The Week

Missouri, which had beaten Colorado by an identical score the week before, also had to overcome an injury problem. Quarterback Phil Bradley, the Tigers' alltime offensive leader, was out with a bum shoulder. In his stead, Mike Hyde finally got the Tigers going at Kansas State, where they were deadlocked 3-3 entering the fourth period. Hyde guided Missouri downfield to set up a go-ahead 37-yard field goal by Ron Verrilli and later crashed over from the one for the game's only touchdown in Mizzou's 13-3 victory.

It also took Oklahoma a long time to get unpacked at Iowa State, but then the Sooners scored two touchdowns in the third period and three in the fourth to win 42-7 and stay tied for first with Nebraska and Missouri. Oklahoma broke open a 7-all game on a busted play on which Sooner Coach Barry Switzer felt his team should have been penalized. But the officials failed to see that Sooner Halfback David Overstreet had moved too soon and Quarterback J.C. Watts made the most of it by scrubbing the called-for handoff. "I was left there holding the ball," said Watts, who slid along the line, found a hole, cut across the grain, broke into the open, juked his way past a couple Cyclone defenders and finished up with a 45-yard scamper.

NOTRE DAME (6-0)
NEBRASKA (6-1)
OHIO STATE (6-1)

SOUTH

Is Southern Mississippi for real? For a while the Golden Eagles indicated maybe so; in a game between two of the nation's eight major undefeated and untied teams they played Alabama to a 7-7 standoff for the first 22 minutes. Quarterback Don Jacobs of the Crimson Tide had begun the scoring with a 25-yard run late in the first period. Southern Mississippi retaliated early in the second quarter with a 75-yard drive that Sammy Winder climaxed by barging over from one yard out. From there on, though, it was all 'Bama as Jacobs ran 13 yards for another touchdown, and Peter Kim of South Korea kicked five PATs and George Mardini of Syria added a sixth. Alabama's 42-7 victory, its 28th in a row, was sure to keep it No. 1 in the polls. The Golden Eagles, who had just broken into the Top 20 for the first time ever, were outgained 325 yards to 114 on the ground but, with Reggie Collier connecting on 12 of 17 passes, came out in front 147-93 in the air.

A 100-yard kickoff return by Willie Gault gave Tennessee a 6-3 lead over Pittsburgh, but that was it for the Vols, who amassed 38 yards rushing in 38 tries and lost 30-6. Pulling the Panthers through was Rick Trocano, the erstwhile safety who again took over at quarterback for gimpy-legged Dan Marino. Four years ago, Trocano wanted to go to Tennessee but was bypassed by Johnny Majors, the Vols' coach. Majors, once the head man at Pitt, looked on wistfully as Trocano completed 14 of 25 passes for 237 yards and rushed for 76 yards, 31 of them on a scoring run.

Like Tennessee, Auburn came up with a 100-yard kickoff return—by Sam DeJarnette—but it, too, didn't come out on top. Two fourth-quarter defensive efforts enabled Mississippi State to defeat the Tigers 24-21. After Mardye McDole of the Bulldogs had scored what would be the game's final touchdown, on a 19-yard jaunt, State's defense thwarted Auburn on a fourth-and-goal at the one and then halted one last drive by intercepting a pass. Vanderbilt lost its 28th straight SEC game, 27-14 to Mississippi.

One streak that ended was Marshall's run of 19 Southern Conference losses in a row. The Thundering Herd did it the hard way, tying Western Carolina 13-13 when freshman Barry Childers booted a conference-record 59-yard field goal with seven seconds left. A tie was the last thing The Citadel wanted. By beating Newberry 37-0, the Bulldogs broke the NCAA mark for consecutive games without a draw, stretching their streak to 214. Southern leader Furman defeated Appalachian State 21-20 as Mike Glenn scored on runs of 88 and 10 yards.

All three ACC winners came from behind. Maryland, trailing 14-0 at the half, rallied for a 17-14 triumph at Duke. Charlie Wysocki of the Terps carried 50 times for 216 yards and two touchdowns, and Dale Castro supplied the decisive points, kicking a 25-yard field goal with 5:32 remaining. Wake Forest led 7-0, 14-10 and 21-17 before losing to Virginia 24-21 when Quarterback Todd Kirtley sneaked over from one yard out with 18 seconds remaining. And North Carolina State, which trailed Clemson 6-0 after Obed Ariri booted the first two of his four field goals, won 24-20 as Tol Avery ran for one touchdown and passed for another.

For the third time this season, Amos Lawrence and Kelvin Bryant of North Carolina both gained more than 100 yards in a game. With Lawrence ripping off 138 yards and Bryant 107, East Carolina went down 31-3.