Top 25 / How They Fared

1. OHIO STATE (4-0) BEAT PENN STATE, 28-9

Well, it was wet--and occasionally wild--but it didn’t rain on the Buckeyes’ No. 1 parade. Ohio State’s defense made sure of that, holding Penn State to 181 total yards and recovering the ball twice in the end zone for touchdowns. Next: at Illinois.

2. NEBRASKA (5-0) BEAT OKLAHOMA STATE, 24-17

They might take a train, they might take a plane, but the Cornhuskers were happy to get out of Kansas City, Mo., with a victory in this neutral-site game as the Cowboys’ Nathan Simmons was stopped on a one-foot line with no time left. Next: at Texas A&M.;

3. TENNESSEE (4-0) BEAT AUBURN, 17-9

This game turned ugly for the Volunteers after they scored touchdowns on the first two plays from scrimmage. The anemic Auburn offense managed 181 yards rushing but was stopped four times from the Tennessee 1 before halftime. Next: at Georgia.

4. UCLA (3-0) BEAT WASHINGTON STATE, 49-17

Jermaine Lewis gained redemption by running for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Last year, Lewis hit the wrong hole on a fourth-and-goal from the 1 and was stopped with less than three minutes left in the Bruins’ 37-34 loss to the Cougars. Next: at Arizona.

5. KANSAS STATE (4-0) DID NOT PLAY

The Wildcats are flying high, but a suspect schedule has critics coming at them from all angles. A road victory over Colorado would be noteworthy and clear a path to a Nov. 14 showdown against Nebraska.Next: at Colorado.

6. LOUISIANA STATE (3-1) LOST TO GEORGIA, 28-27

The Bulldogs did all they could to keep Kevin Faulk’s hands off the football, punting out of bounds four times in the first half when he was the return man. Faulk was also kept out of the end zone. Next: at Florida.

7. PENN STATE (3-1) LOST TO OHIO STATE, 28-9

What a difference a year makes. The Nittany Lions plowed through the Ohio State defense last year for 316 yards rushing to win, 31-27, and become the nation’s No. 1 team. Saturday, they had 79 yards rushing. Next: at Minnesota.

8. FLORIDA (4-1) BEAT ALABAMA, 16-10

If the Gators can’t beat a team with quarterbacks named John David Phillips and Andrew Zow, then it’s time for Steve Spurrier to hang up his ego. Speaking of hang-ups, how ‘bout those rotating Florida quarterbacks? Next: Louisiana State.

9. FLORIDA STATE (4-1) BEAT MARYLAND, 24-10

Times must really be changing in the ACC. Two weeks ago, Florida State was humiliated by North Carolina State. This week, Maryland--a team that Florida State usually beats like a drum--allowed the Seminoles only one touchdown. Next: at Miami.

10. VIRGINIA (5-0) BEAT SAN JOSE STATE, 52-14

Ah, there’s nothing like a WAC defense for what ails an ACC offense. Virginia, which looked clueless against Duke last week, knew the way through San Jose, rushing for all but 100 of their 556 total yards and six touchdowns. Next: at Georgia Tech (Oct. 17).

11. SYRACUSE (2-2) LOST TO N.C. STATE, 38-17 (THU.)

Syracuse scored 70 points against Rutgers in its previous game, but Thursday night’s stunning loss at Raleigh, N.C., dealt a mighty blow to the Orangemen’s national title ambitions and Donovan McNabb’s Heisman Trophy hope.Next: Cincinnati.

12. GEORGIA (4-0) BEAT LOUISIANA STATE, 28-27

Big-game jitters for Bulldog quarterback Quincy Carter, playing his fourth college game at wild-and-crazy Tiger Stadium? Nah. He completed his first 15 passes and led Georgia to touchdowns in its first three possessions. Next: Tennessee.

13. WISCONSIN (5-0) BEAT INDIANA, 24-20

Ron Dayne, celebrated bad ankle and all, joined a select group by rushing for 4,000 yards by his junior season. Only five others have done it--Herschel Walker, Marshall Faulk, Troy Davis, Byron Hanspard and Tony Dorsett. Next: Purdue.

14. ARIZONA (5-0) BEAT WASHINGTON, 31-28

Ortege Jenkins’ spectacular touchdown--the judges give him a 10 for his flip into the end zone--with four seconds left allowed the Wildcats to avenge last season’s 58-28 loss to the Huskies at Tucson. Next: UCLA.

15. COLORADO (5-0) BEAT OKLAHOMA, 27-25

What prose do you think Grantland Rice could have scripted for the Buffaloes’ passing combination of Moschetti to Chiaverini, which accounted for a touchdown Saturday. Maybe Mario Puzo would have better luck. Next: Kansas State.

16. WEST VIRGINIA (3-1) BEAT NAVY, 45-24

The Mountaineers didn’t lead until Antwan Lake recovered a fumble in the end zone early in the fourth quarter. “I thought the last team to have the ball would win, but then our defense came through,” running back Amos Zereoue said. Next: at Temple.

17. OREGON (4-0) DID NOT PLAY

Are the Ducks for real? After a road game against Washington State, they close with a challenging six weeks, with games against UCLA, USC, Arizona, Washington, Arizona State and Oregon State. Next: at Washington State.

18. TEXAS A&M; (4-1) BEAT KANSAS, 24-21

Aggie Coach R.C. Slocum, who only plays a psychologist on TV, said he didn’t let Russell Bynum try three field goals between 40 and 48 yards because he didn’t want to put too much pressure on the kicker who missed two last week. Next: Nebraska.

19. VIRGINIA TECH (4-0) DID NOT PLAY

The surprising Hokies had the week off, and should have clear sailing the next three weeks, playing Boston College, Temple and Alabama-Birmingham before a showdown against West Virginia.Next: at Boston College (Thursday).

20. WASHINGTON (2-2) LOST TO ARIZONA, 31-28

The 55-7 humiliation against Nebraska last week was followed by a last-second loss. Huskies kicker Jim Skurski had a field goal and extra-point kick blocked and missed a 23-yard field that the Wildcats followed with their winning drive. Next: Utah State.

21. USC (4-1) BEAT ARIZONA STATE, 35-24

Sun Devils’ J.R. Redmond had 350 all-purpose yards but the Trojans played with a purpose in the fourth quarter with 22 unanswered points. Coach Paul Hackett needn’t look farther than Carson--Palmer that is--for his quarterback. Next: California.

22. ARKANSAS (4-0) BEAT KENTUCKY, 27-20

David Barrett was no Couch potato on an interception that set up the tying touchdown for the Razorbacks. It was the only interception thrown by the Wildcats’ Tim Couch, who was 47 for 67 for 499 yards and three touchdowns.Next: at Memphis.

23. MISSOURI (3-1) BEAT NORTHWESTERN (LA.) ST., 35-14

The Tigers led only 14-0 at halftime against their Division I-AA opponent. “I think we started to [underestimate Northwestern State] at the beginning, until they started whipping our butts. Then we woke up,” running back Devin West said.Next: at Iowa State.

24. NOTRE DAME (3-1) BEAT STANFORD, 35-17

Actually, a split this week for Notre Dame, which was ordered by a federal judge to pay former assistant coach Joe Moore $75,557 in compensation and $394,865 in fees for his lawyers. The big payback for Moore is now at $556,313.98. Next: at Arizona State.

25. MICHIGAN (3-2) BEAT IOWA, 12-9

There’s no place like, well, Kinnick Stadium for the Wolverines, who defeated the Hawkeyes on their home field for the sixth consecutive time. Michigan yielded only 159 yards on its home-away-from-home turf. Next: at Northwestern (Oct. 17).