TOP 25 / HOW THEY FARED

1. TENNESSEE (9-0) BEAT ARKANSAS, 28-24

Coach Phillip Fulmer says he doesn’t believe in divine intervention, but he might reconsider after Clint Stoerner’s stumble and fumble kept the Volunteers’ national championship hopes alive. Staying No. 1 might require a miracle too. Next: Kentucky.

2. KANSAS STATE (10-0) BEAT NEBRASKA, 40-30

Until last month, the Wildcats had the most college football losses all-time (546) and would have to go unbeaten through 2012 to reach .500. Winning a national championship this year would appear to be more realistic. Next: at Missouri.

3. UCLA (9-0) BEAT WASHINGTON, 36-24

Remember the days when earning the right to play in the Rose Bowl was a big deal? Well, the Bruins were pretty low-key toward accomplishing that Saturday, with nary a long-stemmed rose passed around for the occasion. Next: USC.

4. FLORIDA (9-1) BEAT SOUTH CAROLINA, 33-14

The Gators kept their slim national championship hopes alive, but how happy can run-it-up Steve Spurrier be? Florida had averaged 52 points and a margin of victory of 35 points against South Carolina in four previous games. Next: Florida State.

5. FLORIDA STATE (10-1) BEAT WAKE FOREST, 24-7

The Seminoles picked a bad time to struggle against a team they can usually name the score against because their BCS ranking figures to suffer. Even usually upbeat Bobby Bowden was down: “I’ve never been more frustrated in my life.” Next: Florida.

6. TEXAS A&M; (10-1) BEAT MISSOURI, 17-14

From Aggie quarterback Randy “You Can Call Me Cade” McCown: “Our defense didn’t play as well as we would like but our offense did a tremendous job.” Call us crazy Randy, but 215 total yards isn’t tremendous. Next: at Texas (Nov. 27).

7. OHIO STATE (9-1) BEAT IOWA, 45-14

Now the Buckeyes can go into next Saturday’s game against old nemesis--and Big Ten leader--Michigan at Columbus in the role of the spoiler. Ohio State can go to the Rose Bowl with a victory, and help from Penn State. Next: Michigan.

8. WISCONSIN (9-1) LOST TO MICHIGAN, 27-10

The Badgers’ bubble burst as their one-Dayne-mensional offense was reduced to ball of confusion by the moving-at-warp-speed Wolverines. Wisconsin can go to the Rose Bowl with a victory next week, and help from Ohio State. Next: Penn State.

9. ARIZONA (10-1) BEAT CALIFORNIA, 27-23

The Wildcats have quietly made their way into the top 10 since a 24-point loss to UCLA on Oct. 10, and could climb over a couple of Big Ten teams and possibly one of the Florida schools if everything falls into place. Next: Arizona State (Nov. 27).

10. ARKANSAS (8-1) LOST TO TENNESSEE, 28-24

Clint Stoerner took his place in football lore next to New York Giant quarterback Joe Pisarcik by not being able to hang on to the football with the game in hand. Come to think of it, Stoerner does have the look of a classic Giant quarterback. Next: at Mississippi State.

11. NEBRASKA (8-3) LOST KANSAS STATE, 40-30

Three losses in a season? The Cornhuskers, who haven’t lost that many since 1977, might be as well discontinue the program. Definitely missing is that old rock ‘em, sock ‘em defense. Nebraska gave up 512 total yards Saturday. Next: Colorado (Nov. 27).

12. NOTRE DAME (8-1) BEAT NAVY, 30-0

One of the most automatic things in college football is an Irish victory over the Midshipmen. It’s happened 35th consecutive times and might continue as long as there are ships at sea. It’s time for this rivalry to go into dry dock. Next: Louisiana State.

13. MISSOURI (7-3) LOST TO TEXAS A&M;, 17-14

Tiger return man Randy Potter won’t be confused for Deion Sanders. He fumbled one punt that set up Texas A&M;’s winning field goal and let another roll past him to the Missouri two. “I just messed up twice today,” explained Potter.Next: Kansas State.

14. TULANE (9-0) BEAT ARMY, 49-35

The Green Wave is one of four Division I-A teams left standing unbeaten thanks to Shaun King, who threw for three touchdowns and ran for three, and became the first Tulane player to pass for 300 yards and run for 100 yards in a game. Next: Houston.

15. MICHIGAN (8-2) BEAT WISCONSIN, 27-10

The Wolverines, once 1-2 this season, suddenly find themselves in the driver’s seat to the Rose Bowl. The running game has also made big strides in three weeks, going from a minus-23 effort against Minnesota to 257 against Wisconsin. Next: at Ohio State.

16. VIRGINIA TECH (7-2) LOST TO SYRACUSE, 28-26

The Hokies were down on themselves for letting this one get away, but they could have gone 11-1 this season and still not be able to escape one simple fact: they lost to Temple an Oct. 17. Next: Rutgers.

17. GEORGIA (7-2) BEAT AUBURN, 28-17

The Bulldog offense put it all together for the first time since an Oct. 3 win over LSU with 605 total yards. Of course, what kind of shape is the Auburn program in if it’s considering the Temple coach as Terry Bowden’s replacement. Next: Mississippi.

18. TEXAS (7-3) LOST TO TEXAS TECH, 42-35

This was the battle of the Ricky Williamses, with the Longhorn version getting outrushed, 148-141, by the Red Raider model. Hook ‘Em Ricky is still 63 yards short of Tony Dorsett’s Division I-A career rushing record. Next: Texas A&M; (Nov. 27).

19. PENN STATE (7-2) BEAT NORTHWESTERN, 41-10

Here’s the Wildcats’ 0-8 Big Ten season in a nutshell: Nittany Lion running back Eric McCoo fumbles but catches the bouncing ball in full stride 15 yards down field and sprints to a 57-yard touchdown. Next: at Wisconsin.

20. OREGON (8-2) BEAT ARIZONA STATE, 51-19

Akili Smith continues to show that USC Coach Paul Hackett knows a good quarterback from the opposition when he sees one. Smith has passed for 839 yards and seven touchdowns the last two games. Next: at Oregon State.

21. VIRGINIA (8-2) BEAT NORTH CAROLINA, 30-13

Cavalier fans had a lot to cheer about, but preferred to boo Tar Heel quarterback Ronald Curry, the former Virginia high school standout who recanted on a verbal commitment to the school.Next: at Virginia Tech (Nov. 28).

22. GEORGIA TECH (7-2) BEAT CLEMSON, 24-21

The high-scoring Yellow Jackets looked shaky Thursday night in their road victory over the Tigers, but are still in a position where they can be co-Atlantic Coast Conference champs with Bobby Bowden. That will make a season.Next: Wake Forest.

23. AIR FORCE (9-1) BEAT WYOMING, 10-3

Thirteen points? No wonder they’re breaking up the WAC. Teams used to get 13 points in a blink of the eye in the conference. Air Force had better watch itself next week against fellow option-offense user Rice. Next: Rice.

24. MIAMI (6-2) BEAT TEMPLE, 42-7

Don’t look now UCLA, but the Hurricanes are gathering momentum. Of course, Miami was only playing Saturday against Temple quarterback Moe DeVito, whose fumbling antics were reminiscent of a Three Stooges routine. Next: Pittsburgh (Thursday).

25. WYOMING (8-2) LOST TO AIR FORCE, 10-3

This game marked the first time two ranked teams played at Wyoming’s 48-year-old War Stadium--a span of 252 games. The wait wasn’t worth it as the Cowboys had as much trouble cracking the Falcon defense as they did the Top 25 this season. Next: at Tulsa.