Now it gets really interesting.

In State College, Pa., and Chapel Hill, N.C., next weekend four teams with perfect records square off in what boils down to national title elimination games.One game, with Big Ten title and Rose Bowl implications, matches No. 4 Michigan (8-0) against No. 2 Penn State (7-0). The other, with the ACC title and an Orange Bowl berth on the line, has No. 3 Florida State (8-0) at No. 5 North Carolina (8-0).

Winners move to the next stage - completing a perfect season and remaining in national title contention.

"I want a ring, a big fat ring with a lot of diamonds," Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson said of the reward that goes with winning the Big Ten.

After Saturday's games, six major teams remained unbeaten as No. 16 Washington State (7-1) lost for the first time, 44-31 to No. 15 Arizona State (6-2).

The Cougars' loss means No. 6 Washington (7-1), a 27-0 winner over Southern California, has control of the Pac-10 race and goes to the Rose Bowl if it wins the rest of the way - against Oregon, UCLA and Washington State.

Meanwhile, No. 1 Nebraska (8-0) increased its lead in the AP poll with a 69-7 win over Oklahoma - the worst defeat in Sooners' history. The Huskers are heavy favorites to win the Big 12 and play in the Orange Bowl - the bowl alliance's top game - on Jan. 2.

The Southeastern Conference underwent a power shift Saturday as No. 9 Georgia (7-1, 5-1) upset No. 13 Florida 37-13 and No. 19 Mississippi State surprised No. 17 Auburn 20-0. The results gave No. 8 Tennessee (6-1, 4-1) and No. 19 Mississippi State (6-2, 3-2) the inside tracks to winning the East and West divisions, respectively, while knocking the Gators (6-2, 4-2) out of contention.

"It looks like it's going to be the first nonchampionship year in the eight years we've been here," Florida coach Steve Spurrier said. "That was a big, disappointing loss. No getting around it."

In Top 25 results Saturday, it was: No. 2 Penn State 30, Northwestern 27; No. 3 Florida State 48, North Carolina State 35; No. 4 Michigan 24, Minnesota 3; No. 7 Ohio State 37, Michigan State 13; No. 8 Tennessee 22, South Carolina 7; No. 10 UCLA 27, Stanford 7; No. 11 Kansas State 13, Texas Tech 2; No. 12 Iowa 35, No. 23 Purdue 17; No. 14 LSU 63, Kentucky 28; No. 18 Toledo 35, Miami, Ohio 28; No. 20 Virginia Tech 37, Alabama-Birmingham 0; No. 22 Syracuse 40, West Virginia 10; No. 24 Southern Mississippi 24, Cincinnati 17; and No. 21 Texas A&M 28, No. 25 Oklahoma State 25, OT.

No. 1 Nebraska 69, Oklahoma 7

At Lincoln, Neb., Ahman Green and Joel Mackovica each topped 100 yards rushing - Mackovica had three TDs - and Scott Frost ran for one score and threw for another as Tom Osborne reached 250 wins quicker than any other coach.

Last season, the Huskers beat the Sooners 73-21, which at the time was the worst loss in Oklahoma football history.

No. 2 Penn State 30,

Northwestern 27

At Evanston, Ill., Curtis Enis ran for 153 yards and a TD and Anthony Cleary had two short TDs for the Lions, who allowed two late scores before sealing the win by recovering an onside kick.

"We just lost our poise a little bit at the end and that's about it," said coach Joe Paterno, who won his 400th game - 296 as the head coach - since arriving at Happy Valley in 1950.

Penn State extended the longest winning streak in Division I-A to 13 games.

No. 3 Florida State 48,

North Carolina State 35

At Tallahassee, Fla., Thad Busby threw for five TDs and a career-best 463 yards to offset five TD catches by the Wolfpack's Torry Holt. Freshman tailback Travis Minor added three TDs as Florida State had 517 yards, while allowing 448 yards and 28 first downs.

No. 4 Michigan 24, Minnesota 3

At Ann Arbor, Mich., Woodson scored on a 33-yard reverse and Michigan held Minnesota to 102 total yards - and no second-half points. Michigan has not allowed a second-half TD or a fourth-quarter point.

No. 6 Washington 27,

Southern California 0

At Seattle, even without Brock Huard and Rashaan Shehee in the second half, the Huskies dealt the Trojans their first shutout since 1990. Huard passed for two TDs in the second quarter before leaving with a sprained ankle early, and Shehee left with a sprained left knee after the second series.

Shehee, who entered the game as the Pac-10's leading rusher, could be out for the season. Huard is expected to return for Saturday's game against Oregon.

No. 7 Ohio State 37,

Michigan State 13

At East Lansing, Mich., Gary Berry returned an interception 45 yards for a score, then picked up a blocked field goal and scored from a yard out to lead the Buckeyes (8-1) over the Spartans (5-3), who lost their third straight game.

No. 8 Tennessee 22,

South Carolina 7

At Knoxville, Tenn., Peyton Manning was just 8 of 25 for 126 yards - his worst outing in three years - but the Vols got 205 yards and two TDs from freshman Jamal Lewis.

No. 9 Georgia 37, No. 13 Florida 17

At Jacksonville, Fla., Robert Edwards tied a school record with four TDs as the Bulldogs ended seven years of frustration against the Gators.

"Georgia's better than us, that's all you can say," Spurrier said.

No. 10 UCLA 27, Stanford 7

At Stanford, Calif., Skip Hicks ran for 121 yards and three TDs as the Bruins (7-2) forced four turnovers and had six sacks in winning its seventh straight.

No. 15 Arizona State 44,

No. 16 Washington State 31

At Tempe, Ariz., the Cougars fell behind 24-0, rallied to take a 1-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Ryan Leaf lost two fumbles in the final three minutes that led to Sun Devil TDs.

Leaf, 24 of 49 for 447 yards and three TDs, had one interception and was sacked six times. Ryan Kealy was 23 of 36 for 245 yards and four TDs.

"They were 7-0, and we knew we had to knock them out," said Hamilton Mee, who returned the first fumble 69 yards to put ASU ahead 37-25 with 2:55 left. "It was a big showdown."

No. 19 Mississippi State 20,

No. 16 Auburn 0

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At Auburn, Ala., Anthony Derricks scored on a 90-yard interception return - one of four interceptions by Mississippi State - as the Tigers were shut out for the first time in 55 games.

Also:

-At Iowa City, Iowa, fullback Rob Thein caught two TD passes and ran for a third as Iowa (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) ended Purdue's six-game winning streak, 35-17.

-At Lexington, Ky., Kevin Faulk ran for 212 yards and a school-record five TDs as LSU (6-2, 4-2 SEC) beat Kentucky 63-28 for the school's 600th victory. Tim Couch was 41 of 66 for 410 and four TDs, giving him 34 for the season - an NCAA record for sophomores.

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