The Week

Kerwin Bell, the No. 2 freshman ground-gainer in the nation, ran for 216 yards as Kansas won 20-18 at Kansas State. With 932 yards rushing, Bell has already become the Big Eight's alltime leading freshman runner.

Two NCAA career records were surpassed by Purdue's Mark Herrmann during a 52-31 victory at Northwestern. Herrmann replaced SMU's Chuck Hixson as the leader in completions with 651 and Georgia's Zeke Bratkowski as the leader in interceptions with 69. Before leaving with a twisted right ankle, Herrmann was on target with 17 of 21 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns. Jimmy Smith of the Boilermakers ran for 190 yards and three touchdowns and also caught a nine-yard scoring pass. The Wildcats had some impressive numbers, too. Split End Todd Sheets caught 11 passes and tied a Big Ten mark by amassing 226 yards' worth of receptions. And Northwestern's Mike Kerrigan set a school record by throwing 47 passes. He was good on 23 of them, for 316 yards and four touchdowns.

Ohio State and Michigan romped to easy wins to remain tied with Purdue for the top spot in the Big Ten. Art Schlichter of the Buckeyes threw two touchdown passes to Gary Williams, completed 10 of 22 for 212 yards and ran for 46 yards and one touchdown. That was just part of 603 yards in total offense by Ohio State as it rolled past Michigan State 48-16. Michigan defeated Indiana 35-0 as Lawrence Ricks scored on runs of 29 and three yards within a span of 28 seconds.

Dana Noel ran back a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to give Minnesota a 21-18 victory at Illinois. A big play also helped Iowa to knock off Wisconsin 22-13, Pete Gales firing a 54-yard scoring pass to Keith Chappelle.

Western Michigan clung to its Mid-American lead—barely. Ohio, which had moved from its own 34 to inside Western's one, wound up a 13-7 loser when a plunge on the game's last play was stopped short. Second-place Central Michigan piled up 425 yards on the ground, held Eastern Michigan to 17 yards rushing and won 51-15.

Walter Ross. It's a name worth remembering. Some big-time teams will surely try to land Ross for next season considering his performances at Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Minnesota. Last Saturday Ross ran for 404 yards and three touchdowns in 26 carries during a 64-7 drubbing of Inver Hills in a junior college game. Ross has run for 1,546 yards in eight games.

NOTRE DAME (7-0)
NEBRASKA (7-1)
OHIO STATE (7-1)

SOUTH

"I wasn't anywhere near him as a freshman," said George Rogers, South Carolina's powerful senior tailback, of Georgia's Herschel Walker. In a confrontation of the two super runners, Walker lugged the ball 43 times for 219 yards and broke loose for the game's biggest gainer, a 76-yard scoring jaunt that put the Bulldogs ahead 10-0 in the third period. The Gamecocks narrowed the score to 13-10 and seemed to be on their way to a go-ahead touchdown. But Rogers, who gained 168 yards in 35 carries, lost a fumble at the Georgia 17 with 5:22 left. Rex Robinson had given the Bulldogs a 3-0 halftime advantage with a 57-yard field goal and later kicked a 51-yarder.

Louisiana State recovered four Mississippi fumbles during a 38-16 SEC victory. Surprising Florida knocked off Auburn 21-10 for its sixth win in seven outings. In non-conference games, Kentucky lost to Tulane 24-22, Tennessee was upended by Virginia 16-13, and Vanderbilt ended a nine-game losing streak by beating Memphis State 14-10. Tulane won when Vince Manalla kicked a 22-yard field goal after time ran out, his attempt being allowed because the Wildcats had been called for pass interference on the final play and a game cannot end on a defensive foul.