Dazzling Ducks. Rich, Cool and 4-0. (Quack, Quack)

That was the headline on the cover photo of quarterback Jason Fife scoring in Oregon's upset of Michigan by 31-27 a week ago.

"Make Way for DUCKS," the story's headline proclaimed, with this subhead: "Wild uniforms, space-age lockers and a stunning win over Michigan: Already the coolest team in college football, Oregon has proved it belongs among the elite."

That proclamation was stale two days before the September 29, 2003 date on the issue.

The coolest team in college football handled the football like an ice cube after it read its press clippings and celebrated all week. Washington State, a four-point underdog, went swoosh, like Oregon alumnus Phil Knight's Nike swoosh, and quickly showed the Ducks they were not all they were quacked up to be in the "House That Phil Built."

Washington State took advantage of the Oregon distractions and plucked the Ducks, 55-16. That's right: FIFTY-FIVE to SIXTEEN!

Talk about getting it up the Wazzu from Wazzu.

The last time the teams played in Eugene, in 1999, Oregon won, 52-10.

Two hours after the game, the official Oregon Athletics website had no mention of the score, but there was this lingering self-promotion about the Michigan upset: "See the Ducks Squash Michigan on O Zone." And video highlights, "On Today/Live."

By halftime Washington State had a 38-2 bulge and then coasted, taking advantage of seven interceptions (three thrown by Fife) and a porous pass defense.

Washington State quarterback Matt Kegel completed 13-of-33 passes for 242 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Cougars reached 4-1, with its only loss by 29-26 in overtime at Notre Dame after leading by 19-0 on Sept. 6.

Others Go 4-And-Out

Going into the weekend with a 4-0 record was dangerous for Iowa, which was upset by Michigan State, 23-16.

Going for 4-0 was treacherous for Southern California, which had the ball for 20 minutes less but rallied from a 21-7 deficit at California to force overtime, then lost, 34-31, in the third session of complimentary extra fun.

Reaching 4-0 almost cost Arkansas, which had to rally from a 31-17 deficit in the fourth quarter on the road and then shut down Alabama to win in two overtimes, 34-31.

But being 4-0 did not hurt two Big Ten teams: Ohio State, which extended the nation's longest winning streak to 19 by beating Northwestern, 20-0, and Minnesota which escaped at Penn State, 20-14.

The Minnesota victory at State College, Pa., was its third consecutive over Penn State and recalled the start of the Nittany Lions continuing slide after they began 1999 with a 9-0 record. Golden Gophers coach Glen Mason found a way to upset Penn State on the last play of the 1999 game, a deflected pass caught to set up a game-winning field goal, and Penn State has gone 22-23 since that day.

Saturday's game had these instant replays: Penn State quarterback Zack Mills, on crutches with a leg sprain; back-up quarterback Michael Robinson losing the ball in the act of passing as he tried to set up a field goal with Penn State behind by 17-14; Joe Paterno yelling and then pursuing an official because he, the television and radio announcers all thought Robinson's batted football hit the turf before being "intercepted"; and Penn State's best receiver lying facedown on the grass in the end zone after the Robinson's last pass of the game sailed high.

Penn State out-gained Minnesota, 419 yards to 321, with freshman tailback Austin Scott attaining 95 of them. Robinson completed 16-of-27 passes, but threw 2 interceptions.

"I am not full of joy and love and everything else,' right now," Paterno said after the game. "We had a shot at it; we knew it was going to be close."

Someone used the F-word - that'd be frustrating - to ask Paterno what he felt was the most frustrating part of the loss.

"Losing, I don't like to lose," Paterno said. "I have a bunch of kids who work hard and practice hard. We just aren't making a couple plays. That's the frustrating part."

Next week could bring more frustration: Wisconsin, which won at Illinois by 38-20 with 298 rushing yards, visits for the Lions' homecoming.

Quick Hits

The day's best rebounder was Pittsburgh. Upset by Toledo a week ago, the Panthers won at Texas A&M, 37-26, as Larry Fitzgerald, the nation's leading receiver improved his credentials for the N.F.L., with 7 catch for 135 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The worst rebounder was Toledo, which lost to Syracuse, 34-7.

Northern Illinois (4-0), ranked for the first time ever, added to the Big MAC's milestone season, beating its third BCS opponent, Iowa State by 24-16, with a 14-point fourth-quarter. The Huskies have already beaten Maryland and Alabama.

And finally, Texas Tech quarterback B.J. Symons took advantage of one of the worse pass defenses in the nation to deliver the third-best passing performances ever - 661 yards and six touchdowns on 44-of-64 completions as the Red Raiders beat Ole Miss 49-45. Symons' effort set school and Big XII records and ranks third in NCAA history.