By Mike Lopresti
Gannett News Service

What happens if nobody's perfect? The fastest way for the BCS to have a riot is to end the season with no unbeatens, opening the national championship door to every pretty face with one loss, which would be like a shopping mall the day after Thanksgiving.

The season is barely half over. But after a bloody weekend when the unbeatens fell like leaves, we are down to three (not counting TCU and Northern Illinois, which in the computerized land of the BCS do not exist any more than the continent of Atlantis).

The three are Oklahoma, Miami and Virginia Tech. And one of them certainly is going to lose, anyway, because Miami is at Virginia Tech Nov. 1.

This is the legacy of the past few days, with Ohio State blemished. And Florida State. And LSU, Arkansas, Nebraska and Minnesota.

The question now is if two of the three remaining perfect records will stay that way, making a clean decision for the Sugar Bowl.

Oklahoma looked frightening in dismantling Texas. The Sooners have broken 50 points in four straight games, not even mentioning their hallowed defense.

"Nobody in the country is playing better than he is right now," coach Bob Stoops said of his quarterback, Jason White.

Oklahoma's sternest tests remaining appear to be Missouri, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, with only Tech on the road. Plus the Big 12 title game.

"I spend no time thinking about (the BCS)," Stoops said.

But Miami does.

"You won't see no more close games," safety Sean Taylor said after the Hurricanes beat Florida State 22-14. "We're going to dominate."

That's a little bold, given the fact Miami must travel to Virginia Tech. But don't doubt the Hurricanes. They made a cause out of being an underdog in Tallahassee, and the criticism for the close game vs. West Virginia.

"When their backs are to the wall and they're not respected," Miami coach Larry Coker said, "it seems to get to our players and they respond."

Stat of the week

Just how has Ohio State ended up with the worst offense in the Big Ten? Numero 11. The Buckeyes returned 10 offensive starters from a national championship team. Not counting Maurice Clarett, who is on the phone with his lawyer.

Thumbs of the week

• Up to Missouri. Hadn't beaten Nebraska in last 24 games, or a top-10 team in last 45. It's no wonder the goal posts came down in Columbia.

• Up to Notre Dame. Irish use off week to develop rushing game to surprise Pittsburgh. Note to future schedulers: Irish 22-2 after bye week since 1984.

• Down to Ohio State. First loss looks even worse by Robert Reynolds' knocking out Badger quarterback Jim Sorgi by pushing his fingers in Sorgi's throat. "The lowest thing," Badger receiver Lee Evans said, "I've ever seen in a football game."

• Down to Tennessee. Vols rush for 26 yards in two weeks in losing to Auburn and Georgia. Ground game at Rocky Bottom.

• Up to Texas Tech. Latest mind-boggling numbers from B.J. Symons passing machine? Total offense of 775 yards against Iowa State, and 559.5 passing yards A GAME the past three weeks. "I'm just glad," Iowa State coach Dan McCarney said of senior Symons, "he's not coming back." Maybe Tech ought to send Heisman voters a calculator.

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The road ahead

A look at the remaining schedule for the top three 6-0 teams. Rankings are latest from the Associated Press poll:

No. 1 Oklahoma

The Sooners host No. 24 Missouri this week and have only one other game against a team ranked in this week's poll - on Nov. 1 against No. 23 Oklahoma State - before the Big 12 championship. Then again, the Cowboys have beaten the Sooners the past two years. In a down year for the Big 12 North, the Sooners should be fine if they can get past a meeting with Texas Tech and quarterback B.J. Symons on Nov. 22.

No. 2 Miami

The Hurricanes have a much harder road, with the biggest test coming at No. 3 Virginia Tech on Nov. 1. That's followed by a home game against No. 21 Tennessee and then a trip to Pittsburgh.

No. 3 Virginia Tech

If the Hokies can beat the Hurricanes, they'll move into position to play for the national championship. But they also have tricky road games at West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Virginia.

Other unbeatens

• Northern Illinois (6-0, No. 12) could be tripped in MAC road games at Bowling Green and Toledo, or in the conference title game.

•  TCU (6-0, No. 16) has an easier path with its two toughest games coming at home against Louisville and Cincinnati to start November.

- Associated Press