Top 25 / How They Fared

1. OHIO STATE (7-0) BEAT NORTHWESTERN, 36-10

Attention NFL scouts: Joe Germaine makes like Steve Young with his fifth consecutive 300-yard passing game and David Boston makes like Cris Carter--and breaks his school record--with his 27th and 28th career touchdown receptions. Next: at Indiana.

2. UCLA (6-0) BEAT CALIFORNIA, 28-16

It was “Trading Places II” at Berkeley, with quarterback Cade McNown running for key gains against a Golden Bear-trap defense and tailback Jermaine Lewis passing to reserve wide receiver Jon Dubravac for the Bruins’ final touchdown Next: Stanford.

3. TENNESSEE (6-0) BEAT ALABAMA, 35-18

The Volunteers, nipping at UCLA’s heels in the national polls, are still “Peerless” in the SEC because kick returner Price’s 100-yard return for a touchdown midway in the third quarter turned the Tide. Next: at South Carolina.

4. KANSAS STATE (7-0) BEAT IOWA STATE, 52-7

Michael Bishop wasn’t around for the finish--coming out of the game with 13 minutes left in the third quarter with a leg injury--but Frank Murphy was, dotting the “i” in another run-it-up victory with a touchdown with 26 seconds left. Next: at Kansas.

5. FLORIDA (6-1) DID NOT PLAY

Steve Spurrier started the open-date week having his team practice running up the score until he remembered the Gators were playing Georgia, not Georgia Southern. Easy mistake, with the Georgia Satellites probably being his favorite group. Next: Georgia.

6. FLORIDA STATE (7-1) BEAT GEORGIA TECH, 34-7

Hard to believe that Bobby Bowden’s Seminoles once had the same record this season (1-1) as son Terry’s Auburn Paper Tigers. You can bet Bobby didn’t think about quitting after his team’s stunning loss to North Carolina State. Next: North Carolina.

7. NEBRASKA (7-1) BEAT MISSOURI, 20-13

The Cornhuskers learned they could count on Monte Christo, a walk-on reserve quarterback who ran for two second-half touchdowns, and Eric Johnson, who sacked Corby Jones at the Nebraska 34 on the game’s last play. Next: Texas.

8. TEXAS A&M; (7-1) BEAT TEXAS TECH, 17-10

The Aggies, who needed three gimmick plays to defeat Baylor last week, scored their first touchdown on a pass play off a fake field goal. The holder, Shane Lechner, just happens to be a former high school quarterback.Next: at Oklahoma State.

9. WISCONSIN (8-0) BEAT IOWA, 31-0

Ron Dayne might accumulate enough frequent runner yardage to get the Badgers a trip to Pasadena. He had 164 yards in 39 carries Saturday, bringing his career total to 4,564 in only 31 games. Next: Minnesota (Nov. 7).

10. PENN STATE (5-1) DID NOT PLAY

With Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan all undefeated in conference, the once-beaten Nittany Lions have quite a mountain to climb to a Big Ten championship. The twin peaks left on the schedule are at Michigan and Wisconsin. Next: Illinois.

11. GEORGIA (7-1) BEAT KENTUCKY, 28-26

Do the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings know this? “We treat each game like it’s the Super Bowl,” said Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter. “From this point, we just want to be 10-1.” Ten wins ought to get the Bulldogs in the NFL playoffs. Next: at Florida.

12. OREGON (6-1) BEAT USC, 17-13

USC Coach Paul Hackett knew all along what the Trojans’ Akili Heel would be. Duck quarterback Smith showed why he’s the “class of the conference” . . . Cade McNown will probably do the same on Nov. 21. Next: at Arizona.

13. WEST VIRGINIA (4-2) LOST TO MIAMI, 34-31

Ain’t no Mountaineer high enough for the Hurricanes. They won at Morgantown, W.Va. two years ago with a blocked punt in the final minute and again Saturday on Scott Covington’s touchdown pass with 1:37 left. Next: at Virginia Tech.

14. ARIZONA (7-1) BEAT NORTHEAST LOUISIANA, 45-7

Another Saturday night special in Tucson as the Wildcats scored their most points in a non-overtime game since 1992. Northeast Louisiana--outscored 149-24 in road games by Top 25 teams--might consider a return ticket to Division I-AA. Next: Oregon.

15. ARKANSAS (6-0) DID NOT PLAY

They’re living high on the hog in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks get to feed on SEC mush the next two weeks (Auburn and Mississippi) before leaving Green Acres for games at Tennessee and Mississippi State. Next: at Auburn.

16. VIRGINIA (6-1) BEAT NORTH CAROLINA STATE, 23-13

Wolfpack freshman Ray Robinson must have looked like Barry Sanders to the Cavaliers with touchdown runs of 88 and 62 yards. Virginia did manage to do something Florida State couldn’t--beat North Carolina State. Next: at Wake Forest.

17. COLORADO (6-2) LOST TO KANSAS, 33-17

With the Jayhawks’ starting tailback Mitch Bowles sidelined with a hamstring injury, the Buffaloes were bowled over by 5-foot-7 scatback David Winbush, who ran for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Next: at Missouri (Nov. 7).

18. NOTRE DAME (5-1) BEAT ARMY, 20-17

Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside must still have eligibility at Army for this one to be so close. You want luck of the Irish? Jim Sanson’s low, wobbly boot catches a jet stream to barely travel the required 48 yards for the game-winning field goal. Next: Baylor.

19. MISSOURI (5-2) LOST TO NEBRASKA, 20-13

You’d think the Tigers might have gotten the hang of the Cornhuskers’ pass-kick-catch touchdown routine. Instead, John Dausman is kicking himself for letting Corby Jones’ sure-touchdown pass go through his hands with nine seconds left. Next: at Texas Tech.

20. GEORGIA TECH (5-2) LOST TO FLORIDA STATE, 34-7

It’s the same old song for the the Yellow Jackets, who have lost seven consecutive games to the Seminoles and been outscored 255-30 in the last six. They can take solace, however, that they’re still tied for first place in the ACC. Next: at Maryland.

21. SYRACUSE (4-2) DID NOT PLAY

The Orangemen sat back and watched an unbeaten Big East team lose at home for the second consecutive week. That leaves Syracuse as the only unbeaten Big East team. The Orangemen play at home next week. Hmmm. Next: Pittsburgh.

22. TULANE (6-0) BEAT RUTGERS, 52-24

How do you top an All-Name first-teamer like Jamaican Dartez? With a Converse All-Star, of course. Toney Converse, the 160-pound backup to Dartez at tailback, darts and dashes for 105 yards. Next: Southwest Louisiana.

23. VIRGINIA TECH (6-1) BEAT ALA. BIRMINGHAM, 41-0

The Hokies were sent to group therapy after that mind-bending loss at home last week to Temple, which might not win again this century. Fortunately for Virginia Tech, Alabama Birmingham is no Temple. Next: West Virginia.

24. MISSISSIPPI STATE (5-2) LOST TO LSU, 24-6

The Bulldogs should have taken out some no-Faulk insurance. The Tigers’ offense was again in good hands with Kevin Faulk, who had three touchdowns. He had no no touchdowns in LSU’s previous three games--all losses. Next: at Kentucky (Nov. 7).

25. TEXAS TECH (6-2) LOST TO TEXAS A&M;, 17-10

Ricky Williams II, who at one time led the nation in rushing over Ricky Williams I, might fall behind some other Ricky Williams if this keeps up: he had 94 yards--72 below his average. Next: Missouri.