THE BOTTOM TEN

It’s time to start taking Florida International seriously. The Golden Panters, excuse me, Panthers, have 20 straight losses and the record among major colleges is only 34 by Northwestern’s celebrated Mildcats.

Of course, FI’s quest to make it into the history books won’t be easy -- sustained ineptitude never is. Even Duke (1-7) won a game this season, ending a 22-game losing streak. (Whom did Duke beat? Why the Mildcats, naturally.)

Marshall (1-7) also just fell from the ranks of the winless, stunning Rice, 34-21, and enabling the mysterious SMUs to move up to No. 5.

Unpredictable UCLA (5-3) plays Bottom Ten alumnus Arizona (3-6) next and UCLA followers wonder which Bruins team will show up: the one that lost to Washington State on Saturday or the one that defeated Michigan State in the 1966 Rose Bowl?

*--* Wreck Team, record Last loss Next loss 1. Fla. International (0-8) 10-58, Arkansas Arkansas State 2. Minnehaha (1-8) 0-34, Michigan Illinois 3. Utah State (0-8) 21-31, Louisiana Tech Fresno State 4. Rice (1-7) 21-34, Marshall UTEP 5. The SMUs (1-7) 23-29, Tulsa Houston 6. Idaho (1-8) 21-37, Nevada Louisiana Tech 7. Notre Dame (1-7) Idle Navy 8. Iowa State (1-8) 28-42, Missouri Kansas State 9. Duke (1-7) 6-25, Florida State Clemson 10. Nebraska (4-5)* 25-28, Texas Kansas *--*

The next 10: 11. Antiquated Miss (2-7); 12. Washington (2-6); 13. Alabama (Birmingham) (2-6); 14. Columbia (1-6); 15. Marshall (1-7); 16. Syracuse (2-6); 17. Your Name Here; 18. North Carolina (2-6); 19. Too Lane (2-6); 20. California (5-3).

*Will never win another game.

Rout of the week: Minnehaha (1-8) vs. Illinois (6-3).

Others receiving votes: Bill & Mary (4-4).

Crummy game of the week: Rice (1-7) vs. Texas at El Intercepted Paso (4-4).

Rout of the week II: Kansas (8-0) vs. Nebraska (4-5).

Special citation: Reader Richard Sipan writes: “From No. 2 in the nation to No. 6 in the Pac-10 in three weeks! Only Cal could do it.”

Shocking: Five Alabama football players were suspended for one game for a possible violation “involving impermissible receipt of textbooks.” You mean Alabama football players actually get textbooks?

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steve.harvey@latimes.com