TOP 25 AT A GLANCE

1. PENN STATE, DID NOT PLAY

This is the first time the Nittany Lions have started the season on top, and they figure to stay there for a while. Ohio State on Oct. 11 is their first formidable foe. It’s Pittsburgh, Temple, Louisville and Illinois before that. Next: Pittsburgh

2. FLORIDA BEATS SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI, 21-6

Quarterback Doug Johnson didn’t come close to running the Gators’ Fun ‘N’ Gun offense as smoothly as Danny Wuerffel did last year but the defense came through with four turnovers and five sacks. Next: Central Michigan.

3. FLORIDA STATE, DID NOT PLAY

The Seminoles, after an offseason of off-the-field problems, will be try to make another national championship run when they play the Trojans in the nightcap of Super Saturday in L.A. Next: At USC.

4. WASHINGTON, DID NOT PLAY

Things are already looking bright for the state of Washington. Washington State opened with a victory over UCLA and some folks are saying the Huskies have a shot at the national title. Next: At Brigham Young.

5. TENNESSEE BEATS TEXAS TECH, 52-17

If UCLA had trouble containing Washington State’s Ryan Leaf, what will Peyton Manning do to the Bruins next Saturday? Manning passed for 310 yards and five touchdowns in leading the Volunteers. Next: At UCLA.

6. NEBRASKA BEATS AKRON, 59-14

What was Akron doing on Nebraska’s schedule? Picking up a $450,000 paycheck. Otherwise, it wasn’t a very good day for the Zips, who got no farther than the Nebraska 49 in the first half. Next: Central Florida, Sept. 13

7. NORTH CAROLINA, DID NOT PLAY

The Tar Heels could tiptoe their way up the rankings before a Nov. 8 meeting with Florida State at Chapel Hill. The Achilles heel could be an Oct. 18 game against rival North Carolina State at Raleigh. Next: Indiana

8. COLORADO, DID NOT PLAY

Don’t be buffaloed into thinking the loss of quarterback Ty Detmer and wide receiver Rae Carruth will weaken Rick Neuheisel’s high-powered attack. The John Hessler-Phil Savoy combination will be just as potent. Next: Colorado State.

9. OHIO STATE BEATS WYOMING, 24-10

The Buckeyes’ lackluster victory over the greenhorn Cowboys on Thursday night was nothing like last year’s season opener--a 70-7 cakewalk over Rice. A sign of things to come? Next: Bowling Green, Sept. 13

10. LOUISIANA STATE, DID NOT PLAY

LSU certainly won’t have a tiger by the tail in its season-opener and there’s time for their young linebackers to get over their growing pains before an Oct. 11 game against Florida. Next: Texas El Paso.

11. NOTRE DAME, DID NOT PLAY

The Fighting Irish offense should spring to life now that close-to-the-vest coach Lou Holtz is gone, but any thoughts of a national championship would be stretching the imagination. Next: Georgia Tech.

12. TEXAS, DID NOT PLAY

The James Brown-led Longhorns showed little soul in a 38-15 loss to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl after a stirring 37-27 win over Nebraska in the Big 12 championship game. Such inconsistency may be hard to break down. Next: Rutgers.

13. SYRACUSE LOSES TO N.C. STATE, 32-31 (OT)

It’s just like the Orangemen to crush a worthy opponent like Wisconsin one week, then self-destruct against a lesser foe the next. They ought to be called the Jeckyl-and-Hydemen. Next: at Oklahoma.

14. MIAMI BEATS BAYLOR, 45-14

The Hurricanes didn’t need injured starting tailback Dyral McMillan against Baylor--the NCAA’s worst team against the rush in 1996. Backup Edgerrin James had 120 yards, three touchdowns. Next: Arizona State, Sept. 13.

15. MICHIGAN, DID NOT PLAY

There’s still no clear-cut No. 1 quarterback between good-arm, bad decision-making Scott Dreisbach and bad-arm, good decision-making Brian Griese, so that puts the pressure on the defense again. Next: Sept. 13, Colorado.

16. ALABAMA BEATS HOUSTON, 42-17

Senior Curtis Alexander didn’t play second-fiddle to the Crimson Tide’s suspended leading rusher Dennis Riddle, getting 138 yards rushing and receiving and three touchdowns. Next: Vanderbilt.

17. AUBURN, DID NOT PLAY

Coach Terry Bowden has the best four-year record in Tiger history, 36-9-1, but that wasn’t a convincing vote of confidence Athletic Director David Housel gave him during the off-season. Next: Virginia, Thursday.

18. STANFORD, DID NOT PLAY

How you gonna keep them down on The Farm once they complete a Pacific 10 schedule that does not include favored Washington? It could be destination Rose Bowl for the Cardinal. Next: San Jose.

19. BRIGHAM YOUNG, DID NOT PLAY

The Western Athletic Conference has been accorded major status from the Bowl Alliance and there’s nothing minor about BYU’s first two games against Washington and Arizona State. Next: Washington.

20. CLEMSON, DID NOT PLAY

The Tigers could claw their way to the top of

the ACC this season. They have home games against the conference’s top two teams, Florida State and North Carolina. Next: Appalachain State.

21. IOWA, DID NOT PLAY

Should Penn State fall by the Big 10 wayside, the Hawkeyes will be in the wings, waiting to swoop up the conference championship. Hayden Fry is in his 19th season as Iowa’s coach. Next: Northern Iowa.

22. KANSAS STATE, DID NOT PLAY

The Wildcats get to coast until Oct. 4, when they play Nebraska at Lincoln. Their first three games are against Northern Illinois, Ohio and Bowling Green. Next: At Northern Illinois.

23. USC, DID NOT PLAY

The Trojans open their season next Saturday against Florida State at the Coliseum in a 5 p.m. game to be nationally televised by ABC. The Trojans are trying to improve on a 6-6 season. Next: Florida State.

24. NORTHWESTERN, DID NOT PLAY

Northwestern opened the college football season a week earlier in the Pigskin Classic, defeating Oklahoma, 24-0. The Wildcats have been Big Ten champions and co-champions the past two seasons. Next: At Wake Forest.

25. MICHIGAN STATE, DID NOT PLAY

Nick Saban begins his third season as the Spartans’ coach next Saturday trying to improve on last year’s 6-6 record. Opening against Western Michigan and Memphis should help. Next: Western Michigan.