TAMPA -- The Miami Hurricanes were not ready to welcome another Florida school to their inner sanctum, reserved for the teams historically known as ``The Big 3'' -- Miami, Florida State and Florida.

So, on Saturday, the Canes did what they haven't done in a final regular-season game since Randy Shannon became coach in 2007.

They won.

No. 19 UM defeated South Florida 31-10 in front of a sellout crowd of 66,469 at Raymond James Stadium, raising its record to 9-3 entering a yet-to-be-announced bowl. And the Canes did it against players who defeated FSU in September and figured a win against Miami would grant the Bulls automatic Big 3 inclusion.

``They were talking about being part of the Big 3,'' an irritated UM linebacker Darryl Sharpton said. ``We were just ready to put that noise away. We looked each other in the eyes and said, `We're not leaving Tampa with a loss.' ''

With a bowl victory, the Hurricanes would have their first 10-win season since 2003, when they finished 11-2.

``It's more wins than we've had,'' said Shannon, who noted that the Hurricanes defeated all their nonconference opponents this season: Oklahoma, Florida A&M, UCF and USF. ``That shows we're on the right track because we show improvement every time we step on the football field. And playing another in-state rival is big for us.''

It wasn't as big for USF coach Jim Leavitt, whose Big East Bulls fell to 7-4.

``This is never fun coming up here after a whooping like that,'' Leavitt said to reporters. ``Part of it is we have to keep recruiting -- you all saw that. They beat us on both sides. They're just a better football team and they showed it. My worst nightmare came true.''

FAST START FOR CANES

The Hurricanes got off to a fast start and never looked back. They scored on three of their first six possessions, going into the locker room at halftime with a 21-3 lead. Their lead was cut to 10 points twice Saturday, but each time they responded with touchdowns.

``Words can't describe how I am feeling right now,'' said UM center A.J. Trump, who played in front of dozens of friends and family members, including his parents and 10 of his 11 brothers and sisters from the Tampa area. ``It's all about 10 wins. I don't care if we go to the Tokyo Bowl, as long we get 10 wins.

``We want to be part of the turnaround. We want to play a good team and have that challenge.''

Trump played next to a left side of the offensive line that encompassed Orlando Franklin in his first career start at tackle and freshman Brandon Washington in his first start at left guard. They did more than an admirable job, allowing one sack of quarterback Jacory Harris. The Hurricanes also found their running game, gaining 240 of their 401 yards on the ground.

Harris, who had the injured thumb of his throwing hand covered in tape, completed 11 of 21 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. He had his first interception-free game since Oct. 17 at UCF.

On the other side of the ball, Sharpton contributed to a rejuvenated defense with his 12 tackles and a forced fumble that led to a touchdown. The Bulls were held to 220 yards -- 77 of them through the air.

UM dominated from the beginning. Fueled by two third-down completions and a fourth-down conversion run by Damien Berry (12 carries for 114 yards), the Canes took a 7-0 lead when Harris completed an 11-yarder to Leonard Hankerson with 9:20 left in the first quarter.