The Associated Press

PHOENIX - As Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey points out, it's hard enough winning one game, let alone 34 in a row.

The Hurricanes have been unbeatable for nearly three years, building a streak that equals the sixth longest in major college history.

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"There are very smart coaches and very good players throughout the country," Dorsey said as top-ranked Miami prepared to play No.2 Ohio State on Friday night. "So I think it's difficult to win football games any time, no matter who you're playing."

With a victory over the Buckeyes (13-0) in the Fiesta Bowl, the Hurricanes (12-0) would become the second team since 1979 to win back-to-back national titles.

And it would set the stage for them to challenge Oklahoma's record 47-game winning streak from 1953-57. If Miami doesn't lose, the Hurricanes would equal the record in the final game of the 2003 regular season.

"It is pretty neat, but it's Miami football, and Miami football has been great for so long," center Brett Romberg said. "We did have a little down period for a couple of years, but it's just a matter of reloading with the players we have now."

This will be the fifth time Miami has a chance to repeat as champions. The first four attempts failed.

"The pressure's on a little bit because we know that no Miami team has repeated," Hurricanes left guard Sherko Haji-Rasouli said. "I'm sure that race-car drivers, when they're leading on that last lap, they're extra focused to not make any mistakes, skid out and hit the wall, and suddenly lose. You're in the lead, you're in the final lap, you just have to bear down and focus. Definitely, it's in the back of our mind that this could be two championships in a row."

Streaks are nothing new at Miami. There was an NCAA-record 58-game home winning streak from 1985-94, and a 29-game winning streak from 1990-93.

The current streak began with a 47-10 victory at West Virginia on Sept.24, 2000, two weeks after a 34-29 loss at Washington. Ten more wins followed, including a 37-20 victory over Florida in the Sugar Bowl and a No.2 finish in the AP media poll.

Last season, Larry Coker replaced Butch Davis as coach, and the Hurricanes won 12 more games and a national title.

"Miami is an extraordinary team," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "They play the game like you would hope that people do. It's not a surprise that they are undefeated for 30-some games, but on the other hand, if you sit back and think about that, that type of a record, you marvel at it.

"When you're playing against a first-class team, it's exciting for you. You hope that in itself raises your level of play."

Only five major teams have won more consecutive games, and three did it before World War I. Following Oklahoma's 47-game streak, Washington won 39 in a row from 1908-14, Yale twice won 37 straight in the 19th century, and Toledo won 35 straight from 1969-71.