Miami Improves BCS Standing

Miami spoke, and even the BCS computer listened.

The Hurricanes surged closer to first-place Nebraska and pulled further away from third-place Oklahoma in the Bowl Championship Series standings released Monday.

Two days after its 59-0 rout of Syracuse, Miami was second again, but this week the Hurricanes should feel much more secure about playing for a national championship in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 3.

Should Nebraska (11-0) and Miami (9-0) win the rest of their games, it is unlikely that a one-loss team such as Florida or Oregon could pass them when the final standings are released on Dec. 9.

In the latest standings, Nebraska, idle on Saturday, had 2.87 points, while Miami had 5.25 points. Oklahoma, a 30-13 winner over Texas Tech, had 8.13 points.

Last week, Miami trailed Nebraska by 5.11 points but the Cornhuskers’ lead is down to 2.38. The Hurricanes increased their lead over Oklahoma from .51 points to 2.88.

Florida (9-1) is fourth, with Oregon (9-1) fifth, followed by Texas (9-1), Tennessee (8-1), Illinois (9-1), Stanford (7-2) and Michigan (8-2).

BYU (11-0), the only other major undefeated team, remained 13th in the 15-team BCS standings.

Meanwhile, No. 12-ranked Washington accepted an invitation to play in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego on Dec. 28. The invitation is contingent on the Huskies (8-2) being released next week from a BCS game.

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Florida State defensive tackle Darnell Dockett denied accusations that he intentionally injured Florida running back Earnest Graham during the Seminoles’ 37-13 loss to No. 3 Florida Saturday night.

“There was nothing intentional,” Dockett said. “Like my coach [Bobby Bowden] says, ‘It’s hard to twist somebody’s knee.’ I mean, twisting ankles, yeah, but twisting somebody’s knee is something else.”

Graham will be out three to five weeks and will miss the Gators’ Dec. 1 game against Tennessee.

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Ohio State quarterback Steve Bellisari publicly apologized for his drunk driving arrest, hours after Coach Jim Tressel allowed him back on the football team....Wisconsin quarterback Brooks Bollinger was hurt trying to break up a fight early Sunday after the Badgers’ loss to Michigan....Southern Methodist fired Coach Mike Cavan after his fourth consecutive losing season. Cavan will coach the Mustangs in their final two games.