Miami Lets the Air Out of Van Pelt and Pitt, 45-0 : Hurricanes: Panther quarterback is held under 100 yards passing for the first time in his career. Erickson throws for 355.

Grounding Pittsburgh’s passing game, the eighth-ranked Miami Hurricanes kept alive their slim hopes for a second consecutive national championship by trouncing the Panthers, 45-0, Saturday.

“Football is goofy,” Miami Coach Dennis Erickson said. “This is really a strange year. Who knows who is going to be No. 1? It’s going to be interesting.”

Miami’s Craig Erickson passed for 355 yards while the Hurricanes (6-2) held Alex Van Pelt to 85.

Van Pelt, who passed for 384 yards in a 31-22 loss to Notre Dame a week ago, was held under 100 yards for the first time in his 21-game career. He completed 10 of 22 passes with no interceptions.

“I don’t see how they lost to Notre Dame,” Pitt Coach Paul Hackett said. “They’re just a spectacular defensive team--unbelievable team speed.”

Pittsburgh (3-5-1) suffered its most lopsided shutout defeat since a 48-0 loss at Miami in 1968.

Erickson completed 25 of 35 passes for two touchdowns before leaving with Miami ahead, 38-0, late in the third quarter.

Leonard Conley rushed for 89 yards in 11 carries and scored on runs of 27 and eight yards. He also caught three passes for 69 yards.

In the first half, Erickson completed 20 of 23 passes for 282 yards as Miami built a 31-0 lead. Pittsburgh, plagued by poor tackling in the secondary, surrendered touchdown drives of 68, 86, 92 and 77 yards.

Pitt’s best scoring threat came in the third quarter when Miami’s Paul Snyder was unable to get away a punt after a high snap at the Miami 25. But Pitt’s Lionel Sykes fumbled the ball away to Miami’s Roland Smith at the 13.