Web posted September 22, 1997

Associated Press

Here come the Huskers, huffing and puffing their way back into the national title chase.

In just a matter or hours, or the time it took Nebraska to dominate Washington 27-14 Saturday at Husky Stadium, the Cornhuskers came away with the clearest path to an undefeated season and a berth in the Orange Bowl, the top game in the bowl alliance this season.

``This was one of the games on the schedule that we knew was going to have a great deal of magnitude to the national picture,'' Huskers receivers coach Ron Brown said.

And guess who might be waiting for them in Miami? The defending national champion Florida Gators, who replaced Penn State as the No. 1 team in this week's Associated Press poll with a 33-20 win over Tennessee.

Although the autumn leaves are just starting to fall, it's never too early to toss around national title scenarios. And after Saturday's Super Showdown weekend, why not now?

The Huskers made a big move, vaulting from No. 7 to No. 3 in the Top 25. Playing in the weak Big 12, Nebraska's next tough game may not come until the last week of the regular season, against Colorado on Nov. 28. And then, if everything falls right, it's on to the Big 12 title game.

The Gators became a top candidate for a possible national title rematch against Nebraska with their win over the Volunteers. The Huskers beat the Gators 62-24 in the Fiesta Bowl to win the 1995 national title, their second straight crown.

But Florida (3-0) has a tough road ahead in its quest for a fifth consecutive SEC title and a second straight national title, including games at Auburn and LSU before closing the regular-season against Florida State.

``LSU and Auburn will test us a little more, but it's just another game and another challenge,'' Florida coach Steve Spurrier said. ``We've had good success in both of those places.''

The Rose Bowl, which joins the alliance next season, had a bad showdown day. Not only did Washington lose, but so did defending Pac-10 champion Arizona State, 13-10 to Brigham Young. Washington State (3-0) - a 35-22 winner over Illinois - is the leading team in the conference.

On the Big Ten side, there's no telling what could happen. No. 2 Penn State cruised to a 57-21 win over Louisville, but the Lions still have games against No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 Ohio State and No. 12 Michigan State.

In Top 25 action Saturday, it was: No. 4 Florida State 35, No. 17 Clemson 28; No. 5 North Carolina 40, Maryland 14; No. 6 Michigan 38, Baylor 3; No. 7 Ohio State 28, Arizona 20; No. 8 Auburn 31, No. 13 LSU 28; No. 11 Iowa 63, Iowa State 20; No. 12 Michigan State 23, Notre Dame 7; No. 14 Virginia Tech 23, Temple 13; No. 15 Washington State 35, Illinois 22; No. 19 Georgia 42, Northeast Louisiana 3; No. 20 Stanford 27, Oregon State 24; Arkansas 17, No. 21 Alabama 16; No. 22 Texas A&M 66, Southwestern Louisiana 0; and 23 BYU 13, No. 25 Arizona State 10.

On Thursday night, Pittsburgh beat Miami 21-17, knocking the Hurricanes out of the Top 25.

No. 1 Florida 33, No. 9 Tennessee 20

Doug Johnson threw for three TDs, Tony George returned an interception 89 yards for a score and the Gators' defense pressured Peyton Manning all day.

The Gators beat the Vols for the fifth straight time, improved to 44-2 under Spurrier at ``The Swamp,'' and won their 23rd straight SEC game.

Manning was 29-of-51 for 353 yards, three TDs and two interceptions, but the Vols were unable to run, gaining just 45 yards on 20 attempts.

``We got a feel for what they were doing, but just couldn't make enough big plays,'' Manning said. ``In a big game, you have to make big plays to win.''

No. 2 Penn State 57, Louisville 21

At Louisville, Ky., Curtis Enis rushed for three TDs and Joe Jurevicius caught three scoring passes as the Lions ran their winning streak over non-Big Ten foes to 19. The Nittany Lions (3-0) scored the last 22 points of the first half for a 50-14 lead.

No. 3 Nebraska 27, No. 10 Washington 14

At Seattle, the Huskies lost Brock Huard late in the first quarter with a sprained ankle, but it probably wouldn't have mattered.

Scott Frost, booed by the home crowd a week ago in a 38-24 win over Central Florida, ran for TDs of 34 and 30 yards in the first quarter as the Huskers totaled 384 yards against the Huskies' top-rated defense.

No. 4 Florida State 35, No. 17 Clemson 28

At Clemson, S.C., Peter Warrick scored three long touchdowns, including a 90-yard punt return, as Bobby Bowden won his 200th game at Florida State. Clemson (2-1) pulled to 28-25 on Nealon Greene's 17-yard TD pass to Brian Wofford and a 2-point conversion, but Florida State (3-0) came back with an 80-yard TD catch by Warrick.

No. 5 North Carolina 40, Maryland 14

At College Park, Md., Oscar Davenport passed for 281 yards and two TDs in his first start of the season. The Tar Heels (3-0) trailed 7-0 in the second quarter, but scored 10 points off two fumble recoveries deep in Maryland (0-3) territory to go up 17-7 early in the third quarter.

No. 12 Michigan State 23, Notre Dame 7

At South Bend, Ind., Marc Renaud and Sedrick Irvin combined for 381 all-purpose yards as the Spartans (3-0) beat the Irish (1-2) for the first time since 1986.

``We're in the middle of a hurricane right now,'' Irish coach Bob Davie said. ``We've got tough games coming up. None of us wanted to be 1-2. None of us expected to be 1-2.''

Arkansas 17, No. 21 Alabama 16

A week after not even realizing his team had scored a TD in a 31-9 loss to SMU, coach Danny Ford led his Hogs (2-1) to another upset of 'Bama (2-1) at Tuscaloosa. They did it two years ago and became the first team to win two in a row at Tuscaloosa since TCU did it in 1955-56.

Clint Stoerner threw a 29-yard TD pass to Anthony Eubanks with 1:45 left for the winning score.

Also:

- Andy Katzenmoyer picked off a shovel pass and returned it 20 yards for a TD and Ohio State (3-0) held on for a 28-20 win over Arizona (1-2).

- Rusty Williams' second TD, a 1-yard dive with 30 seconds left, lifted Auburn over LSU 31-28 at Baton Rouge, La. Wade Richey's 64-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Auburn on the final play of the game.

- At Ames, Iowa, Tavian Banks scored four TDs and Tim Dwight caught three TD passes as Iowa (3-0), averaging 61 points per game, routed Iowa State 63-20.

- At Fort Collins, Colo., Blane Morgan ran for one TD and passed for another as Air Force (4-0) upset Colorado State (2-2) 24-0. The Falcons avenged last year's bitter 42-41 loss to the Rams.

- Mike Bobo threw three TD passes as Georgia beat Northeast Louisiana 42-3 and opened 3-0 for the first time since 1988.

- Owen Pochman, who missed two field goals and had one blocked, kicked a 32-yard with 4:39 left to lift BYU over Arizona State 13-10, the Cougars' first win in Tempe since 1965.

- In Kentucky's 49-7 rout of Indiana, Tim Couch was 24-of-42 for 334 yards and seven TD passes to break the school record and tie the SEC mark.

- Duke ended its 15-game losing streak - longest in I-A - with a 20-17 win over Army on Sims Lenhardt's 27-yard field goal with 54 seconds left.