The Week

Stanford's 41-7 loss to Illinois was largely the result of Mike Gow's four interceptions, one of which he returned for the go-ahead touchdown in the first quarter. Chubby Phillips scored three times for the Illini and rushed for 126 yards.

1. Arizona State (2-0)
2. Arizona (2-0)
3. USC (0-1)

SOUTH

Looking nothing like an Aggie joke, and every bit like a threat to Texas' long dominance of the Southwest Conference, Texas A&M jolted Louisiana State 21-14 in the Bengals' own bayou lair. The Aggies, in fact, may be the most underrated team in the country.

All three A&M running backs scored touchdowns as each rushed for more than 100 yards. Skip Walker netted 130, Bubba Bean 127 and Bucky Sams 107 as the Aggie Wishbone outrushed the Tiger Veer 417 to 248. In the first half alone, Texas A&M gained 290 yards and posted a 17-2 advantage in first downs. The only question was why it did not have more than a 14-7 lead.

The winning touchdown came after an exchange of fumbles gave the Aggies possession on the LSU 37 in the fourth quarter. Sams took it in on a one-yard plunge. "Maybe I should have made some changes," the Tigers' Charlie McClendon said, "but it's too late to talk about that now."

Florida salvaged some Southeastern Conference pride by handing Maryland its second straight defeat, 17-10. The Terrapins, who lost 21-16 to Alabama two weeks ago, led 10-7 at the half. But the Gators snapped back in the third period on David Posey's 49-yard field goal and Jimmy Fisher's 17-yard pass to Lee McGriff. "I think Florida is comparable to Alabama," Maryland Coach Jerry Claiborne said.

Southern Mississippi may not agree. Alabama crushed the Golden Eagles 52-0, scoring in each of its first three possessions and averaging 11.7 yards per play in the process. Quarterback Richard Todd ran for one TD, passed for another and set up a third with a 40-yard scamper. Auburn and Vanderbilt had the same kind of success against other-opponents who were in over their heads. The Tigers derailed Chattanooga's choo-choo 52-7 as Mike Fuller returned two punts for touchdowns. The Commodores got three short scoring plunges from Adolph Groves and precise passing from Quarterbacks David Lee and Fred Fisher in bombing Virginia Military 45-7.

Condredge Holloway, still bothered by shoulder and knee injuries suffered three weeks ago against UCLA, watched sophomore Randy Wallace lead Tennessee to a 17-3 win over Kansas. Volunteer Coach Bill Battle said he "considered putting Holloway in two or three times, but I decided it was not worth the risk." After a shaky start, Wallace acquitted himself well, completing a 26-yard touchdown pass to Tim Fitchpatrick and rushing for 71 yards. "He's similar to Holloway in many respects," said the Jay-hawks' Don Fambrough.

Actually, Holloway played a rather decisive role in the victory. Sent in to hold for a field-goal attempt in the first quarter, he bobbled the snap but recovered to throw a 15-yard first-down pass to the Kansas seven. The Vols' first touchdown followed moments later.