HOW THE AP TOP 25 FARED

1. FLORIDA STATE (5-0) beat Duke, 51-23. The Seminoles scored on all eight of their first-half possessions, but Coach Bobby Bowden was disappointed with reserves’ effort in second half. Picky, picky. Next: Miami, Saturday.

2. PENN STATE (5-0) did not play. The Nittany Lions’ last game against the Hawkeyes was a 21-20 loss at Happy Valley in 1996. Doesn’t figure to be that close this time, and don’t expect a Lion loss. Next: at Iowa, Saturday.

3. FLORIDA (4-1) lost to Alabama, 40-39 (OT). The Gators’ 30-game winning streak at Gainesville is swamped by a high Tide, which rolls thanks to second-chance extra point. Next: at Louisiana State, Saturday.

4. MICHIGAN (5-0) beat Purdue, 38-12. After shutting down a great runner (Ron Dayne) last week, Wolverine defense shows it can stop a great passer (Drew Brees) too. Next: at Michigan State, Saturday.

5. TEXAS A&M; (3-1) lost to Texas Tech, 21-19. Ricky who? Sammy Morris fills in for injured Williams and rushes for 170 yards--102 more than nation’s top run defense had given up in first three games. Next: Baylor, Saturday.

6. NEBRASKA (5-0) beat Oklahoma State, 38-14. The Cornhuskers--ranked behind the Cowboys in total defense entering the game--gave up only 45 yards, all rushing, in the first half. Next: Iowa State, Saturday.

7. TENNESSEE (3-1) beat Auburn, 24-0. The Volunteers come up empty on five trips inside the Auburn 23, but it hardly matters as defense carries the day in Tennessee’s first shutout against Tigers since 1980. Next: Georgia, Saturday.

8. VIRGINIA TECH (4-0) beat Virginia, 31-7. Running back Shyrone Stith had his fourth consecutive 100-yard game and scored three touchdowns, taking spotlight from Hokies’ top-ranked defense. Next: at Rutgers, Saturday.

9. GEORGIA TECH (3-1) beat Maryland, 49-31 (Thursday). The Tar Heels couldn’t stop Joe Hamilton (three touchdown passes) last season in a 43-21 loss. Expect more of the same this time. Next: North Carolina, Saturday.

10. GEORGIA (4-0) beat Louisiana State, 23-22. Will Witherspoon saved the Bulldogs’ booty when he knocked down conversion pass with 18 seconds left. One-point wins a Bulldog specialty. Next: at Tennessee, Saturday.

11. PURDUE (4-1) lost to Michigan, 38-12. Boilermakers discovered, unhappily, that it will take more than a strong Brees to topple the Big Ten’s elite. Next: at Ohio State, Saturday.

12. OHIO STATE (3-2) lost to Wisconsin, 42-17. Buckeyes were dogged by Ron Dayne in their worst loss at Ohio Stadium in 32 years. Forty-two unanswered points? Next: Purdue, Saturday.

13. KANSAS STATE (4-0) beat Texas, 35-17. Long day for Longhorns: Wildcats converted three interceptions and three fumbles by Major Applewhite into 26 points. Next: Kansas, Saturday.

14. MICHIGAN STATE (5-0) beat Iowa, 49-3. Shouldn’t this week’s Big Ten showdown be played at Battle Creek instead of East Lansing? Next: Michigan, Saturday.

15. TEXAS (4-2) lost to Kansas State, 35-17. Longhorn quarterback Major Applewhite had made an NCAA-leading 138 consecutive passes without an interception before having three picked off Saturday. Next: Oklahoma, Saturday.

16. MISSISSIPPI STATE (5-0) beat Vanderbilt, 42-14. The Bulldogs, off to their best start since 1944, had six sacks and forced three turnovers. Next: at Auburn, Saturday.

17. MARSHALL (5-0) beat Miami of Ohio, 32-14. Surprise! The longest winning streak in Division I-A--nine in a row--belongs to the Thundering Herd. Next: Toledo, Oct. 16.

18. MIAMI (2-2) did not play. Scary thought for Hurricanes: Seminoles might be better than last season, when they beat Miami, 26-14. And this year’s game is at Tallahassee. Next: at Florida State, Saturday.

19. EAST CAROLINA (5-0) beat Army, 33-14. The Pirates are off to their best start since 1976, when they finished 9-2 under Pat Dye. Better yet: They’re going home. Next: Southern Mississippi, Saturday.

20. ARKANSAS (2-2) lost to Kentucky, 31-20. Razorbacks get dusted: Wildcat quarterback Dusty Bonner passed for four touchdowns and defense stands up. Next: Middle Tennessee State, Saturday.

21. ALABAMA (4-1) beat Florida, 40-39 (OT). Embattled Tide Coach Mike DuBose should send note of thanks to Florida’s Bennie Alexander, who jumped offsides on botched conversion attempt. Next: at Mississippi, Oct. 16.

22. SYRACUSE (4-1) beat Tulane, 47-17. Green Wave quarterback Patrick Ramsey passed for 342 yards, but four of his passes wound up in the hands of Orangemen defenders. Next: at Pittsburgh, Thursday.

23. OKLAHOMA (3-1) lost to Notre Dame, 34-30. Bright spot in loss was Brandon Daniels’ school-record 229 kickoff return yards, including an 89-yard return for a touchdown. Next: at Texas, Saturday.

24. VIRGINIA (3-2) lost to Virginia Tech, 31-7. No rally this time for Cavaliers, whose comeback from 22-point deficit in 36-32 win last season was biggest ever. Next: Duke, Saturday.

25. OREGON (3-2) lost to Washington, 34-20. As Ducks were being shot down in a late game at Seattle, Rose Bowl officials probably wondered: Do we have to invite a Pac-10 team to our New Year’s party? Next: at UCLA, Saturday.