Top Ten

While many another team across the nation can run up gaudy season records against in-and-out opposition, the schools of the rugged Big Ten are cursed by having to play one another Saturday after Saturday. The resulting won-lost marks are often unimposing, but by mid-November the fires of Big Ten competition annually forge a flock of tough, tenacious teams that can meet any squad in the land on even terms. Last week thrice-beaten Michigan State overturned Northwestern, 15-10, and thrice-beaten Illinois did the same to Wisconsin, 9-6, to throw the Big Ten race into a three-way tie, prove again that the league plays the best-balanced, and on average, the best college football in the U.S. The Top Ten:

1) Syracuse (8-0)--routed old rival Colgate, 71-0, and promptly accepted a Cotton Bowl bid.

2) Southern California (8-0)--beat Baylor, 17-8, as its massive line, anchored by End Marlin and Guard Mike McKeever (TIME, Oct. 26), gave up only three yards on the ground.

3) Mississippi (8-1)--ran up a 37-7 score on Tennessee, conqueror of Louisiana State, as Fullback Charlie Flowers alone smashed for 168 yds.

4) Louisiana State (8-1)--brushed off Mississippi State, 27-0.

5) Texas (8-1)--had-its spotless record spoiled by Texas Christian, 14-9.

6) Wisconsin (6-2).

7) Northwestern (6-2).

8) Penn State (8-1)--drubbed Holy Cross, 46-0.

9) Washington (8-1)--moved closer to the Rose Bowl by shutting out California, 20-0.

10) Georgia (8-1)--scored a touchdown in the last 30 seconds to nip stubborn Auburn, 14-13, clinch the championship of the Southeastern Conference.

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