HOW THE AP TOP 25 FARED

1. NEBRASKA (3-0) defeated Iowa, 42-13. Score might be misleading as the Cornhuskers, who were favored by 41 1/2, scored two touchdowns in the final 1:27. Next: Missouri, Saturday

2. FLORIDA STATE (4-0) defeated Louisville, 31-0. That’s 16 victories in a row and counting for the Seminoles, whose defense has scored in five consecutive games. Next: at Maryland, Thursday

3. FLORIDA (4-0) defeated Kentucky, 59-31. Are Gators worthy of such a lofty ranking? Although they won handily, Florida gave up 504 yards to Wildcats. Next: at No. 25 Mississippi State, Saturday

4. KANSAS STATE (4-0) defeated North Texas, 55-10. The Wildcats outscored four nonconference opponents by 212-20 in making another K-Statement. Next: at Colorado, Saturday

5. VIRGINIA TECH (3-0) did not play. The schedule is favorable for Michael Vick and company. They could have clear sailing until a Nov. 4 game at Miami. Next: at Boston College, Saturday

6. UCLA (3-1) lost to Oregon, 29-10. National championship-caliber teams can win on the road and don’t rush for minus-9 yards on the ground. Next: Arizona State, Saturday

7. WISCONSIN (3-1) lost to Northwestern, 47-44. The Badgers have given up 95 points in the past three games and now have to play their first road game. Next: at No. 10 Michigan, Saturday

8. WASHINGTON (3-0) did not play. A victory against Oregon in Eugene would put the Huskies in the driver’s seat for the Pacific 10 Conference championship. Next: at Oregon, Saturday

9. USC (3-0) defeated San Jose State, 34-24. How good are the Trojans? That is debatable after three nonconference victories against teams with a combined record of 3-9. Next: at Oregon State, Saturday

10. MICHIGAN (3-1) defeated No. 19 Illinois, 35-31. The Wolverines were beneficiaries of a couple of questionable calls late in a nail-biting victory at Champaign. Next: No. 7 Wisconsin, Saturday

11. CLEMSON (4-0) defeated Virginia, 31-10. QB Woodrow Dantzler is the real deal and the Tigers, in winning convincingly in their first road game, appear to be an elite team. Next: at Duke, Saturday

12. MIAMI (2-1) defeated West Virginia, 47-10. What a difference two weeks makes. After giving up 34 points at Washington, the Hurricanes clamped down on the Mountaineers. Next: at Rutgers, Saturday

13. TENNESSEE (2-1) defeated Louisiana Monroe, 70-3. The Volunteers hit the 70-point mark for the first time since a 73-0 victory against Carson-Newman in 1929. Next: at Louisiana State, Saturday

14. OHIO STATE (4-0) defeated Penn State, 45-6. How good are the Buckeyes? That’s difficult to answer because the Nittany Lions might be the Big Ten’s worst team. Next: at No. 7 Wisconsin, Oct. 7

15. TEXAS (2-1) defeated Houston, 48-0. The Longhorns’ defensive performance against the Cougars was one they could have used a week earlier at Stanford. Next: Oklahoma State, Saturday

16. NOTRE DAME (2-2) lost to No. 23 Michigan State, 27-21. The Fighting Irish looked tough at home, where they started 2-1. Then they had to play their first road game. Next: Stanford, Oct. 7

17. OKLAHOMA (3-0) defeated Rice, 42-14. Owls didn’t catch the Sooners sleeping and Oklahoma probably won’t be challenged until its showdown against Texas on Oct. 7. Next: Kansas, Saturday

18. TEXAS CHRISTIAN (3-0) defeated Arkansas State, 52-3. All you need to know is that the Horned Frogs didn’t punt until there was 3:31 left in the third quarter. Next: at Navy, Saturday

19. ILLINOIS (3-1) lost to No. 10 Michigan, 35-31. The Fighting Illini fumbled away an opportunity to defeat the Wolverines and to have their best start since 1951. Next: at Minnesota, Saturday

20. AUBURN (4-0) defeated Northern Illinois, 31-14. Mid-American Conference teams have made their mark against the Big Ten, but the up-and-coming Tigers were never threatened. Next: Vanderbilt, Saturday

21. PURDUE (3-1) defeated Minnesota, 38-24. A week after attempting only 22 passes in a loss at Notre Dame, Drew Brees puts it up 49 times against the Gophers. Next: at Penn State, Saturday

22. SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (2-1) defeated Oklahoma State, 28-6. Talk about road warriors. The Golden Eagles have played at Tennessee, Alabama and Oklahoma State. Next: Memphis, Saturday

23. MICHIGAN STATE (3-0) defeated No. 16 Notre Dame, 27-21. Spartans didn’t show much until Saturday, but now have defeated the Fighting Irish four times in a row. Next: Northwestern, Saturday

24. GEORGIA (2-1) defeated New Mexico State, 37-0. This was merely a confidence-booster for the Bulldogs, as the Aggies (0-3) have scored only 13 points in three games. Next: at Arkansas, Saturday

25. MISSISSIPPI STATE (2-1) lost to South Carolina, 23-19. The Bulldogs probably counted this as a victory before the season started, but the surprising Gamecocks are now 4-0. Next: No. 3 Florida, Saturday