HOW THEY FARED

1. OHIO STATE (5-0) BEAT ILLINOIS, 41-0

The Illini, always a gracious host, afforded Ohio State the opportunity to unveil some spiffy fall passing fashions like this combination: Germaine to Germany. Woody Hayes probably wouldn’t have approved. Next: Minnesota.

2. NEBRASKA (5-1) LOST TO TEXAS A&M;, 28-21

The honeymoon is over for Frank Solich, and maybe the Cornhuskers’ dominance of the Big 12 too. Nebraska, which used to punish opponents on the ground, has taken a pounding the last two weeks in getting outrushed, 462-251. Next: at Kansas.

3. UCLA (4-0) BEAT ARIZONA, 52-28

The Bruins--with No. 2 Nebraska retreating at College Station, Texas--will advance in the college ranks after blitzing Desert Swarm with three long fourth-quarter touchdown strikes at Tucson. Next: Oregon.

4. TENNESSEE (5-0) BEAT GEORGIA, 22-3

The Volunteers, accused of running up the score by Georgia Coach Jim Donnan last year, showed mercy for the Bulldogs this time. Quarterback Tee Martin took a knee to run out the clock with Tennessee on verge of scoring. Next: Alabama (Oct. 24).

5. KANSAS STATE (5-0) BEAT COLORADO, 16-9

The Wildcats are known for their cupcake schedule and run-it-up offense, but they also have the nation’s No. 1 defense, which prevented an offensive stampede by the Buffaloes. Colorado had 37 yards rushing in 31 carries. Next: Oklahoma State.

6. FLORIDA (5-1) BEAT LOUISIANA STATE, 22-10

Doug Johnson became the winner of the Florida quarterback sweepstakes by default as Jesse Palmer suffered a broken collarbone. The Gators’ go-ahead touchdown pass, however was thrown by receiver Travis McGriff on a gimmick play. Next: Auburn.

7. GEORGIA (4-1) LOST TO TENNESSEE, 22-3

Home-field advantage? Forget it when the Bulldogs play a Top 25 team on their turf. Georgia has lost nine consecutive home games to nationally ranked teams, which makes it difficult to maintain residency in the top 10.Next: Vanderbilt.

8. FLORIDA STATE (5-1) BEAT MIAMI, 26-14

Cornerback Leonard Myers, like so many before him at Miami, was bragging all week about how he was going to shut down Florida State receiver Peter Warrick. Well, no ‘Cane do: Warrick had seven catches for 190 yards and a touchdown. Next: Clemson.

9. VIRGINIA (5-0) DID NOT PLAY

Yes, Virginia is looking good at this point in the season, but it can’t afford to take a Cavalier attitude toward the next two opponents, who will throw the conference’s best two quarterbacks at a yet-to-be-seriously tested secondary.Next: at Georgia Tech.

10. ARIZONA (5-1) LOST TO UCLA, 52-28

No late-night, game-winning acrobatics against the Bruins by Ortege Jenkins, who still might become a No. 1 draft choice of Barnum and Bailey after his somersaulting touchdown against Washington. Next: at Oregon State.

11. LOUISIANA STATE (3-2) LOST TO FLORIDA, 22-10

The Tigers seem to have found an SEC sinkhole in losing back-to-back games and now can only hope to muddle through the rest of the schedule into the quagmire of minor bowl games. Next: Kentucky.

12. WISCONSIN (6-0) BEAT PURDUE, 31-24

The Badgers’ No. 5 nationally-ranked defense figured to be tested by Boilermaker quarterback Drew Brees and it was. Brees--with nobody in warming up in the bullpen--threw an NCAA record 83 passes, completing 55 for 494 yards. Next: at Illinois.

13. PENN STATE (4-1) BEAT MINNESOTA, 27-17

The Nittany Lions, who had to rally to defeat the Golden Gophers by a point at home last season, got some breathing room late in the third quarter this time on Corey Jones’ 65-yard touchdown reception.Next: Purdue.

14. COLORADO (5-1) LOST TO KANSAS STATE, 16-9

The Buffaloes’ Hannibal Navies-led defense made sure it was famine, not feast, for Wildcat quarterback Michael Bishop, who completed only nine of 25 passes and was held to 19 yards rushing in 13 carries. Next: Texas Tech

15. OREGON (5-0) BEAT WASHINGTON STATE, 51-29

Duck quarterback Akili Smith threw his Heisman Trophy support to running back Reuben Droughns, who had 217 yards and four touchdowns in 39 carries. “The way Reuben is running, he may need to get into the [Heisman] race,” said Smith. N1ext: at UCLA.

16. WEST VIRGINIA (4-1) BEAT TEMPLE, 37-7

Playing Temple--the equivalent of an open date--came at a good time for West Virginia, which was able to give injured leading rusher Amos Zereoue an extra week off before its Tic-Tac-Toe schedule of Miami, Virginia Tech and Syracuse.Next: Miami (Oct. 24).

17. VIRGINIA TECH (5-0) BEAT BOSTON COLLEGE, 17-0 (THU.)

The Hokies have given up only four touchdowns, are third nationally in total defense, and could threaten Orel Hershiser’s scoreless streak with Temple and Alabama Birmingham as their next opponents.Next: Temple.

18. TEXAS A&M; (5-1) BEAT NEBRASKA, 28-21

The Aggies must have seen it coming. The highest-ranked team Texas A&M; defeated previously was No. 4 Tulane in the 1939 Sugar Bowl for the national title. Some of the members of that Aggie team were honored at halftime. Next: at Baylor.

19. USC (4-2) LOST TO CALIFORNIA, 32-31

What a difference a week makes. The Trojans scored 22 fourth-quarter points to defeat Arizona State last week, but blew a 31-10 lead Saturday and lost to Cal for only the second time at the Coliseum since 1970. Next: at Washington State.

20. ARKANSAS (5-0) BEAT MEMPHIS, 23-9

The Razorbacks, and quarterback Clint Stoerner in particular, were lackluster but even that was sufficient against the Tigers, who are ranked 111th in rushing and 109th in scoring among 112 Division I-A teams. Next: at South Carolina.

21. MISSOURI (4-1) BEAT IOWA STATE, 35-19

With quarterback Corby Jones hobbling around on a sore toe, the Tigers turned to Devin West to keep the offense running and he did--getting 252 yards--the second-best total in school history--in 40 carries. Next: Oklahoma.

22. NOTRE DAME (4-1) BEAT ARIZONA STATE, 28-9

As the Sun Devils’ season continued to wilt in the considerable Arizona heat, the Irish were cool customers--particularly on defense where A’Jani Sanders returned one of his team’s three interceptions for a touchdown. Next: Army (Oct. 24).

23. N. CAROLINA ST. (3-2) LOST TO GEORGIA TECH, 47-24

The Wolfpack is a tough team to get a handle on--easily defeating Florida State and Syracuse only to follow up with losses to Baylor and Georgia Tech. Speaking of getting a handle, two North Carolina State fumbles led to Georgia Tech scores. Next: at Duke.

24. SYRACUSE (3-2) BEAT CINCINNATI, 63-21

A game with Cincinnati--the Temple of the Midwest--couldn’t have come at a better time for the Orangemen, who were still trying to figure out happened in a 38-17 loss to North Carolina State on Oct. 1. Next: at Boston College.

25. TULANE (4-0) DID NOT PLAY

The Green Wave washed upon the Top 25 shore for the first time in, well, quite some time. Tulane last finished a season nationally ranked by the Associated Press in 1973. Heck, its last consensus All-American was Ernie Blandin in 1941. Next: Louisville.