TSN's Power Poll

Sporting News, The, Oct 2, 2000

Rk.   Team (last week)      W-L   Last week

 1.   Nebraska (1)          3-0   W, 42-13 vs. Iowa
 2.   Florida State (2)     4-0   W, 31-0 vs. Louisville
 3.   Florida (3)           4-0   W, 59-31 vs. Kentucky
 4.   Washington (6)        3-0   Idle
 5.   Virginia Tech (8)     3-0   Idle
 6.   Kansas State (5)      4-0   W, 55-10 vs. North Texas
 7.   Michigan (10)         3-1   W, 35-31 at Illinois
 8.   USC (9)               3-0   W, 34-24 vs. San Jose State
 9.   Clemson (12)          4-0   W, 31-10 at Virginia
10.   Miami (13)            2-1   W, 31-14 at West Virginia
11.   Tennessee (11)        2-1   W, 70-3 vs. Louisiana-Monroe
12.   Ohio State (15)       4-0   W, 45-6 vs. Penn State
13.   UCLA (4)              3-1   L, 29-10 at Oregon
14.   Texas (16)            2-1   W, 48-0 vs. Houston
15.   Oklahoma (17)         3-0   W, 42-14 vs. Rice
16.   Michigan State (21)   3-0   W, 27-21 vs. Notre Dame
17.   Auburn (14)           4-0   W, 31-14 vs. Northern Illinois
18.   Wisconsin (7)         3-1   L, 47-44 (20T) vs. Northwestern
19.   TCU (22)              3-0   W, 52-3 vs. Arkansas State
20.   Purdue (24)           3-1   W, 38-24 vs. Minnesota
21.   Southern Miss (20)    2-1   W, 28-6 at Oklahoma State
22.   Illinois (19)         3-1   L, 35-31 vs. Michigan
23.   South Carolina (--)   4-0   W, 23-19 vs. Mississippi State
24.   Georgia (25)          2-1   W, 37-0 vs. New Mexico State
25.   Oregon (--)           3-1   w, 29-10 vs. UCLA

Team (last week)      Next game

Nebraska (1)          vs. Missouri, 9/30
Florida State (2)     at Maryland, 9/28
Florida (3)           at Mississippi State, 9/30
Washington (6)        at Oregon, 9/30
Virginia Tech (8)     at Boston College, 9/30
Kansas State (5)      at Colorado, 9/30
Michigan (10)         vs. Wisconsin, 9/30
USC (9)               at Oregon State, 9/30
Clemson (12)          at Duke, 9/30
Miami (13)            at Rutgers, 9/30
Tennessee (11)        at LSU, 9/30
Ohio State (15)       at Wisconsin, 10/7
UCLA (4)              vs. Arizona State, 9/30
Texas (16)            vs. Oklahoma State, 9/30
Oklahoma (17)         vs. Kansas, 9/30
Michigan State (21)   vs. Northwestern, 9/30
Auburn (14)           vs. Vanderbilt, 9/30
Wisconsin (7)         at Michigan, 9/30
TCU (22)              at Navy, 9/30
Purdue (24)           at Penn State, 9/30
Southern Miss (20)    vs. Memphis, 9/30
Illinois (19)         at Minnesota, 9/30
South Carolina (--)   at Alabama, 9/30
Georgia (25)          at Arkansas, 9/30
Oregon (--)           vs. Washington, 9/30

Team (last week)      TV info (all times Eastern)

Nebraska (1)          7 p.m., Fox Sports Net
Florida State (2)     8 p.m., ESPN
Florida (3)           3:30 p.m., CBS (regional)
Washington (6)        3:30 p.m., ABC (regional)
Virginia Tech (8)     3:30 p.m., CBS (regional)
Kansas State (5)      3:30 p.m., ABC (regional)
Michigan (10)         Noon, ABC (regional)
USC (9)               None
Clemson (12)          None
Miami (13)            None
Tennessee (11)        3:30 p.m., CBS (regional)
Ohio State (15)       None
UCLA (4)              10:15 p.m., Fox Sports Net
Texas (16)            Noon, ABC (regional)
Oklahoma (17)         None
Michigan State (21)   None
Auburn (14)           None
Wisconsin (7)         Noon, ABC (regional)
TCU (22)              Noon, Fox Sports Net
Purdue (24)           3:30 p.m., ABC (regional)
Southern Miss (20)    3:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net
Illinois (10)         Noon, ESPN
South Carolina (--)   None
Georgia (25)          None
Oregon (--)           3:30 p.m., ABC (regional)

Dropped out: Notre Dame (18); Mississippi State (23). The TSN Power Poll is determined by TSN editors.

Pickin' and grinnin' Want to know who will win the big games this weekend. TSN college football expert Matt Hayes has all the answers. Go to sportingnews.com/cfootball for a dose of Matt's picks and analysis--and attitude--every week. It might not be for the faint of heart, but it's all in good fun. At least Matt admits when he's wrong. Sometimes.

INSIDE THE TOP 25

Ohio State

Except in a season-opening victory over Fresno State, the Buckeyes' offense had been less than impressive in the early going--surprising because the team was expected to have a potent passing game, with athletic QB Steve Bellisari delivering to standout WRs Ken-Yon Rambo and Reggie Germany. So who could have known that when the offense got going, the running game would lead the way? Of the Buckeyes' six TDs in last Saturday's 45-6 victory over Penn State, four came on the ground.

OUTSIDE THE TOP 25

Colorado State

The Rams started strong in 2000, picking up wins in their first two games largely on the strength of their running-back platoon of Rahsaan Sanders, Cecil Sapp and Duan Ruff. But a week after piling up 297 ground yards against I-AA East Tennessee State, the Rams went to Arizona State and collected only 64--and their first loss of the year. Colorado State has a good shot at getting back on track Saturday at Nevada, which is allowing an average of 239.3 rushing yards per game.