Tuesday, October 22, 2002
Oklahoma, Miami 1-2 in BCS
The Associated Press
Miami is No. 1 just about everywhere but where it counts most - in the Bowl Championship Series standings.
The Hurricanes, No. 1 since the preseason in The Associated Press media and coaches' polls, were second behind Oklahoma in the first BCS standings released Monday. Notre Dame and new coach Tyron Willingham are No. 3.
Sooners coach Bob Stoops says the standings don't matter - yet.
“It's too early right now for us to care one way or the other,” Stoops said.
Thanks to a schedule rated toughest in the nation, Willingham's Fighting Irish are in position to make a run at the national championship.
The BCS standings are used to determine which teams play in a national title game. The teams that finish 1-2 in the final BCS standings on Dec. 8 will play for the title Jan. 3 in Tempe, Ariz., at the Fiesta Bowl.
“If we take care of our own business and win, things will work out,” Miami coach Larry Coker said. “The system is designed to have the top two teams meet at the end of the year, and I am confident that will be the case.”
Notre Dame might be No. 6 in the AP poll, but the Fighting Irish were ranked first by four of the seven computers used by the BCS. Only the top six rankings are used in the BCS calculations.
The best the Hurricanes could do in the computers was one second-place ranking. Miami's strength of schedule was rated 27th, but it will get stronger with upcoming games against Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
The Hokies were fourth, followed by Georgia, Ohio State, Washington State, Michigan, LSU and Texas. The first six teams are undefeated.
Notre Dame visits Florida State - 12th in the standings - on Saturday.
“All of our focus right now is on the Florida State game this week,” Willingham said. “However, it's certainly better to be ranked than not ranked.”
The BCS was started four years ago to create a national title game without playoffs.
The BCS standings will be released each Monday.
The formula uses the AP media and coaches' polls, the computer polls, strength of schedule, won-loss record and a bonus-point system. New this year is the elimination of margin of victory from the computer ranking process.
“There's still a long way to go,” new BCS coordinator Michael Tranghese said.
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Oklahoma, Miami 1-2 in BCS
