Top 25

CAPSULES AND RANKING

Team: 1. Nebraska (1-0)

Opponent: Idle

Comment: Fine-tuning the offense after a sluggish 55-14 victory.

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Team: 2. Florida (2-0)

Opponent: Idle

Comment: Spurrier reworking his Phillip Fulmer jokes before showdown at Knoxville.

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Team: 3. Florida State (1-0)

Opponent: Idle

Comment: Drop to No. 3 after Thad Busby’s sore-armed, 75-yard effort.

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Team: 4. Tennessee (2-0)

Opponent: Idle

Comment: Did Peyton Manning look that much better than Cade McNown?

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Team: 5. Colorado (2-0)

Opponent: Michigan

Comment: Quarterback Koy Detmer starting to work out the kinks.

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Team: 6. Penn State (2-0)

Opponent: Northern Illinois

Comment: Don’t bet against the Nittany Lions winning the Big Ten title.

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Team: 7. Ohio State (1-0)

Opponent: Idle

Comment: Needs the rest after running it up against poor Rice.

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Team: 8. Texas (2-0)

Opponent: Idle

Comment: Longhorns will give Irish a game next week in Austin.

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Team: 9. Notre Dame (1-0)

Opponent: Purdue

Comment: Um, that wasn’t exactly a national championship statement against Vanderbilt.

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Team: 10. Miami (2-0)

Opponent: Idle

Comment: Welcomed back suspended tailback Danyell Ferguson for Thursday night game at Rutgers.

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Team: 11. Michigan (1-0)

Opponent: at Colorado

Comment: Think Kordell Stewart and Michael Westbrook will be watching?

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Team: 12. BYU (2-0)

Opponent: at Washington

Comment: Make-or-break Heisman game for quarterback Steve Sarkisian.

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Team: 13. North Carolina (2-0)

Opponent: Idle

Comment: Welcome to the Sweet 16. Ask Dean Smith how to stay here.

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Team: 14. Alabama (2-0)

Opponent: Idle

Comment: Bear would have been proud of defense against Southern Miss.

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Team: 15. Auburn (2-0)

Opponent: at Mississippi

Comment: Now, 62-zip against Fresno State is more like it.

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Team: 16. USC (1-1)

Opponent: Oregon State

Comment: Illinois was the main course, this week is dessert.

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Team: 17. Kansas State (2-0)

Opponent: Cincinnati

Comment: Feel better after loading up on Division I-AA Indiana State?

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Team: 18. Virginia Tech (1-0)

Opponent: at Boston College

Comment: Hokies, one more three-point win over Akron and you’re out.

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Team: 19. Northwestern (0-1)

Opponent: at Duke

Comment: How’s it feel, ‘Cats, to have goal posts ripped down on you?

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Team: 20. LSU (1-0)

Opponent: Idle

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Comment: Nice, timely lifting of suspension of running back Kevin Faulk.

Team: 21. Iowa (1-0)

Opponent: Iowa State

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Comment: This is a rivalry only an Iowan could love.

Team: 22. Arizona State (1-0)

Opponent: North Texas

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Comment: Gutsy comeback after blowing fourth-quarter lead.

Team: 23. Virginia (1-0)

Opponent: Maryland

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Comment: Cavaliers will bring Tiki Barber; Maryland the crab cakes.

Team: 24. Texas A&M; (0-1)

Opponent: at SW Louisiana

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Comment: Last sighted Aug. 24 losing to BYU.

Team: 25. Syracuse (0-1)

Opponent: Idle

Comment: So much for Donovan McNabb winning the Heisman.

THE POLLS: Associated Press and USA Today/CNN--C11