HOW THE AP TOP 25 FARED

1 Miam Ex-Panthers Dan Marino, Mike Ditka and Tony Dorsett were on the sidelines to cheer on Pittsburgh. Too bad they couldn’t suit up.

Defeated Pittsburgh, 43-21, Thursday

Record: 3-0

Next: Troy State, Saturday

2 Florida Gator fans drooling for revenge after losing to MSU last year. Steve Spurrier gladly obliges, calling plenty of pass plays in final minutes.

Defeated No. 21 Mississippi State, 52-0

Record: 4-0

Next: at No. 14 Louisiana State, Saturday

3 Oklahoma What in the name of Jamelle Holieway is going on? Sooners manage only nine yards rushing but win thanks to receiver Antwone Savage (two catches,138 yards, two touchdowns).

Defeated No. 11 Kansas State, 38-37

Record: 4-0

Next: at No. 5 Texas, Saturday

4 Nebraska Mizzou fans still chanting “We scored first,” even though Huskers score 36 points in a row to overcome two early turnovers and a botched field-goal attempt.

Defeated Missouri, 36-3

Record: 5-0

Next: Iowa State, Saturday

5 Texas Why make the road trip? Red Raiders have been outscored by Longhorns, 100-14, in last two games at Austin.

Defeated Texas Tech, 42-7

Record: 4-0

Next: No. 3 Oklahoma, Saturday

6 Oregon Ducks not exactly Cascade Mountain-picturesque against winless Aggies, but Joey Harrington engineers five drives of 79 yards or more. .

Defeated Utah State, 38-21

Record: 4-0

Next: at Arizona, Saturday

7 Tennessee Big bro Casey Clausen beats li’l bro Rick for family bragging rights. Can expect to get better gifts from parents come holiday time.

Defeated No. 14 Louisiana State, 26-18

Record: 3-0

Next: Georgia, Saturday

8 Virginia Tech Punter Vinnie Burns fools own coaches by calling fake punt. Bad idea. It works for a 33-yard gain that sets up a touchdown and begins blowout. Good idea.

Defeated Central Florida, 46-14

Record: 4-0

Next: at West Virginia, Saturday

9 Georgia Tech Several Clemson players did not dress because of injuries. Unfortunately for Yellowjackets, Woody Dantzler was plenty healthy and had 418 yards of total offense.

Lost to Clemson, 47-44, OT

Record: 3-1

Next: at Duke, Saturday

10 Fresno State School-record 42,881 fans who jammed into Bulldog Stadium were never quite comfortable until David Carr’s touchdown pass with 4:35 left.

Defeated Louisiana Tech, 38-28

Record: 5-0

Next: at Colorado State, Oct. 13

11 Kansas State Wildcats need to go back to the drawing board on razzle-dazzle fake punt defense.

Lost to No. 3 Oklahoma, 38-37

Record: 2-1

Next: Colorado, Saturday

12 UCLA Stat nerds fumbling for calculators after easy Bruin victory: Final score a 79-point turnaround from 55-7 loss to Beavers two years ago.

Defeated No. 19 Oregon State, 38-7

Record: 4-0

Next: Washington, Oct. 13

13 Washington Cal has seen it before, still can’t do anything about it: Golden Bears rally but still lose for third year in a row to Washington.

Defated California, 31-28

Record: 2-0

Next: USC, Saturday

14 Louisiana State Porous secondary couldn’t have stopped Kelley Washington if it had quadruple-teamed him, stolen his shoulder pads and hidden his water bottle.

Lost to No. 7 Tennessee, 26-18

Record: 2-1

Next: Florida, Saturday

15 South Carolina

Notre Dame braintrust constructing lengthy letter of apology to Lou Holtz. Allegedly starts with “We’re really, really, really, really sorry.”

Defeated Alabama, 37-36

Record: 4-0

Next: Kentucky, Saturday

16 Northwestern Zak Kustok lining up offers to start 1-900 phone line: Wildcat quarterback accurately predicts victory in huddle at start of final drive.

Defeated No. 23 Michigan State, 27-26

Record: 3-0

Next: at Ohio State, Saturday

17 Michigan Ohio State game still two months away, but Buckeyes already waving white flag at new gadget plays in Wolverine offense.

Defeated: No. 22 Illinois, 45-20

Record: 3-1

Next: at Penn State, Saturday

18 Florida State Bobby Bowden upset that pollsters dropped Seminoles 12 spots last week, takes out frustrations on hapless Demon Deacons.

Defeated Wake Forest, 48-24

Record: 3-1

Next: Miami, Oct. 13

19 Oregon State Big run on “Beavers 2000: A season to Remember” tapes at Corvallis video stores. Ken Simonton all but eliminated from Heisman race with 26 yards in 13 carries.

Lost to No. 12 UCLA, 38-7

Record: 1-2

Next: at Washington State

20 Brigham Young Nation’s top-ranked offense fumbles six times. But quarterback Brandon Doman saves the day with touchdown run with 1:12 left.

Defeated Nevada Las Vegas, 35-31

Record: 4-0

Next: Utah State, Friday

21 Mississippi St. Silver-lining stat for inconsolable Bulldog fans: MSU was outscored only 7-0 in the third quarter. First half not so pretty

Lost to No. 2 Florida, 52-0

Record: 1-2

Next: at Auburn, Saturday

22 Illinois Illini fans broken-hearted after futile attempt against Michigan. And they can’t even root for alum Jeff George today against Kansas City.

Lost to No. 17 Michigan, 45-20

Record: 3-1

Next: Minnesota, Saturday

23 Michigan State Spartans should have listened to everyone who said victory over Notre Dame means nothing these days.

Lost to Northwestern, 27-26

Record: 2-1

Next: Iowa, Oct. 13

24 Purdue Gopher Coach Glen Mason still fuming about timekeeping on last-second field goal: “That did not happen [in time]. Fact.” Gophers go on to lose in OT. Fact.

Defeated Minnesota, 35-28, OT

Record: 3-0

Next: Iowa, Saturday

25 Toledo How’d these people sneak into the Top 25? Rockets struggle with NIU before pulling away in final 12 minutes. Chester Taylor, the nation’s leading rusher, had 132 yards despite shoulder bruise.

Defeated Northern Illinois,

41-20

Record: 4-0

Next: at Ohio, Saturday