Component 1 ——————————————————————

By Nicholas Collins

The Daily Northwestern

After a record 21 straight polls, Miami (Fla.) was bounced from its spot atop the Top 25.

Last Saturday’s shakedown also vaulted Ohio State up four spots to No. 2 in the Bowl Championship Series rankings.

Oklahoma is now at No. 1 in both the BCS and the AP poll.

Four previously undefeated teams fell Saturday, creating a logjam of seven one-loss teams in the top 15. Miami narrowly avoided becoming the eighth team to join that group.

The Hurricanes, now No. 3 in the BCS, were down 17-14 as late as the fourth quarter to Rutgers (1-8) before rallying to win 42-17.

“Wide left against FSU, you got lucky,” BCS analyst Jerry Palm said. “Rough day against West Virginia, you had a bad day. Rutgers beats you for three quarters, and maybe you just aren’t that good.”

Miami’s three-quarter scare was enough to make the AP writers promote the Sooners, who beat then-No. 13 Colorado 27-11.

The Hurricanes’ drop in the poll cost them a half a point in the BCS for poll average, and gave the Buckeyes their current 0.44 point lead over Miami.

“I think nobody wants us in the national championship (game),” Miami tailback Willis McGahee told The Miami Herald. “But that’s how it’s going to be so long as we keep winning.”

Ohio State also was helped out by Washington State’s rise to No. 5 in the BCS. The Buckeyes’ total for quality wins improved because they beat Washington State 25-7 on Sept. 14.

“Hopefully at the end of the season, if we are undefeated, we’ll get what we deserve,” Miami safety Maurice Sikes told The Miami Herald. “If we don’t, that will be something for somebody else to control. I’m just a player.”

Added head coach Larry Coker: “If we’re third in the country (in the BCS), and two teams go and we don’t, then oh yeah, we definitely need a playoff.”

LIMPIN’ LEFTWICH: Heisman trophy candidate Byron Leftwich isn’t sure if he’ll play in Marshall’s Tuesday game against Miami (Ohio).

Leftwich hurt his left leg in the first quarter of the Thundering Herd’s 34-20 loss to Akron on Saturday.

After X-rays were negative, he insisted on returning to action in the third quarter despite an obvious limp. He amassed 304 yards in the air, completing 26 of 38 passes in a little more than two quarters of play. Leftwich, who hasn’t practiced this week, is walking on crutches.

Leftwich was examined Sunday by the same Ohio surgeon who worked on a stress fracture in the same area of his left leg last winter.

A metal rod stretches from Leftwich’s knee to his ankle and protects him from further damaging the leg. Now the leg is injured again and wrapped in an air splint.

“I’m trying to do whatever it takes,” Leftwich said. “You can do all the treatment in the world, but it’s all about time and when your body can recover. Hopefully, it can. But Tuesday will be pushing it. Tuesday will really be pushing it.”

SORE SEMINOLE: Florida State has lost Greg Jones, the ACC’s leading rusher, for the rest of the season due to a torn ligament in his right knee.

The 240-pound tailback has rushed for 938 yards and has eight touchdowns this season.

Jones will be replaced by senior Nick Maddox, who has gained 444 yards this season on 6.4 yards per carry. Maddox started 10 games in 2001.

“I know the dos and don’ts,” Maddox said. “I’m just going to try and build on the legacy Greg has left.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Body 2 ———————————————————————–

Body 3 ———————————————————————–