Ohio State tops latest BCS standings; Miami second

Miami might be No. 1 in two polls, but Ohio State is atop the latest Bowl Championship Series standings. <br><br>The Buckeyes (11-0) have 3.41 points to lead Monday's chart, while Miami (9-0) is No.

Tuesday, November 12th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Miami might be No. 1 in two polls, but Ohio State is atop the latest Bowl Championship Series standings.

The Buckeyes (11-0) have 3.41 points to lead Monday's chart, while Miami (9-0) is No. 2 with 4.10 points. Each moved up one spot after previous BCS leader Oklahoma lost to Texas A&M 30-26 Saturday.

If Ohio State and Miami _ the only unbeaten teams remaining _ win the rest of their games, they will play for the national championship. 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.

Miami, the defending national champion, temporarily lost the top spot in the AP media poll last week but is now a unanimous No. 1 following a 26-3 win over Tennessee.

The Hurricanes, also No. 1 in the coaches' poll, have won a school-record 31 straight games.

The Buckeyes are ahead of Miami for one big reason _ quality win points. Ohio State has a 4.21 composite total, compared with Miami's 4.10. But the Buckeyes got a 0.8 deduction for a 25-7 victory over Washington State on Sept. 14. Miami has no bonus-point deduction.

Ohio State's deduction went from 0.6 points last week to 0.8 points this week because the Cougars jumped two spots to No. 3 in the new BCS standings. Washington State (9-1) has 8.77 points, followed by Oklahoma (8-1) with 10.05 points, and Texas (9-1) with 11.50 points.

Miami has a more difficult schedule ahead than Ohio State. The Hurricanes are off this week, then play at home against No. 18 Pittsburgh (8-2) on Nov. 21, followed by games at Syracuse (4-6) and at home against No. 13 Virginia Tech (8-2).

Ohio State, meanwhile, plays at Illinois (4-6) on Saturday and ends the season at home against No. 12 Michigan (8-2) on Nov. 23.

The BCS formula uses the AP media and coaches' polls, computer polls, strength of schedule, won-loss record and a bonus-point system.

Ohio State has 3.41 points _ 2 for poll average, 1.33 for computer-rank average, 0.88 for strength of schedule, zero for losses and a 0.8 deduction for that victory over Washington State.

Miami has 4.10 points _ 1 for poll average, 1.50 for computer-rank average, 1.60 for strength of schedule and no bonus-point deduction.

Washington State has 8.77 points _ 3.5 for poll average, 3.67 for computer-rank average, 0.80 for strength of schedule, one for losses and a 0.2 deduction for a victory over Southern California.

If Miami or Ohio State slips, Washington State, Oklahoma and Texas might get a shot to play for the national championship.