MIAMI, FLORIDA - No BCS controversy this time - Miami and Ohio State are a perfect match for the national title game in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3. <br>
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The top-ranked Hurricanes beat No. 18 Virginia Tech 56-45 Saturday and earned a shot at defending their national crown when they take on No. 2 Ohio State in Tempe, Ariz. <br>
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With Miami (12-0) and Ohio State (13-0) the only unbeatens left, there can be no argument over who should be playing in the Bowl Championship Series' title game. <br>
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Both teams were officially invited to the Fiesta, even though the final Bowl Championship Series standings that determine the top two teams won't be released until Sunday. Miami and Ohio State were first and second on the last BCS list. <br>
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Matchups for the other BCS games took shape when Washington State beat UCLA 48-27 Saturday night. The Cougars (10-2) clinched the Pac-10 title and will play in the Rose Bowl, likely against Oklahoma, the Big 12 champion. The Sooners beat Colorado 29-7. <br>
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Washington State's win probably sends Southern California (10-2) to the Sugar Bowl to play SEC champion Georgia (12-1), while the Orange Bowl likely will match ACC champion Florida State (9-4) against Iowa (11-1). <br>
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Georgia won its first SEC title in 20 years with a 30-3 victory over Arkansas on Saturday night. <br>
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However, under certain BCS rules, there remained an outside chance the Orange and Sugar could have a different look: Iowa vs. USC in the Orange; Georgia vs. Florida State in the Sugar. <br>
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Six conference champions were automatic qualifiers for BCS games, with two-at large teams also selected. <br>
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Saturday's results mean that Notre Dame (10-2) probably is out of the BCS picture, costing the Irish a $13 million payout. The Irish, who do not play in a conference, probably will play in the Gator Bowl against North Carolina State. The payout from that game is $1.6 million. <br>
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As far as the Rose, Orange and Sugar bowls, there was still a chance the matchups could change dramatically by Sunday. Because of certain BCS rules, the Orange Bowl could wind up with Southern Cal vs. Iowa, the Rose with Washington State vs. Oklahoma and the Sugar with Georgia vs. Florida State. <br>
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Miami will face Ohio State for just the third time. The Buckeyes beat Miami in 1977, and the Hurricanes evened the series with a 23-14 victory to start the 1999 season. <br>
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Miami has won 34 games in a row, including last year's title game against Nebraska. The Cornhuskers made it to the Rose Bowl after losses by Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee, sparking debate about which one-loss team deserved to play the 'Canes for the title. <br>
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There was controversy in 2000, too. Miami, after losing to Washington, beat Florida State in the regular season but then ended up behind the Seminoles in the final BCS standings. Florida State went on to play Oklahoma for the title in the Orange Bowl.
