The Unbeaten Few

U.S. colleges thirsting for top football ranking are well aware that being good is by no means good enough. Being perfect lelps--if the schedule is hard enough. In he hard white light of the national polls, a tie casts a black shadow and a loss practically turns the light out. After last weeknd's games, only five major teams were still unbeaten and untied.

The week's big game matched two of the undefeated: Georgia Tech, the nation's top defensive team, and Duke, Southern Conference leader. Tech's Rambling Wrecks were a one-point favorite at kickoff time, and from the opening whistle their famed lightweight (191 lbs. average) defense platoon set about the business of smothering Duke's star passer, Worth ("a million") Lutz. Tech Tackle Bob Sherman twice broke through the heavier (by 15 lbs.) Duke line to block punts and break up touchdowns. Georgia Tech ended up on the long end of a 28-7 score, the undisputed Southeastern Conference leader, possessor of invitations from both the Sugar and Orange Bowls, and in a strong position to demand recognition as the nation's No. 1 team.

Top-rated Michigan State had its hands full subduing hopped-up Purdue, 14-7, for its 21st straight victory. An alert goal-line pass interception by State Linebacker Doug Weaver, with three minutes to go, saved a possible tie. Purdue, now twice beaten (Notre Dame was the other winner), is still top dog in the Big Ten. An Illinois upset of Michigan, 22-13, may have smoothed Purdue's Rose Bowl-bound path.

One of the Pacific Coast Conference's undefeated titans, the U.C.L.A. Bruins, had a field day, 28-7, against once-beaten

California. The West Coast's other top Rose Bowl contender, Southern California, had a day off.

Unbeaten Maryland, the nation's No. 2 team, romped over Boston University, 34-7, for its 19th straight, while unbeaten but once tied (by Colorado) Oklahoma, ranked No. 4, was upending Iowa State, 41-0, in a Big Seven Conference game.

With a month to go, three of the five all-winning teams, Michigan State, Maryland and Georgia Tech, have a good chance to end with perfect records. The other two, Southern California and U.C.L.A., will meet Nov. 22 in a game that should leave one in possession of the Rose Bowl jackpot, and still in the running for the pollsters' mythical title: the nation's top team.

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