Of The Nation's Top Teams, Only Navy And Baylor Fell Victims To The Upset Last Week. Oklahoma And Michigan State Justified Their High Ranking Neatly, But Not Gaudily

Houston took pause from its big-time schedule to virtually ice its second straight Missouri Valley Conference title by squeaking past Cincinnati 7-0. Ferocious Cincy played its best game in three years, contained Houston's superb running game for three periods, broke open in the fourth. Houston now points toward a big one next week—Texas A&M.

As for Texas A&M, Bear Bryant is slowly whipping his boys into shape. Last Saturday they stomped through Missouri 28-0. John Crow, who had injured his knee in the opener with Maryland (SI, Sept. 30), returned to the lineup, but Halfback Bobby Conrad stole the show with a 91-yard kick-off return for a touchdown and 92 yards rushing from scrimmage.

THE SOUTHWEST
With the development of a fine, quick-on-the-draw line, Arkansas is a solid threat in the Southwest Conference. Badly outweighed last week by TCU, the agile Razor-back line sliced paths for Halfback Donnie Stone and Fullback Gerald Nesbitt and wore down three squads of Horned Frogs in a 20-7 victory. Nesbitt's quick kicks kept TCU constantly on the defensive.

THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
Some of the best passes of the season have spun through the thin air of the Rockies, but Utah state, one of the best passers of them all, used a running game to hold Wyoming to a 19-19 draw. State Halfback Overton Curtis led the ground attack with 113 yards, took the game's "best back" award from his teammate, Quarterback Bob Winters. Nonetheless, Winters plugged along as a passer, hit 10 of 18 and held his spot as the nation's best. He has completed 38 of 67 for 490 yards.

THE FAR WEST

Pittsburgh, taking methodical vengeance for the Oklahoma massacre, won its second game on the Pacific Coast, rumbling through poor-tackling Southern California 20-14. The Trojans mustered only two first downs in the first 39 minutes and were out-rushed 270 yards to 53. Yet the officials were the most impressive ground gainers. They carried for 256 yards—142 against Pitt and 112 against SC (see page 39).

Heavily favored Michigan State, with supposedly the best running attack in the country, showed unwonted passing strength in downing California 19-0. The Spartan air game netted 196 yards, all three touchdowns (see page 40).

It was fine weather—for Ducks—as Oregon gamboled through a Portland rainstorm to trim UCLA 21-0. For UCLA, this was its first shutout in 21 games. For the Ducks, it was a leg on a Rose Bowl bid.