BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Playing on the road has become a scary proposition for No. 1 Miami.

Once again, the Hurricanes were shaky away from the Orange Bowl but hung on for a 26-24 victory over No. 14 Virginia Tech on Saturday to clinch a spot in the national title game at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 3.

Ken Dorsey and Clinton Portis now await their opponent for the national title.(AP)

"I'm happy we won," cornerback Phillip Buchanon said, "but walking off the field I didn't have that feeling you should for a team going to the Rose Bowl."

Thanks to a dropped 2-point conversion pass by Tech's Ernest Wilford with 6:03 left and a stifling defense that forced Grant Noel into four interceptions and a fumble, Miami completed a perfect regular season and extended its nation-best winning streak to 21 games.

"Our team didn't flinch," Miami rookie coach Larry Coker said. "It certainly didn't look good for us at times, but I'm extremely proud of the way we played."

It was far from a picture pretty performance by the Hurricanes (11-0, 7-0 Big East), who barely beat Boston College 18-7 in their last road game on Nov. 10. In two home games since, Miami outscored Top 25 foes Syracuse and Washington by a combined 124-7.

With the Hurricanes ahead 26-18, Virginia Tech pulled off its signature play -- a blocked punt -- and Brandon Manning returned Eric Green's block 22 yards for a TD to pull the Hokies within two points.

On the 2-point conversion try, Noel dropped back and, with a Lane Stadium sellout crowd of 53,622 roaring, his 2-point conversion pass attempt dropped through the arms of a wide open Wilford in the end zone, and the 'Canes held on.

Buchanon, who had an interception, was on the coverage but slipped and was lying on the ground. Safety Ed Reed, who had two interceptions, saw the play.

"I saw him drop it, and I was just waiting for the signal," Reed said.

Miami's Ken Dorsey was unimpressive in his final bid to win the Heisman Trophy, completing just 21 of 44 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown. Noel had more turnovers than completions -- he was 4 of 16 for 81 yards and was sacked five times.

Dorsey is just happy to be playing for the title.

"It's great to have that feeling that you don't have to depend on anyone else to get there," Dorsey said. "It's a great feeling, and we have that."

Clinton Portis carried 34 times for 124 yards and a second-quarter score as Miami built a 20-3 halftime lead. Todd Sievers had four field goals -- two in each half -- as the Hokies held Miami without a touchdown over the final 30 minutes.

Even after the 2-point conversion miss, Miami still had to stop the Hokies. With 4:18 left, Reed picked off an overthrown pass by Noel at the Hurricanes 31. The 'Canes ran the clock down to 31 seconds, and punter Freddie Capshaw pinned the Hokies down at the 4 with 20 seconds left.

"Ask me if I was a little nervous on the last punt, you bet," Coker said.

Noel, a horrendous 4-of-16 for 81 yards, was sacked on the final play of the game. The Hokies (8-3, 4-3) will play Florida State in the Gator Bowl.

"The team played with great heart. I played terrible," Noel said. "I put a little too much pressure on myself. Things didn't go well, and I lost confidence."

Despite the close call, Miami will remain first in the Bowl Championship Series standings no matter how the one-loss teams rated second through sixth fare later Saturday and next week.

In the locker room, two Rose Bowl extended an invitation to Miami to play in Pasadena.

The only question the Hurricanes need answered is who their opponent will be, and the final BCS standings on Dec. 9 will determine that. The BCS ratings use a formula that incorporates the AP media and coaches' polls, eight computers, strength of schedule, won-lost record and bonus points for big wins.

Miami came up with the perfect plan to beat the computer this season -- win 'em all. Last year, the Hurricanes finished 10-1 but lost out on a berth in the Orange Bowl to Florida State, a team Miami had already beaten.

By completing the sixth undefeated regular season in school history, the Hurricanes get to play for the their fifth national title. Miami will be making its first appearance in the Rose Bowl, which will feature a non Big Ten-Pacific-10 matchup for the first time since 1946.

Miami led 26-10 lead with 11:32 left on Sievers' final goal, but Jarrett Ferguson's second 1-yard TD run and a 2-point conversion pass from Noel to Terrell Parham with 8:33 left pulled the Hokies within eight points.

Then, Green raced in untouched from the right side and smothered Capshaw's punt. Manning picked up the ball and scored to give the Hokies a chance to tie.

Playing under sunny skies with the temperature reaching 65 degrees on the first day in December, the Hurricanes started slowly before moving to a 20-3 halftime lead.

The Hokies closed to 20-10 in the third quarter on Ferguson's first TD before Sievers kicked field goals of 42 and 39 yards to put Miami ahead 26-10.

"Our players hung in there when things didn't look so good and kept coming back," Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "I'm disappointed we turned the ball over so many times. It's hard to come back when you do that."

With Miami trailing 3-0, Noel's pass was picked off by Buchanon on the first play of the second quarter. The Canes took over at their 45 and six plays later Dorsey completed a 14-yard TD pass to tight end Jeremy Shockey for a 7-3 lead.

Portis added a 7-yard TD run with 6:11 left in the half before Reed returned his first interception 11 yards to the Hokies 26. The play set up a 34-yard field goal by Sievers to push Miami's lead to 17-3.

Miami received a gift to close the first half. After Dorsey's third-down pass fell incomplete, Tech's Cols Colas ran into the quarterback and was called for a personal foul. The 'Canes retained possession at the Tech 40, and Sievers kicked a 43-yard field goal with 16 seconds left.