MIAMI -- Rose petals were scattered across Miami's locker room. It might have been premature, but the way the top-ranked Hurricanes are playing, they certainly look Rose Bowl bound.

The Huskies saw a lot of Clinton Portis' back as the runner scored three times in the first half.(AP)

Ken Dorsey threw three touchdown passes, and Clinton Portis scored three times as the Hurricanes avenged their only loss last season, overwhelming No. 12 Washington 65-7 Saturday night.

Miami needs one more victory to secure a spot in the Rose Bowl and play for a fifth national championship.

"It was one of the most dominant performances I've seen against a quality opponent," coach Larry Coker said. "This was just our night."

In a week filled with upsets, Miami (10-0) quickly made sure it kept itself on track for the national title game. The Hurricanes, behind three turnovers and a quick-striking offense, scored 30 second-quarter points and led 37-0 at halftime.

Miami cruised from there, sitting most of its starters for the entire fourth quarter and making sure they remained healthy for the season finale next Saturday at Virginia Tech (8-2).

If the Hurricanes beat the Hokies, they will guarantee themselves a berth in the Bowl Championship Series title game Jan. 3 at the Rose Bowl. Who Miami could face is still anybody's guess.

"We're down to a one-game season, and it's a must win for us," Coker said. "It's hard not to talk of Roses, but as the situation you see around the country, you have to win. We have to beat Virginia Tech, then we can talk Roses."

With No. 2 Nebraska and No. 4 Oklahoma losing, third-ranked Florida appears to be in position for a trip to Pasadena. The Gators need to beat No. 7 Tennessee next Saturday and win the Southeastern Conference championship game to have any chance. The Volunteers, No. 5 Texas and No. 6 Oregon also are in the picture.

"It doesn't matter who we play, we just want to get there," Dorsey said. "Our destiny is in our own hands. It's up to us. But we have to play a Virginia Tech team that's tough at home."

The Hurricanes have a much clearer path, and most would agree that they belong in the title game -- especially after games against Syracuse and Washington (8-3).

Miami ran away from the then-No. 14 Orangemen 59-0 last Saturday and did the same to the Huskies.

Since that first-and-goal play against Boston College, when the ball bounced off Mike Rumph's knee and into Matt Walters' hands to preserve a victory over the Eagles, the Hurricanes scored 109 consecutive points without giving up any points.

The Huskies ended that stretch with a third-quarter touchdown Saturday night. But they did little else in matching their worst loss in 80 years. The Huskies lost 58-0 to Oregon in 1973, second only to a 72-3 loss to California in 1921.

Cody Pickett was 14-of-29 passing for 157 yards. He fumbled twice, threw five interceptions and was sacked four times. He had two more passes fall through the hands of Miami defenders in the first half.

"They obviously are an extremely talented team that played flawlessly this evening. Unfortunately we did not," Washington coach Rick Neuheisel said.

Jonathan Vilma picked off Pickett's pass on the opening possession, setting up a 7-yard touchdown run by Portis. Washington bounced back, though, driving 79 yards, but failing to score on fourth-and-goal.

Miami seized the momentum from there, scoring on three of its next five possessions. Portis had a 30-yard scoring run and a 5-yard touchdown reception. The Hurricanes forced a safety, and Phillip Buchanon returned the ensuing free kick 61 yards to set up Najeh Davenport's 15-yard TD reception.

Two plays later, William Joseph tipped a pass and Jerome McDougal picked it off and ran 14 yards to make it 37-0. It was exactly what Neuheisel hoped to avoid -- a "flurry of points."

"This was an ugly evening for turnovers and certainly not a good evening for tackling," Neuheisel said. "It was very much like our other two losses. You get into a spiral of decline, and it's tough to come back."

Dorsey finished 14-of-21 for 189 yards. He said earlier in the week that Miami wasn't looking for payback or revenge for Washington's 34-29 win over Miami last season. But the way the game unfolded seemed to say differently.

The Hurricanes had a spirited pregame ceremony for their seniors. Offensive tackle Joaquin Gonzalez gave his teammates an animated pep talk on the bench with 7:28 left in the second quarter and a 37-point lead.

Miami then called timeout with 26 seconds remaining in the third quarter so the seniors could take a bow at midfield and exit to a standing ovation in front of the soldout stadium.

Coker made an even stronger point with five minutes to play, calling a passing play and scoring a touchdown to make it 65-7.

Washington's last trip to the Orange Bowl ended with the Huskies snapping Miami's NCAA-record home winning streak at 58 games. This one ended with the Hurricanes extended their winning streak to a nation-best 20 games -- one shy of a trip to the Rose Bowl.

"We've got one more game. We're smelling the roses, but we've got to finish it out strong," McDougal said. "We're on a mission."