THE TIMES’ TOP 25

*--* Rk. Team (Rec.) Comment (last week’s rank) 1 TEXAS TECH (9-0) Leach expressed interest in UCLA job, but Bruins wanted guy to take them places. (7) 2 FLORIDA (7-1) Election results prompt quarterback Tebow to exchange red practice jersey for blue one. (5) 3 PENN STATE (9-0) Paterno says he’s going to Iowa this weekend to raise some cane. (2) 4 ALABAMA (9-0) Was No. 1 in poll until Rankman learned Tide actually beat Arkansas State, 35-0. (3) 5 TEXAS (8-1) A nation last week screamed at its 58-inch plasma, “Texas, you scored too soon!” (1) 6 OKLAHOMA (8-1) Says something about Husker Nation, scoring 62 on Nebraska, dropping two BCS spots. (4) 7 USC (7-1) Carroll flies to D.C. to help new president rid world of BCS axis of evil. (8) 8 OKLAHOMA STATE (8-1) Don’t bother bringing FG kicker to Lubbock because Tech fans tore goal posts down. (9) 9 BOISE STATE (8-0) Perfect season may earn team 100-foot trip to Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl. (12) 10 UTAH (9-0) Chef Marceau’s pregame meal includes tangy TCU-style frog legs. (10) 11 OHIO STATE (7-2) Ballot measure to have “The” removed from school name still too close to call. (11) 12 TEXAS CHRISTIAN (9-1) Bouncer lets team into BCS dance after learning the loss was to Oklahoma. (13) 13 LOUISIANA STATE (6-2) In case you haven’t heard, Nick Saban is coming back to Baton Rouge this week. (15) 14 MISSOURI (7-2) Big 12’s Dept. of Offense fines Tigers $25,000 for scoring only 17 vs. Baylor. (14) 15 GEORGIA (7-2) Goal for preseason No. 1 is not to become postseason No. 40. (6) 16 BALL STATE (9-0) Cardinals cruise Wednesday because they didn’t go south against Northern Illinois. (16) 17 BRIGHAM YOUNG (8-1) Weekend off includes boating and a game versus San Diego State. (17) 18 MICHIGAN STATE (8-2) Might be last team standing between Paterno and the BCS front door. (22) 19 NORTH CAROLINA (6-2) Elizabeth Dole says she has some free time now to help draw up gadget plays. (23) 20 WEST VIRGINIA (6-2) Coach Rodriguez: Hope things are well. We’re holding up OK. Huggins says hello. (NR) 21 GEORGIA TECH (7-2) Coach confesses after dramatic win over Florida State: “I’m a Ramblin’ Wreck.” (NR) 22 MARYLAND (6-2) If anyone has this team figured out, call Rankman and reverse the charges. (NR) 23 CALIFORNIA (6-2) Trying to win Pac-9 since Washington State, Washington programs combined. (NR) 24 FLORIDA STATE (6-2) Birthday boy Bowden will try to shoot his age (79) against Clemson on Saturday. (20) 25 OREGON STATE (5-3) Put Beavers in poll this week just to let Rose Bowl know what might be coming. (NR) *--*