Miami Uses Turnovers to Defeat BC : Big East: After trailing at halftime, 7-3, Hurricanes’ defense goes to work for a 23-7 victory.

The Miami Hurricanes’ top-ranked defense might next get a crack at the nation’s No. 1 team.

No. 5-ranked Miami forced four second-half turnovers Saturday night and rallied past Boston College, 23-7, all but clinching a berth in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1 against No. 1 Nebraska.

“If we beat them, in our minds we feel we’re the best team in the country,” Miami quarterback Frank Costa said.

The Hurricanes struggled offensively against the No. 25 Eagles and trailed, 7-3, at halftime. Turnovers led to both touchdowns by Miami, which ranks first nationally in total defense and scoring defense.

Boston College’s Mark Hartsell threw three interceptions in the second half and lost a fumble that Corwin Francis recovered at Miami’s 33.

After the game, Hurricane Coach Dennis Erickson wore an Orange Bowl hat.

“The great thing about this win,” he said, “is the way we came back in the second half after being down and took the game over.”

With the victory, the Hurricanes remained in contention for the national championship, finishing the regular season 10-1 overall and 7-0 in the Big East Conference.

“If we play like we’re capable of playing, I don’t think anybody can play with us, including Nebraska,” defensive end Kenny Holmes said. “Sometimes that even includes teams that play on Sundays.”

Boston College, likely bound for the Aloha Bowl against Kansas State, fell to 6-4-1 and 3-3-1.

“This was the game we were looking at,” said tight end Pete Mitchell, who scored the Eagles’ only touchdown. “This was kind of our bowl game. They made some great plays defensively. They have so many great athletes.”

Boston College’s defense had its moments too. The Eagles sacked Costa six times, but he withstood the onslaught to throw touchdown passes of eight yards to Trent Jones and 27 yards to Chris T. Jones.

“I took a lot of shots,” Costa told a group of reporters. “You guys can criticize me all you want, but you can’t say I won’t stick my nose in there. I’m sure I’ll be sore (today), but I feel a lot better since we won.”

On one play, Costa was chased 27 yards behind the line of scrimmage before throwing incomplete. Despite the pressure, he completed 22 of 37 passes for 251 yards with no interceptions.

“Maybe in his next life he should take up boxing,” Eagle Coach Dan Henning said. “I never saw anybody come up off the turf like he did. He’s a tough guy. He took some big-time shots and kept coming back.”

Miami’s touchdowns, capping drives of 47 and 67 yards, followed Kenard Lang’s interception of a tipped pass and the fumble recovery by Francis. Chad Wilson and Carlos Jones also had interceptions for the Hurricanes, who allowed only 51 points in their seven Big East games.

“We have confidence that sooner or later we’re going to score,” Costa said.

Miami stalled several times deep in Boston College territory, and Dane Prewitt kicked field goals of 27, 24 and 32 yards. Prewitt has made 13 attempts in a row, breaking Carlos Huerta’s school record of 11 in a row set in 1990.