Penn St. Skips Up to No. 1 Spot Ahead of Colorado, Nebraska

You don’t need a pair of Coach Joe Paterno’s inch-thick glasses to see how impressed the poll voters are with Penn State these days. Simply locate the No. 1 ranking and point--that’s where you’ll find the Nittany Lions.

For the first time since January 1987, Penn State is atop both the Associated Press and coaches’ polls. Paterno’s team jumped from the No. 3 spot to No. 1 Sunday, thanks to two unlikely sources: Auburn and Kansas State.

Auburn, a 16-point underdog to then-top-ranked Florida, upset the Gators at dreaded Florida Field, where no Southeastern Conference had won in 15 tries. . . . until Saturday.

In a game that featured four fourth-quarter lead changes, the Tigers defeated Florida, 36-33, on a last-minute touchdown pass from quarterback Patrick Nix to wide receiver Frank Sanders. Bye-bye, Gators, who had occupied the No. 1 AP ranking this season in every week but one. Now make it two.

Meanwhile, surprising Kansas State tried to pull off a similar upset against Nebraska, which began last week ranked No. 1 in the USA Today/CNN coaches’ poll and No. 2 in the AP ratings. The Wildcat victory didn’t happen--Nebraska, down to its second- and third-string quarterbacks, won, 17-6--but it was the thought that counted.

The loss by Florida, coupled with the struggle by Nebraska, combined with Penn State’s 31-24 victory against Michigan at Ann Arbor convinced enough voters to bump the Nittany Lions to the top spot. As it turned out, Penn State needed almost every vote it could get.

The AP rankings (first-place votes in parentheses): 1) Penn State, 1,487 points (19); 2) Colorado 1,474 (15); 3) Nebraska 1,463 (25); 4) Auburn 1,402 (3); 5) Florida 1,1196.

The coaches’ rankings: 1) Penn State 1,504 (22); 2) Nebraska 1,498 (31); 3) Colorado 1,458 (9); 4) Miami 1,283; 5) Alabama 1,271.

A mandate, it wasn’t. But Penn State isn’t complaining. In fact, Penn State isn’t saying much of anything. Asked about the polls shortly after the win against Michigan, Paterno said he had more important things to worry about than his team’s rankings in mid-October. Ask him in January, then he’ll talk.

Not since 1985 have the Nittany Lions occupied the No. 1 ranking during the regular season. They stayed there for the final four weeks of the season and then lost to Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. And for those hoping for a Rose Bowl that actually means something, Penn State is the first Big Ten Conference team ranked No. 1 since Michigan in October 1990.

The rest of the AP poll, which includes teams on NCAA probation, featured its share of mild surprises. For instance, despite its one loss, Florida remained ahead of undefeated Texas A&M; (No. 6) and Alabama (No. 8). Of course, none of that mattered to Gator Coach Steve Spurrier, whose team committed six turnovers in the loss to Auburn.

“I think there should be a playoff,” Spurrier said. “Until there is, it’s just a popularity contest.”

If so, then the Gators had better start turning on the charm. That’s because the four teams ahead of them are undefeated, though Colorado, which has beaten four top 25 teams this season, faces Nebraska Oct. 29 in Lincoln, Neb., and Auburn is ineligible for postseason play.

Auburn, which has won an NCAA-best 18 consecutive games, was hoping for better than a move from No. 6 to No. 4. Campaigning hard was Tiger Coach Terry Bowden.

“If there are any unbelievers. . . . and I know there are a lot of them, I hope there are none now about this football team,” Bowden said. “For once, I want to be recognized as a team that’s a really great football team that ought to be No. 1 in the Associated Press.”

For now, No. 4 will have to do.

After Florida and Texas A&M;, Miami moved into seventh place, followed by Alabama, Washington and Florida State. Texas A&M; has won 25 consecutive Southwest Conference games and owns the nation’s longest home victory streak (24).

No team moved up more than unbeaten Duke, which finds its way into the football polls every decade or so. The Blue Devils, coached by newcomer Fred Goldsmith, climbed five places, from No. 25 to No. 20.

Notre Dame should be so lucky. The Irish started last week ranked No. 17, but didn’t end it there. Brigham Young beat the Irish at Notre Dame Stadium, dropping Coach Lou Holtz’s team to 4-3, the worst start since 1986, and out of the polls.