Miami Enjoys a Measure of Revenge Against the No. 1 Irish : College Football: No. 7 Hurricanes earn a bid to the Sugar Bowl after ending Notre Dame’s winning streak at 23 games.

Craig Erickson threw two touchdown passes to Dale Dawkins Saturday night as No. 7 Miami beat top-ranked Notre Dame, 27-10, ending the Fighting Irish’s 23-game winning streak and dimming their hopes for a second consecutive national title.

On New Year’s Day, the Irish (11-1) will play undefeated Colorado in the Orange Bowl and Miami (10-1) will play in the Sugar Bowl, probably against undefeated Alabama. All four teams remain in contention for the national championship.

Miami’s victory--its 32nd straight at the Orange Bowl--avenged last year’s 31-30 loss at Notre Dame. That defeat ended a 36-game regular-season winning streak for Miami and ruined the Hurricanes’ bid for a second consecutive national championship.

Leading, 17-10, at halftime, Miami opened the second half with an 80-yard scoring drive that featured six third-down conversions, including a 44-yard pass from Erickson to Randal Hill on third and 44. On the 22nd play of the drive, which took more than 10 minutes, Erickson threw a five-yard scoring pass to Dawkins that gave Miami a 24-10 lead.

Notre Dame’s last scoring threat was stopped on the Miami eight when Tony Rice’s fourth-down pass was broken up by Ryan McNeil with 7:04 left in the game. Miami closed the scoring with 1:44 left when Carlos Huerta kicked a 32-yard field goal, his second of the game.