The Associated Press

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Ohio State is no longer concerned with polls and computer rankings.

The Buckeyes control their own fate and this much is clear - they will play Miami for the national championship if both teams win the remainder of their games.

Ohio State, No. 2 in both The Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, moved another step closer to the Fiesta Bowl with a 10-6 win Saturday at Purdue. With Oklahoma losing to Texas A&M and No.1 Miami routing Tennessee it appears the Hurricanes and Buckeyes are on course for a trip to Tempe, Ariz.

Miami and Ohio State are the only unbeaten major-college teams, and the Buckeyes were slightly ahead of the Hurricanes in last week's Bowl Championship Series rankings. The final BCS rankings will determine who plays in the Fiesta Bowl.

Ohio State is first concentrating on the Big Ten Conference title.

If the Buckeyes lose and No.6 Iowa wins out, the Hawkeyes would win the league championship. If Ohio State beats Illinois next week and win its season finale at home against Michigan, the worst it can do is go to the Rose Bowl.

The Buckeyes (6-0 Big Ten) are off to their fourth 11-0 start in team history, joining the 1975, 1979 and 1995 teams.

"We have a chance to go out next week and play a good Illinois team and leave there 12-0," Ohio State quarterback Craig Krenzel said. "It's where we wanted to be."

USC: Carson Palmer threw four touchdown passes to break a school career record in 10th-ranked Southern California's 49-17 victory over struggling Stanford late Saturday.

The Trojans' win keeps their dwindling conference championship hopes alive. One more victory by first-place Washington State or one loss by USC (7-2 overall, 5-1 Pac-10) would eliminate the Trojans.

Palmer has 61 career TD passes, breaking the mark of 58 set by Rob Johnson.