Oklahoma took the weekend off, but the Sooners strengthened their lead in the BCS standings released Monday.

The Sooners were again atop the list of 15 teams ranked in the system that will determine which two teams meet for the national championship Jan. 3. This time, their formula score was 3.33 3.36 points lower than No. 2 Miami.

The important battle at the moment exists between Miami, ranked No. 1 in both major polls, and No. 3 Notre Dame. Only 3/10ths of a point separates the Hurricanes and Fighting Irish for the critical No. 2 spot in the Fiesta Bowl.

Georgia and Ohio State moved up a spot to fourth and fifth, while Virginia Tech slipped to sixth after a 20-10 victory against lightly regarded Temple.

Texas moved up from 10th to seventh after its 21-10 victory against Iowa State and by losses by LSU and Michigan. Washington State slipped from seventh to eighth despite a 21-13 win at Arizona. The Longhorns are the highest rated team in the BCS with a loss.

Oklahoma’s hold on the top spot will strengthen or crumble after Saturday’s Big 12 showdown against Colorado, which cracked the BCS rankings for the first time at No. 12.

Notre Dame narrowed the margin between itself and Miami from 0.66 to 0.30.

There are four components to the BCS: the two major polls, seven computer rankings, a strength-of-schedule factor and a team’s win-loss record. There also is a “quality victory” component, with the final BCS standings determining quality-win points. Teams receive a bonus for beating a team in the BCS top 10.

Miami is No. 1 in both media polls, but the seven computers used by the BCS don’t like the ‘Canes as much as they like the Irish. The Irish are ranked first by two computers, second by three and third by two. UM is ranked second by one computer, fourth by one and fifth by the other five.

Under BCS rules, the lowest computer ranking is tossed out and the other six averaged. Notre Dame’s computer average is 1.83 and Miami’s is 4.33.

Notre Dame’s schedule strength actually dropped from last week, but so did Miami’s. The Irish’s schedule rank is fourth, Miami’s 34th. Notre Dame’s was first last week and Miami’s 27th. Notre Dame won at FSU on Saturday, and Miami won at West Virginia.

The BCS figures schedule strength differently than the NCAA, but it’s worth nothing that according to the NCAA, Notre Dame’s schedule from here on out ranks 99th. Miami’s is 58th. The teams’ opponents this Saturday could lead to a change in the BCS next week. Miami plays Rutgers and Notre Dame plays Boston College; given all the computer and strength-of-schedule variables, UM and Notre Dame could swap places next week.