PHOENIX -- Fiesta Bowl-bound Ohio State arrived in the Valley of the Sun on Thursday still glowing from the memory of an impromptu send-off in Columbus and unconcerned to be cast as an underdog against No. 1 Miami.

The unbeaten Buckeyes, ranked second despite their school-record 13 victories, play Miami for the national championship in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., on Jan. 3. They arrived a day ahead of the Hurricanes (12-0), who won last year's national crown by routing Nebraska 37-14 in the Rose Bowl.

"Any time you experience things, that's an advantage,'' coach Jim Tressel said. "But one thing about our guys playing and coaching at Ohio State is that it's a media blitz everyday. I remember my first summer on the job -- I picked up a newspaper on July 15, and they had an in-depth discussion of how we were going to be on the offensive line. That's the way it is in Columbus.''

Buckeyes mania manifested itself Thursday morning, when Tressel got a call asking if the team could make a detour through the city's business district on the way to the airport.

"It was probably 25 (degrees) or colder, and it was amazing how many people came out of their office buildings and so forth and were lined along the streets,'' Tressel said. "That was exciting. You know, it's a reminder that we don't just represent ourselves.''

The Buckeyes won their last undisputed national title in 1968. This is the 10th time since then that they have been in contention for another, and the first since the Bowl Championship Series originated. Ohio State is the first Big Ten Conference team to play in a BCS title game.

Miami's speed was the deciding factor in a 23-12 victory over Ohio State in the 1999 Kickoff Classic, the last meeting for the high-profile programs. The Hurricanes have a 34-game winning streak -- evidence that they haven't slowed down, and one reason they are 13-point favorites.

"You never hear anything in our locker room as far as where we're ranked or are in the spread, or whatever, in terms of any game,'' Tressel said. "I think our guys did a good job of just going to work and trying to get as good as we could get, and that's all we could expect of ourselves: Play the best we're capable of playing, and we'll see how that bears out.''

Strong safety Mike Doss, a three-time All-American who had a career-high 98 tackles this season after fighting off the temptation to leave school early for the NFL draft, said the oddsmakers are overlooking the heart of his team.

"We believe in ourselves,'' Doss said. "We've believed in ourselves all season. We had a goal in the preseason and worked each week to accomplish that goal, and I think our team is going to work hard this week. We know this is the last game for us. It's a national championship and on a national stage -- probably even a worldwide stage -- and we just want to be prepared and go out there and have a great game.''

Tressel said 75 to 80 players were aboard the team's flight, while another 25 were traveling to Phoenix from various points after spending Christmas Day with their families.

Both teams will stay at resorts in Scottsdale, another eastside suburb. The Buckeyes will practice at Phoenix Pinnacle High School in the Paradise Valley area just west of Scottsdale, with Miami at Scottsdale Community College.