Daily News du lieu suivant : New York, New York • 231

College Football QDp)D ODD DTKSaO I rtUJUU U.UfcH 1 l. Nebraska 7-0 1 2. Oklahoma 6-0 13. Miami 5-1 4. Florida State 7-1 5.

Virginia Tech 6. Florida 6-1 7. Oregon 6-1? 8. Clemson 8-0 9. Washington 6-1 10.

Ohio State 6-1 SECOND TEN: 11. Purdue (6-2); 12. TCU (6-0); 13. South Carolina (7-1); 14. Michigan (6-2); 15.

Kansas State (7-1); 16. Southern Miss. (5-1); 17. Notre Dame (5-2); 18. Oregon State (6-1); 19.

Georgia (6-1); 20. Arizona (5-2). FIVE TO WATCH: Texas (5-2); Miss. State (4-2); N.C. State (5-1); Northwestern (5-2); Pitt (5-1).

Leads Sooners into showdown OKLAHOMA SENIOR quarterback Josh Heupel grew up in Aberdeen, S.D., where he was suffocated by Nebraska fans. But he never fell in love with the Big Red. "I was a University of Minnesota fan," Heupel recalled. "But South Dakota is pretty much a Nebraska state. Pretty much everybody grew up with Big Red.

My best friend, Tony Huth, who coaches the sophomore football team in my hometown, has a grandma who has season tickets to their games. She's coming this week. Ws're going to try to get her to wear Sooner Red." Heupel is looking for all the support he can muster. This small-town kid has made a big name for himself while third-ranked OU (6-0) has jumped back into the national picture. He could even steal the Heisman Trophy if the third-ranked Sooners defeat top-ranked Nebraska (7-0) Saturday at Owen Field in Norman, then run the table in the Big 12.

Heupel, a transfer from Snow Junior College in Utah, has completed 68.6 of his passes for 1,894 yards and 1 1 TDs and has yet to throw an interception. He has made the Sooners competitive with anyone, even when they rush for only 1 1 yards the way they did in a 41-31 victory over Kansas State two weeks ago. Heupel completed 29 of 37 passs-es for 374 yards and two TDs against the Cats supposedly the best defense in the country. He helped the Soon DICK WEISS I Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel has joined Heisman chase as he prepares for No. 1 Nebraska.

Vick makes run toward Heisman MICHAEL VICK continues to make Heisman-type plays. Syracuse contained Virginia Tech's gifted sophomore quarterback for most of Saturday's game, limiting him to 75 yards passing and nine yards net rushing on 16 carries. He was sacked eight times. But when the game was on the line, Vick found a way to come up big at the Carrier Dome, scrambling around left end with just 100 seconds left and then sprinting untouched down the sideline for a 56-yard touchdown as the Hokies broke open a one-point game, defeating revenge-minded 'Cuse, 22-14, to remain unbeaten. "When he took off, my stomach dropped," Syracuse defensive coordinator Chris Rippon said.

"I said, 'Somebody please catch him. Somebody stop But it wasn't to be." Handicapping the Heisman: Vick (2-1): His statistics may not always blow you away, but he never disappoints on national TV Chris Weinke, QB, Florida State (4-1): Passed for 274 yards, 2 scores as Seminoles won 50th straight game at home, defeating punchless Virginia, 37-3, in Tallahassee. After Clemson QB Woody Dantzler went down with a twisted ankle in first half against Carolina, this 28-year old senior became ACC's best hope for the award. Josh Heupel, Oklahoma (5-1): A big day against Nebraska on national TV could separate him from Huskers' Eric Crouch and TCU running back LaDainian Tomlinson among voters in the heartland. ers break the game open with a 74-yard TD pass to Antwone Savage.

Heupel is almost automatic any time the Sooners get to the red zone. OU has been there 31 times, coming away with 26 touchdowns and four field goals. Heupel grew up watching OU during the glory years in the '80s, idolizing characters like Barry Switzer and Brian Bosworth who gave the program some of its personality. "That's one of the reason I came here," Heupel said. "One look at the Wall of Fame and you can see all the national championships they've won." The magic number is six.

The road to the national championship these days runs through Nebraska. Maybe this matchup won't be as large as Nebraska-OU in 1971 and again in 1987 when the teams were ranked 1-2 at the end of the regular season. But Nebraska-Oklahoma has become the Game of the Year. The Cornhuskers have been a constant on the national landscape. Oklahoma temporarily disappeared in the second-year coach Bobby Stoops has resurrected the program with an innovative spread offense that is averaging 44.2 points and 497.8 yards a game.

The Sooners' goal is to play in the BCS national championship game. They should have a strong enough schedule, but must finish unbeaten to assure themselves a spot. That most likely means beating the Huskers Saturday and again in the Big 12 championship game Dec. 2 in Kansas City. Stock Down: Duke.

Blue Devils are 0-7 following 45-10 loss to Georgia Tech, prompting one frustrated fan to suggest in letter to Raleigh News and Observer that Duke should drop out of ACC in football, form academic league with Vander-bilt, Davidson, Wake Forest, Rice, Georgetown and William and Mary. Colorado. Buffs are dreadful 1-6 after 23-15 loss at Kansas. This should teach them to open season against six preseason-ranked teams. USC.

Trojans (3-4), who have lost four straight, are officially a disaster after last-second, 32-30 loss to Stanford. Stock Up: Cory Phillips, QB, Georgia. Walk-on, replacing injured Quincy Carter, passed for 400 yards, 4 TDs of 85, 40, 27 and 15 yards as Bulldogs rallied to beat Kentucky, 34-30, in Lexington. John Turman, Pitt. Turman, designated as Walt Harris' starting quarterback earlier in week, threw 5 TDs as Panthers rolled up 584 yards of total offense and defeated Boston College, 42-26.

Antwaan Randle-El, Indiana. Hoosiers quarterback rushed for career-high 210 yards and 2 TDs, passed for 263 yards, 2 scores as III stunned Minnesota, 51-43, in wild Big Ten game. I KA A VA A A I Name Date Address City State Zip Social Sec Date of Birth Signature Phone authorize investigation of my credit history LJA A-Jy- CO.