HOW THE AP TOP 25 FARED

1. (WON) FLORIDA STATE (8-0) beat Clemson, 17-14. Hey, aren’t fathers supposed to let their sons win games to build their confidence? Remember this next time you play “Candy Land.� Next: at Virginia, Saturday.

2. (WON) PENN STATE (8-0) beat Purdue, 31-25. Championship teams win huge games on the road. Joe Paterno moves to No. 3 on list of victories by major-college coaches with No. 315. Next: at Illinois, Saturday.

3. (LOST) NEBRASKA (6-1) lost to Texas, 24-20. Cornhuskers outgained the Longhorns in yardage, 429-275, but also let a 13-3 lead get away and lost to Texas for the third straight time. Next: at Kansas, Saturday.

4. (DID NOT PLAY) VIRGINIA TECH (6-0) did not play. These are good times for the Hokies. A week off. A team ahead of them loses. First BCS poll comes out Monday. Next: at Pittsburgh, Saturday.

5. (WON) TENNESSEE (5-1) beat Alabama, 21-7. After beating Crimson Tide for the fifth straight time, Volunteer players chant, “We own Alabama,� as they leave the field. Next: South Carolina, Saturday.

6. (DID NOT PLAY) FLORIDA (6-1) did not play. Gators trail in the all-time series with the Bulldogs, 45-30-2, but have won eight of the last nine meetings. Next: Georgia, Saturday.

7. (WON) KANSAS STATE (7-0) beat Oklahoma State, 44-21. Wildcats trailed at one point, 21-0, but their superiority was evident, as they compiled 520 yards. Next: Baylor, Saturday.

8. (DID NOT PLAY) GEORGIA TECH (5-1) did not play. The Yellow Jackets have had the upper hand in series with Wolfpack, winning the last four games, including a 47-24 decision in 1998. Next: North Carolina State, Saturday.

9. (LOST) MICHIGAN (5-2) lost to Illinois, 35-29. A few weeks ago, Wolverines were national championship contenders. Two straight losses later, they’re out of Rose Bowl chase. Next: at Indiana, Saturday.

10. (LOST) ALABAMA (5-2) lost to Tennessee, 21-7. Shaun Alexander’s Heisman hopes suffer under relentless Volunteer defense, as he fails to break 100 yards for first time in seven games. Next: Southern Mississippi, Saturday.

11. (LOST) MICHIGAN STATE (6-2) lost to Wisconsin, 40-10. A few weeks ago, Spartans were national championship contenders. Two straight losses later, they’re out of Rose Bowl chase. Next: Ohio State, Nov. 6.

12. (WON) MISSISSIPPI STATE (7-0) beat Louisiana State, 17-16. Bulldogs are 4-0 in the Southeastern Conference for the first time in school history. Next: Kentucky, Nov. 4.

13. (LOST) TEXAS A&M; (5-2) lost to Oklahoma, 51-6. Possible reason for big loss: Aggies momentarily thought they were in the Pacific 10 Conference. Next: Oklahoma State, Saturday.

14. (WON) GEORGIA (6-1) beat Kentucky, 49-34. Dusted. Bulldogs sack Kentucky quarterback Dusty Bonner 11 times. Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter passes for 304 yards, runs for 87. Next: at Florida, Saturday.

15. (WON) MARSHALL (7-0) beat Buffalo, 59-3. Chad Pennington becomes sixth player in NCAA history to throw 100 touchdown passes. Not all in this game, it just seemed that way. Next: Northern Illinois, Saturday.

16. (LOST) PURDUE (5-3) lost to Penn State, 31-25. Boilermakers get 379 yards passing from Drew Brees, but can’t get last-minute score and fall to 2-3 in Big Ten. Next: at Minnesota, Saturday.

17. (WON) WISCONSIN (6-2) beat Michigan State, 40-10. Ron Dayne makes up ground in Heisman race, rushing for 214 yards against a team that had allowed 279 yards in previous seven games. Next: at Northwestern, Saturday.

18.(WON) TEXAS (6-2) beat Nebraska, 24-20. A major statement by the Longhorns. Major Applewhite throws two second-half touchdowns to stun the Huskers--again. Next: at Iowa State, Saturday.

19. (DID NOT PLAY) BRIGHAM YOUNG (6-1) beat Nevada Las Vegas, 29-0. For most of the game, Cougars’ offense consisted of Owen Pochman kicking field goals. He had three in first half and five in the game. Next: Air Force, Saturday.

20. (WON) EAST CAROLINA (6-1) beat Tulane, 52-7. If you can believe it, the Pirates’ lead at halftime was only 14-7. Guess the halftime speech by Coach Steve Logan worked. Next: at Houston, Saturday.

21. (WON) SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (5-2) beat Cincinnati, 28-20. Jeff Kelly throws three touchdown passes and the Golden Eagles hang on after taking a 28-0 lead. Next: at Alabama, Saturday.

22. (WON) OHIO STATE (5-3) beat Minnesota, 20-17. Buckeyes extend their winning streak against Gophers to a sweet sixteen despite another offensive struggle. Next: Iowa, Saturday.

23. (WON) MIAMI (3-3) beat Boston College, 31-28. Hurricanes, still annoyed over losing to Flutie, have beaten Eagles every time since that ’84 game. They needed to rally from 28-0 hole to make it 10 straight. Next: West Virginia, Saturday.

24. (LOST) MINNESOTA (5-2) lost to Ohio State, 20-17. Gophers were in great shape to clinch first winning season since 1990 until fourth quarter, when they failed to gain a first down. Next: Purdue, Saturday.

25. (DID NOT PLAY) MISSISSIPPI (5-2) did not play. Rebels will try to add to Gerry DiNardo’s misery at LSU by beating the Tigers for the third straight time. Next: at Louisiana State, Saturday.

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* Key: Black-Won; White-Lost; Gray-Did Not Play.