklahoma, which was ranked fourth at the time, a shot at a second straight national title.
No. 7 Notre Dame (10-1) needs plenty of help to get to the Fiesta Bowl, but likely will earn a berth in one of the lucrative BCS bowls with a win over sixth-ranked Southern California (9-2). Standing in the way of a lucrative payday for Notre Dame is one of the hottest quarterbacks in the country in USC's Carson Palmer.
He has made a late push for the Heisman Trophy and will lead the Trojans on Saturday night in the 74th edition of one of the best intersectional rivalries in college football. Palmer threw four touchdown passes in last week's 52-21 rout of UCLA. In his last five games, he has thrown for 1,581 yards and 19 touchdowns.
"It is obvious to everyone that he poses more than just a little problem," said Notre Dame Coach Tyrone Willingham, who faced USC yearly in his previous job at Stanford. The Trojans have won six straight games, and also are in contention for a BCS berth.
USC also can clinch the Pac-10 title and a trip to the Rose Bowl if Washington State loses to UCLA next week.
"There is a lot on the line in this game," said Notre Dame flanker Arnaz Battle. "Both teams have BCS dreams."
Notre Dame is seventh in the latest BCS standings and is guaranteed a berth if it finishes at least sixth in the final standings. The Irish has relied on their defense, and that unit will be tested by USC, which has reached 40 points in a season five times for the first time since 1979.
Fifth-ranked Georgia (10-1), another school hoping for teams above it to lose, hosts Georgia Tech on Saturday. The Bulldogs already have clinched the SEC East title, and will meet the winner of Friday's game between No. 17 LSU (8-3) and Arkansas in the league championship game on Dec. 7 in Atlanta.
LSU , which has a one-game lead over Arkansas, will capture the outright division crown with a victory. An Arkansas triumph would create a three-way tie with LSU and Auburn, but the Razorbacks would win the division with three losses based on wins over the other two teams.
Alabama leads the SEC West at 6-2, but is ineligible for postseason play because it is on NCAA probation.
Two other games involving ranked teams are scheduled for Friday afternoon.
Nebraska tries to make amends for last season's 62-36 humiliation in Boulder when it hosts No. 15 Colorado (8-3). The Buffaloes already have clinched the Big 12 North title, and will face Oklahoma for the league title on Dec. 7 in Houston.
Also Friday, No. 10 Texas (9-2) hosts Texas A&M in what likely will be an emotional game for the Aggies following the death of freshman defensive end Brandon Fails on Monday.
Saturday's schedule also has No. 11 Florida (8-3) visiting No. 22 Florida State (8-4). It will mark the first time since 1986 that neither team will rank in the top 10 in the rankings.
In a notable Big East game, No. 22 West Virginia (8-3) visits No. 18 Pittsburgh (8-3) with the winner likely earning a trip to the Gator Bowl. West Virginia last week knocked off No. 19 Virginia Tech (8-3), which will try to bounce back Saturday when it hosts archrival Virginia for the Commonwealth Cup.
In other games, Wake Forest is at No. 23 Maryland (9-3), and Alabama closes its season with a visit to No. 24 Hawaii (9-2).
