HOW THE AP TOP 25 FARED
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* Key: Black-Won; White-Lost; Gray-Did Not Play.
1. (Won) FLORIDA STATE (11-0) beat Florida, 30-23. Seminoles won at Gainesville for the first time since 1993 and clinched a berth in the national championship game. Next: Sugar Bowl, Jan. 4.
2. (Won) VIRGINIA TECH (10-0) beat Temple, 62-7. Hokies gained revenge for a 28-24 loss to the Owls last year and positioned themselves for berth in the national championship game. Next: Boston College, Saturday.
3. (Lost) FLORIDA (9-2) lost to Florida State, 30-23. Gators lost at home for the second time this season and only the fourth time in 10 years under Coach Steve Spurrier. Next: SEC title game vs. Alabama, Dec. 4.
4. (Did Not Play) NEBRASKA (9-1) did not play. Cornhuskers have a shot at a Sugar Bowl berth, but must beat Colorado, win the Big 12 championship game, and hope Boston College defeats Virginia Tech. Next: at Colorado, Friday.
5. (Did Not Play) WISCONSIN (9-2) did not play. Badgers spent the week finalizing their itinerary for the Rose Bowl, their third trip to Pasadena in four years. Next: Rose Bowl vs. Stanford, Jan. 1.
6. (Did Not Play) TEXAS (9-2) did not play. Longhorns will encounter an emotional Aggie squad after the tragedy at the College Station campus that claimed the lives of 12 students. Next: Texas A&M;, Friday.
7. (Won) TENNESSEE (8-2) beat Kentucky, 56-21. After losing the previous Saturday to Arkansas, the Volunteers rebounded and won their 15th consecutive game against the Wildcats. Next: Vanderbilt, Saturday.
8. (Won) ALABAMA (9-2) beat Auburn, 28-17. Crimson Tide’s No. 37, Shaun Alexander, became No. 1 on the school’s career rushing list in a hard-fought victory over their instate rivals. Next: SEC title game vs. Florida, Dec. 4.
9. (Won) KANSAS STATE (10-1) beat Missouri, 66-0. Wildcats took rout 66 on their way to another 10-win season and kept alive hopes for a berth to the Big 12 championship game. Next: Big 12 championship or bowl game.
10. (Won) MICHIGAN (9-2) beat Ohio State, 24-17. Wolverines won their fourth in a row and continued their recent mastery over the Buckeyes with a come-from-behind victory before a record crowd at Ann Arbor. Next: Bowl game.
11. (Did Not Play) MARSHALL (10-0) did not play. Thundering Herd has earned a berth in the Mid-American Conference title game, where they will play Western Michigan. Next: Ohio, Friday.
12. (Lost) MISSISSIPPI STATE (8-2) lost to Arkansas, 14-9. Bulldogs continued to struggle offensively as they lost their second game in a row. Next: Mississippi, Thursday.
13. (Lost) PENN STATE (9-3) lost to Michigan State, 35-28. A season that started with nine wins in a row has suddenly collapsed, with the Nittany Lions losing three in a row. Next: Bowl game.
14. (Lost) GEORGIA TECH (7-3) lost to Wake Forest, 26-23. Yellowjackets were ambushed at Winston-Salem, N.C., as the Demon Deacons ground out a stunning victory. Next: Georgia, Saturday.
15. (Won) MICHIGAN STATE (9-2) beat Penn State, 35-28. Spartans stumbled in midseason, losing to Purdue and Wisconsin, but have won their last three games and will earn a berth to a major bowl. Next: Bowl game.
16. (Lost) MISSISSIPPI (7-3) lost to Georgia, 20-17. Rebels’ hopes for a 10-win season and berth to a major bowl were dashed with home loss to the Bulldogs. Next: at Mississippi State, Thursday.
17. (Won) MINNESOTA (8-3) beat Iowa, 25-21. Gophers had to hold off the hapless Hawkeyes to complete first eight-win season since 1967. Minnesota’s three losses were by a total of 11 points. Next: Bowl game.
18. (Won) SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (8-3) beat Lousiville, 30-27. Golden Eagles had to rally for the victory and will play in the Liberty Bowl for the second time in three years. Next: Liberty Bowl, Dec. 31.
19. (Lost) BRIGHAM YOUNG (8-3) lost to Utah, 20-17. The Utes stunned the Cougars, winning their fourth in a row on Brigham Young’s home field and claiming a share of the Mountain West championship. Next: Rutgers, Saturday.
20. (Won) PURDUE (7-4) beat Indiana, 30-24. Vinny Sutherland, not Drew Brees, saved the day for the Boilermakers, who survived a brutal schedule and will earn a berth to a bowl. Next: Bowl game.
21. (Won) GEORGIA (7-3) beat Mississippi, 20-17. Bulldogs had to rally to defeat the Rebels, setting up the battle for bragging rights in Georgia. Next: at Georgia Tech, Saturday.
22. (Won) ARKANSAS (7-3) beat Mississippi State, 14-9. Razorbacks, who stunned Tennessee the previous Saturday, beat another ranked opponent and strengthened their postseason plans. Next: at Louisiana State, Friday.
23. (Won) EAST CAROLINA (9-2) beat North Carolina State, 23-6. Pirates were rude hosts, spoiling Wolfpack’s hopes for a bid to a bowl game and securing one for themselves. Next: Mobile (Ala.) Bowl, Dec. 22.
24. (Did Not Play) TEXAS A&M; (7-3) did not play. The memory of a campus tragedy will be on the minds of the Aggies when they play their in-state rival. Next: at Texas, Friday.
25. (Won) BOSTON COLLEGE (8-2) beat Notre Dame, 31-29. Eagles survived a late rally by the Irish and set up a showdown against the nation’s No. 2 team. Next: at Virginia Tech, Friday.
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