More than ever, the University of Miami football team is in a must-win mode.

After their overtime loss to Clemson on Saturday, the Hurricanes (5-2, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) need to win their final four ACC games -- all in the next four weeks -- to remain in contention for the Coastal Division crown.

As it is, their slim chances hinge not only on themselves but also on Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech each losing at least one more conference game.

But Sunday, UM coach Randy Shannon said the immediate task was to get his depressed players motivated and looking only to Saturday's game at Wake Forest.

``This one hurt,'' Shannon said. ``The players will be feeling down [Sunday]. They'll be in the tank. It'll be my job and the staff's job to get them up, get them going and understand how ugly we played -- and that we still had a chance.

``We want more out of everybody, myself included. All you can do is review the tape, make the corrections, then go lift weights and start on Wake Forest. It's not a deal where we're going to sit back and sulk for another day.''

Wake Forest (4-4 and 2-2 ACC), which lost 13-10 at Navy on Saturday, has its own problems. But for now, UM, which fell to No. 18 in both major polls and from No. 10 to No. 19 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, must contend with the possible absence of weak-side linebacker Sean Spence.

INJURED KNEE

Spence, who has shown great improvement after a slower-than-usual start this season, was scheduled for an MRI on Sunday. He injured his left knee early in the second quarter Saturday, was examined on a table near the UM bench and fitted into a brace.

Spence went into the Hurricanes' locker room at halftime with ice over the knee, but he returned to the game with about 10 minutes left in the third quarter.

When Clemson's C.J. Spiller scored on a 56-yard reception three minutes later, an ailing Spence struggled to catch up to him and subsequently left the game for good. Shannon said Spence got out of position but said, ``He was supposed to have help.''

``We got some nicks in the game, and I don't know the status of them.'' Shannon said. ``It really hurt us at linebacker because we lost Jordan Futch last week and we don't know the status of Sean Spence right now.''

Shannon said Spence wanted to go in again, and the coach said, ``No.''

``I wasn't going to do that to the kid.''

Shannon did not discuss other injuries. Tackle Jason Fox and linebacker Colin McCarthy each left the game for one play.

``Sometimes they're out of breath or have a stinger or a bruise that they can't handle at that particular time,'' Shannon said.

``If you see them come back, it's nothing serious.''

The coach also reiterated why he had Javarris James run three times when UM took over with 5:37 left and a 34-31 lead. Shannon has been highly criticized over the airwaves and among other media for not being more aggressive and mixing in pass plays.

``We killed the game before just by running the football,'' Shannon said. ``We never second-guess what we do. You guys can make that decision. You all do it anyway, so it really don't bother me.''

Shannon said those running plays didn't work because of a ``conglomeration'' of reasons, such as players getting physically beat or not being focused and missing blocks.

``We played sloppy football,'' he said.

EXTRA POINTS

Other issues Shannon addressed:

• The timeout with 20 seconds remaining before halftime, when it looked on TV as if offensive coordinator Mark Whipple was shouting angrily at Shannon: ``No,'' Shannon said. ``Coach Whipple is very emotional on the football field. We just called timeout, and he was upset that he didn't have the right personnel on the field. The media blows it out of proportion.''

• Quarterback Jacory Harris' three interceptions: ``Bad, bad. I can't paint it to be good. Bad decisions.''

• UM's play on the 26-yard winning touchdown reception by Clemson's Jacoby Ford: ``Blown coverage.''

• Kickoff specialist Alex Uribe, who was replaced by Matt Bosher after he kicked straight to C.J. Spiller, who returned the ball 90 yards for a touchdown: ``Uribe wasn't placing the ball where he was supposed to place it . . . and it cost us.''

Shannon said Uribe ``was in another world. So you've got to go with the next guy and move on.

``Bosher started doing a great job, squibbing and kicking in the corner. That's what our game plan was.''