Victory by Tulane Leaves the Top Spot Vacant : THE COLLEGES

It lacked some of the hype of that other Bottom Ten road movie, the I-70 Showdown between Missouri and Kansas State. Still, the Bottom Ten lead was on the line for the Tulane Highway match between the Green Ripple and Southwestern Louisiana.

And, shockingly, No. 1-ranked Tulane (1-8) fell to a 27-17 victory over Southwestern (4-6). The victory appeared to have cost the Green Ripple the Bottom Ten title. Victories late in the season hurt Bottom Ten teams in the rankings more than early season ones do.

Tulane thus became the ninth Bottom Ten team to be displaced from the top spot. Shell-shocked selectors, worried over their credibility, voted to refuse to select a No. 1 team this week. Columbia (0-8) was ranked No. 2 but is ineligible for the Bottom Ten title due to lack of recruiting violations.

The Rankings:

Team, Record Last Week Next Loss

1. None --- --- 2. Columbia (0-8) 3-34, Dartmout Cornell 3. N.MexSt(1-8) CalStDisney W.TexSt 4. Missouri (1-8) 6-51, Oklahoma Okla. St. 5. Duke (2-7) AwakeFrst N.C.St. 6. S.D.St. (3-6) 20-41, Wyoming UTEP 7. USC (4-4)* 6-14, Cal Washington 8. San Jose St (2-8) 22-37, CS Goos Idle 9. UTEP (1-8) 7-23, Hawaii San Diego St 10. Wash.St. (2-7) Idle MontanaSt.

11. Rutgers (1-7-1); 12. Kansas State (1-8); 13. Pentagon (at sea) (3-6); 14. Boston College (3-7); 15. Houston (2-7); 16. Utah State (2-8); 17. New Mexico (2-7); 18. Iowa State (3-6); 19. Illinois (4-4-1); 20. Memphis State (2-6-2).

* Don’t forget, though, that many USC supporters already consider the season a success since the Trojans have beaten the traditional Big Two on their schedule: Oregon State and Washington State.

ROUT OF THE WEEK: Washington (5-4) over USC (4-4).

CRUMMY GAME OF THE WEEK: North Carolina State (3-7) at Duke (2-7).

HISTORY’S FIRST BOTTOM TEN LEADER: The first college football game was played 116 years ago this week, with Rutgers losing to Princeton, 6-4. Rutgers’ coach reportedly said the team lost because it had been caught looking ahead to its next opponent.

SHOULD REPLAYS OF USC’S GAMES BE BANNED, TOO?: Demoralized local fans were subjected to a triple-header loss on television Sunday, with the Rams and Raiders losing on live television followed by the tape of USC’s defeat to Cal.

THE PROS

Whoever said No. 8 San Francisco (5-5) didn’t have a snowball’s chance in Denver was correct. As the 49ers lined up for a 19-yard field-goal attempt Monday night, a snowball exploded near holder Matt Cavanaugh, who bungled the snap. San Francisco went on to lose, 16-17.

The Abominable Snow-Thrower deserves a spot in the NFL’s Off-the-Field Hall of Fame along with such greats as Mark Henderson, the New England snow-sweeper operator who rambled on to the field in 1982 to clear the field so the Patriots could kick a field goal to beat Miami, 3-0.

But who was the assailant? Could a fan throw a snowball that far? Or was it an opposing player or coach? Denver security police briefly considered allowing no one to leave the stadium until they found out Monday night but later decided that they would rely on game films to nab a suspect. Unfortunately, no finger prints could be found.

In the meantime, officials announced a new rule whereby every individual entering Mile High Stadium would be searched for snowballs.

The Rankings:

Team, Record Last Week Next Loss

1. Kansas City (3-7)* 28-36, Pitt San Fr’isco 2. Atlanta (1-9) 17-23,Philadel Anaheim 3. St. Louis (4-6) 0-16, Tampa Ba Philadelphi 4. TmpaBy (1-9) St. Louis, 16- N.J.Jets 5. San Fr’isco (5-5) 16-17, M.Natur Kansas City

6. Buffalo (2-8); 7. New Orleans (3-7); 8. Washington (5-5); 9. Indianapolis (3-7); 10. Cleveland (4-6).

*On six-game losing streak, longest in the NFL.

CRUMMY GAME OF THE WEEK: Kansas City (3-7) at San Fr’isco (5-5).

QUOTEBOOK: NFL referee Jim Tunney, overheard telling a Denver Stadium official at halftime of the Monday night game: “We’re not coming out again until you get the snowballs under control.”

GARO-YEPREMIAN-HANDS-OFF-TACKLING AWARD: To Giants’ 5-6 Eric Schubert, who tried to knock Ram kickoff returner Ron Brown out of bounds. Brown ran through him for 89-yard gain.

ANOTHER GASTINEAU-INSPIRED DEFENSIVE CHARGE: Jet defensive linemen Joe Klecko and Mark Gastineau were used on offense as blockers for running back Freeman McNeil on one play Sunday. McNeil was thrown for a 1-yard loss. (No, Gastineau didn’t run over to McNeil and taunt him afterward.)