BCS ONE UPSET AWAY FROM SOS.

Byline: SCOTT WOLF  College Football

Bowl Championship Series expert Jerry Palm refers to it as his nightmare scenario - the one outcome BCS officials dread most.

Let's say Texas, Oregon and the Florida-Tennessee survivor all win their remaining games, and No. 1-ranked Miami is upset by Virginia Tech.

If you throw in Maryland, Nebraska and Illinois, it means seven teams end the season with one loss, and they represent the seven major conferences.

That leaves five unhappy teams, with fans who all believe they belong in Pasadena on Jan. 4. It's a situation the BCS originally was designed to avoid.

``It would be funny,'' Palm said. ``Is Texas that much better than Oregon or Nebraska? Illinois is not getting the respect the Big Ten champ usually gets in the polls.

``The BCS is only designed to pick the two best teams, but maybe it's not solving the problem of picking a national champion. There really isn't a good way to pick two teams. That's not a good way to pick a champion.''

If Palm doesn't sound like a BCS fan, you're probably right.

He especially has a problem with the BCS category labeled ``quality-win component,'' which is supposed to give teams credit for wins against the best teams.

In ironic twist, No. 3-ranked Texas will see its quality-win component decrease if the Longhorns defeat No. 9-ranked Colorado on Saturday in the Big 12 Conference championship.

Why?

The BCS decided this summer that schools would not get credit for beating the same team twice in the quality-win category if the second win came in a conference-title game.

``We'll see the biggest flaw in all of this if Texas beats Colorado, because they hurt themselves in that one category,'' Palm said. ``Nobody in their right mind builds a formula where you penalize a team for beating a quality team twice.''

Texas would lose points because the Buffaloes would have an additional loss if the Longhorns beat them.

``It's just stupid is what it is,'' Palm said.

--Attention, BYU fans: Palm has some facts for Brigham Young fans who believe the Cougars (11-0) deserve to be in the Rose Bowl.

He says there are 18 teams, including BYU, who are undefeated against teams ranked 30th or worse in his power rankings, which emulates the BCS formula.

Utah, which Palm ranks 30th, is the highest-rated team BYU has defeated.

``There are 18 teams who are undefeated against teams ranked 30th or worse, and 12 of those teams have defeated opponents better than Utah. Why should BYU be rewarded for that?''

--USC's Walker contacted: USC associate head coach DeWayne Walker has received a letter from the U.S. Naval Academy requesting he apply for the head-coaching position. Walker also is considered a candidate at California.

--ACC down: This is shaping up as one of the worst years in recent history for the Atlantic Coast Conference, and not just because Florida State has fallen on hard times.

In the past two weeks, four ACC teams - Florida State, Virginia, Clemson and Georgia Tech - have suffered losses in nonconference games against state rivals. The ACC does not have a quality nonconference victory this season.

Conference champ Maryland (10-1) lost to a four-loss Florida State team, and its three nonconference victories came against West Virginia, Troy State and Eastern Michigan.

--Bitter feelings: Florida coach Steve Spurrier has been on a crusade against Florida State for nearly two weeks, since he questioned whether Seminoles nose guard Darnell Dockett tried to injure Florida running back Earnest Graham. Spurrier also said he believes Florida State coach Bobby Bowden encourages his players in that direction.

``It's like somebody saying you robbed a bank, and you didn't,'' Bowden said. ``We played against (former Florida coaches) Doug Dickey, Charles Pell, Galen Hall. I've coached against Joe Paterno, a lot of great coaches. But I've never, never in 47 years had a coach accuse any of my players of dirty play. This is twice (Spurrier) has. It's sad, really.''

FOOTNOTES

By Scott Wolf

THE TOP 10

1. Miami (10-0)

'Canes have back-to-back 50-point games for first time in history.

2. Florida (9-1)

You'd think Gators are 1-10 the way Spurrier is whining.

3. Texas (10-1)

The country's best hope to avoid Sunshine State title game.

4. Oregon (9-1)

Bellotti's worst nightmare: Dennis Erickson ruins title hopes.

5. Nebraska (11-1)

'Huskers want Florida, Texas and Oregon to lose.

6. Tennessee (9-1)

Californians (QB Clausen, WR Stallworth) lead way for Vols.

7. Colorado (9-2)

Does this mean Gary Barnett no longer is on the hot seat?

8. Oklahoma (10-2)

Stoops' ``boy genius'' image takes a hit.

9. Maryland (10-1)

What were pre-season odds Terps would make Orange Bowl?

10. Illinois (10-1)

Only Top 10 team that can't draw 40,000 in regular season finale.

BY THE NUMBERS

8

School-record rushing TDs Nebraska allowed against Colorado.

7,321

Announced attendance at Baylor's game with Southern Illinois.

3,018

LSU quarterback Rohan Davey's passing yards; he's the first QB in school history to surpass 3,000 yards.

CAPTION(S):

5 boxes

Box:

(1) THE TOP 10 (see text)

(2) BEST OF THE '90s

(3) BY THE NUMBERS (see text)

(4) LEADERS

(5) MUST-SEE GAMES