Nebraska, FSU Remain 1-2 in AP Poll

Penn State's eight-year run in the Top 25 is over. <br><br>For the first time since the end of the 1992 season, the Nittany Lions are not ranked in The Associated Press college football poll. <br><br>Soundly

Tuesday, August 29th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Penn State's eight-year run in the Top 25 is over.

For the first time since the end of the 1992 season, the Nittany Lions are not ranked in The Associated Press college football poll.

Soundly beaten by USC 29-5 in Sunday's Kickoff Classic at Giants Stadium, Penn State's streak of appearing in 119 consecutive polls ended Monday.

The Lions, who had the fourth-longest run of consecutive rankings behind Nebraska, Florida State and Florida, entered the game at No. 22. Penn State was 7-5 in '92 after a loss to Stanford in the Blockbuster Bowl.

Nebraska and Florida State remained 1-2 in the first regular-season poll as the top 11 were unchanged from the preseason poll.

The Cornhuskers, who open Saturday against San Jose State, collected 35 first-place votes and 1,728 points from the 71 sports writers and broadcasters on the panel. The Seminoles, 29-3 winners over BYU in the Pigskin Classic, had 30 first-place votes and 1,723 points.

Alabama, which opens Saturday at UCLA, was third with three first-place votes and 1,577 points, followed by No. 4 Wisconsin and No. 5 Miami.

The Badgers, who had one first-place vote, and Hurricanes open Thursday night. Wisconsin plays Western Michigan, while Miami goes against McNeese State.

Michigan was No. 6, followed by No. 7 Texas (two first-place votes), No. 8 Kansas State, No. 9 Florida and No. 10 Georgia. K-State opened with a 27-7 win over Iowa in the Eddie Robinson Classic.

Virginia Tech, which had its opener against Georgia Tech postponed by violent thunderstorms and lightning, was No. 11, followed by No. 12 USC (up three spots), No. 13 Tennessee, No. 14 Washington, No. 15 Purdue, No. 16 Ohio State, No. 17 Clemson, No. 18 Mississippi, No. 19 Oklahoma and No. 20 TCU.

Illinois was No. 21, followed by No. 22 Southern Mississippi, No. 23 Colorado, No. 24 Michigan State and No. 25 Texas A&M.

The Aggies, the only new team in the poll, open at Notre Dame on Saturday.

Nebraska's streak of consecutive poll appearances is up to 310, followed by Florida State's 184 and Florida's 178.

In the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, the top five were Nebraska, Florida State, Alabama, Michigan and Wisconsin.