HOW THE AP TOP 25 FARED

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

FLORIDA STATE (6-0) beat Miami, 31-21. Most teams could not absorb the loss of a Heisman Trophy candidate, but Seminoles are not like most teams. Next: Wake Forest, Saturday.

PENN STATE (6-0) beat Iowa, 31-7. Nittany Lions had a surprisingly tough time for a while, but they know how to win on the road. Paterno’s team is 26-7 away from Happy Valley since 1993. Next: Ohio State, Saturday.

MICHIGAN (5-1) lost to Michigan State, 34-31. Despite his inability to move offense, sophomore quarterback Drew Henson stays in game in third quarter. What was Coach Lloyd Carr thinking? Next: Illinois, Oct. 23.

NEBRASKA (6-0) beat Iowa State, 49-14. Iowa State hasn’t won in Lincoln since 1977 and has been outscored, 199-42, in last three visits. But think of the great sightseeing opportunities. Next: at Texas, Oct. 23.

VIRGINIA TECH (5-0) beat Rutgers, 58-20. Sure, the Hokies are 5-0, but that includes wins over Rutgers, James Madison and Alabama Birmingham. How impressive. A real test is next. Next: Syracuse, Saturday.

TENNESSEE (4-1) beat Georgia, 37-20. Crowd of 107,247 at Knoxville sat through a steady rain to watch. And they say there’s nothing to do in Tennessee. Next: at Alabama, Oct. 23.

GEORGIA TECH (4-1) beat North Carolina, 31-24 (OT). Yellow Jackets hand Tar Heel football team a loss and basketball program may suffer. Carolina’s Ronald Curry tears Achilles’ tendon. Next: at Duke, Saturday.

FLORIDA (5-1) beat Louisiana State, 31-10. Associated Press story says field in Baton Rouge was a swamp, so Gators must have felt at home. Florida hasn’t lost two straight since 1992. Next: at Auburn, Saturday.

KANSAS STATE (5-0) beat Kansas, 50-9. Apparently, Wildcats got a hold of USC’s playbook. Kansas State had school-record 18 penalties for 162 yards. Next: Utah State, Saturday.

GEORGIA (4-1) lost to Tennessee, 37-20. Bulldogs had been averaging 191 rushing yards a game. Tennessee held them to 54 yards. Next: at Vanderbilt, Saturday.

MICHIGAN STATE (6-0) beat Michigan, 34-31. Quarterback Bill Burke throws for 400 yards, the best passing performance by a Spartan since Magic Johnson. Next: at Purdue, Saturday.

ALABAMA (4-1) did not play. With week off, big news in Tuscaloosa is that school will designate motor home parking spaces for home games, beginning with Tennessee in two weeks. Next: at Mississippi, Saturday.

TEXAS A&M; (4-1) beat Baylor, 45-13. A&M; finally scored on offense after 10 quarters. But it was against Baylor, so calm down. Next: Kansas, Saturday.

MISSISSIPPI STATE (6-0) beat Auburn, 18-16. Amazing comeback leaves Bulldogs at 6-0 for the first time in 55 years. Defense held Auburn to 39 yards rushing in 42 carries. Next: Louisiana State, Oct. 23.

MARSHALL (5-0) did not play. Thundering Herd well on its way to eighth straight season with at least 10 wins. Over the same period, Notre Dame has three seasons with double-digit wins, USC zero. Next: Toledo, Saturday.

EAST CAROLINA (5-1) lost to Southern Mississippi, 39-22. Pirates got to play at home for first time since Hurricane Floyd, but lost to Golden Eagles for the fourth straight time. Next: Tulane, Oct. 23.

PURDUE (4-2) lost to Ohio State, 25-22. Drew Brees fails to throw touchdown pass for first time in 19 games. After Michigan State, Purdue gets Penn State, Minnesota, Wisconsin. Next: Michigan State, Saturday.

SYRACUSE (5-1) beat Pittsburgh, 24-17 (Thursday). Orangemen have outscored Panthers, 325-154, during a nine-game winning streak in the series. Next: at Virginia Tech, Saturday.

MIAMI (2-3) lost to Florida State, 31-21. Hurricanes easily the best 2-3 team in the nation. Losses have come against Penn State, East Carolina and No. 1 Seminoles. Next: Temple, Saturday.

WISCONSIN (4-2) beat Minnesota, 20-17 (OT). Do you think Badger Coach Barry Alvarez acted like a true fan and second-guessed the play-calling from his hospital room? Next: Indiana, Saturday.

OHIO STATE (4-2) beat Purdue, 25-22. Buckeyes win, but their struggles with running game continue. Leader rusher against Boilermakers is quarterback Steve Bellisari (96 yards, 17 carries). Next: at Penn State, Saturday.

USC (3-2) lost to Arizona, 31-24. With Rose Bowl aspirations gone, Trojans can set their sights on rematch with TCU in Sun Bowl. And look who’s coming up. Next: at Notre Dame, Saturday.

TEXAS (5-2) beat Oklahoma, 38-28. Rivalry’s not what it used to be. In the off-season, Texas Coach Mack Brown sent flowers to Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops after Stoops’ wife had twins. Next: Nebraska, Oct. 23.

BRIGHAM YOUNG (4-1) beat California, 38-28. The BYU offensive line better do a better job protecting quarterback Kevin Feterik if they plan on remaining in the top 25. Next: at New Mexico, Saturday.

MINNESOTA (4-1) lost to Wisconsin, 20-17 (OT). Gophers entered game ranked for the first time in 14 seasons. Check for the Gophers again in 2013. Next: at Illinois, Saturday.