NOTEBOOK: TOP 5 ARE APPLE OF HEISMAN'S EYE.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Top-ranked Miami's Ken Dorsey and Willis McGahee are Heisman Trophy finalists, the first time since 1994 teammates were among the top five in voting.

Iowa quarterback Brad Banks, Penn State running back Larry Johnson and USC quarterback Carson Palmer also were invited Wednesday for the award's presentation.

The winner of one of the most wide-open Heisman races will be announced Saturday night at the Yale Club in New York.

The last time two players from the same school finished in the top five was eight years ago, when Penn State's Ki-Jana Carter was second and Kerry Collins fourth.

McGahee, a tailback who wasn't even supposed to start this season, would be the first sophomore to win the award given to college football's most outstanding player.

Palmer is trying to become the first West Coast player to win since USC's Marcus Allen in 1981.

Of the five finalists, only Dorsey opened the season as a true Heisman hopeful; he finished third in the 2001 voting and led Miami to a national title.

McGahee ended the 2001 season as Miami's starting fullback but moved back to tailback because of injuries and broke several single-season records.

Palmer completed nearly 63 percent of his passes for 3,639 yards and 32 touchdowns with 10 interceptions this year, leading No. 5 USC (10-2) to the Orange Bowl against Iowa.

``I'm fired up. Its such an honor to be named with those guys. Win or lose, I know I'll have a great time,'' Palmer said from Orlando, Fla., where he was attending today's College Football Awards show, where he is a finalist for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback award. ``I'm really looking forward to it.

``It's been an amazing year. I wanted to be at the Heisman ceremony.''

--Leftwich left out: Byron Leftwich's second consecutive 4,000-yard passing season wasn't enough to make him a Heisman Trophy finalist. Leftwich wasn't among the five players invited to Saturday's trophy presentation ceremony in New York City.

--Iowa's Kaeding wins Groza: Iowa's Nate Kaeding won the 2002 Lou Groza Award, given annually to the top Division I-A kicker. Kaeding, a junior, made 20 of 22 field goals, including a 55-yarder, and 55 of 56 PATs.

--Hawkeyes' Clark top tight end: Iowa's Dallas Clark won the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end. Clark, a junior all-Big Ten Conference selection, was the Hawkeyes' second-leading receiver with 39 catches for 645 yards and four touchdowns.

UCLA's Mike Seidman (Westlake High) was one of three finalists for the award.