Face paint is surely in short supply after this weekend, as fan passion is running at a fever pitch. Whether you wear your teams colors on your face or on your sleeve, we heard you. The opinions were varied, and pointed. It's always interesting when The Fans Speak.

Around the top 5
I'm not going to get overconfident and say our team (Hokies) is going all the way... But after last night's "game" with Syracuse, we might have a chance. Tech's defense has always been good, but this year they're better than ever (man those guys are fast). Not to mention our offense, which has improved dramatically from last year. Mike Vick is positively amazing, his only weakness is his amount of experience, and he gets more of it with every game.
Joshua Kabler
Blacksburg, Va.

	Shyrone Stith bowled over the competition for 1,119 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.

As a UVA fan, I hate to admit this, but Virginia Tech is for real.
Charles Young
Hartford Conn.

Why in the world is Virginia Tech still No. 4 in the rankings after beating a top 15 team by over 60 points? For example, Syracuse was ranked ahead of Ohio State. I know Penn St. dominated them, but they only won by 13. Syracuse wasn't a fluke either because they about beat Michigan. What would it take, Tech beating Miami by another 60 points to move up any?
Nolan Mullins
Logan, West Va.

Has anyone noticed that Virginia Tech has the easiest schedule? Don't you have to play some real teams before you can be considered No. 4 in the nation? When you play nobody, it's easy to look good. I'd like to see them play Florida State, Penn State, Nebraska, Tennessee, Florida, etc. They wouldn't stand a chance against a real team. Sorry VT fans, but you have to admit that James Madison, Alabama Birmingham, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Temple, and Boston College are a joke when it comes to being challenged by the best.
Ryan Hanzelik
Knoxville, Tenn.

Does anyone else think that Virginia Tech is OVERRATED? And is anyone else sick of teams running up scores just to impress the poll voters? I mean look at the Syracuse game. They were running reverses with 6 minutes left even though they were winning 54-0. I'd rather beat a team by a field goal then embarrass them. It's all the poll voters' fault for this type of play. Teams like Virginia Tech think that if they win by enough then they will leapfrog one of the top 3. I can't wait until Virginia Tech actually plays a good team ... then we'll see how good they are.
Jason Vagnoni
Norristown, Pa.

Is there a team in college football playing better than Nebraska right now? I don't think so. Their offense is finally running wide open and they are embarrassing all the defenses they face. Their big play defense is absolutely incredible. If they didn't put in the 4th and 5th string defenses in their blowout games they would probably have shut out at least two more opponents. Also, last week they held the nation's leading rusher far below his average before letting the fourth- and fifth-string defense get some playing time. I think the Huskers definitely deserve to be No. 1.
Jeremey Olson
Niobrara, Neb.

From viewing Penn State firsthand, I truly belive that they are the team to beat right now. They are the only top team (with the exception of Virginia Tech) that has an established defense. Penn State vs. Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl? We shall see.
Jared Unruh
University Park, Pa.

Penn State's days as an undefeated team in the hunt for a national championship are numbered. The media is raving about Joe Pa's latest victory over "powerhouse" Ohio State -- the same Ohio State team who got owned at home two weeks ago by Wisconsin. The East Coast Darling Nittany Lions have their three toughest tests of the year in Michigan, Michigan St., and Purdue in the next month, and all three teams have diplayed more firepower on both sides of the ball than Penn State. While members of the media would love to give Paterno a national championship to ride off into the sunset with, it's not going to happen.
Aaron Seiler
Hastings, Neb.

Trophy talk
If Ron Dayne does not break Ricky Williams' record, he will be considered a failure despite his four 1,000-yard seasons. He may not win the Heisman, but he should be recognized as what he is: A class guy who put carried a big load for four years. He's one of the best running backs in the 1990s.
Joe Barbeau
Iowa City, Iowa

How can people doubt that Shaun Alexander is the frontrunner in the Heisman Race? He has had three straight allstar performances against top 25 teams, including a victory over Florida in the Swamp where he scored four touchdowns. Has Hamilton even beaten a top 25 team yet? Can Ron Dayne lead his team to victory over a big-time opponent, or even catch a pass for that matter?
Andy Hedge
Northport, Ala.

Why is Peter Warrick out of the Heisman race? I don't understand how someone as good as him is out of the running. You gotta be kidding me -- any college kid would do what he did. What he did was a petty offense and it's a shame he is being stripped of a fantastic season.
Colton Heiden
Ames, Iowa

The state of the Spartans
It amazes me how fast the media created a bandwagon for Michigan State fans to jump on. State beats Michigan for the first time in a while and people think that this team has the mentality and ability to win a national championship. Not only has Michigan's offense nor defense impressed me, but the Big Ten, as a whole, seems inconsistent and weak. I hope the Spartans had fun during there short stint in the spotlight of college football!
Landon Messal
Knoxville, Tenn.

I watched my Spartan team in disbelief. It was hard to understand how they could be so poorly prepared for what they knew was going to be a total air show. Purdue was no threat to run. Yet the coaching staff had not prepared a defense to stop the pass and make Purdue run. Hopefully they'll do a better job of preparing to stop the run against Wisconsin.
Bill Swartz
Sarasota, Fla.

I promise you, that Michigan will finish the year in the top 7. Michigan State is a fluke. Michigan State will not be in the top 25 at the end of the year. State will lose to Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin. And after that embarrassing loss to Purdue, Michigan State stands no chance against any other top 25 school. Michigan will beat Ohio State. They will have some trouble with Penn State, but the wolverines will come out with a victory.
Jason Pindzia
Dearborn Heights Mich.

Do the math
How on earth can anybody with any intelligence at all, rank Tennessee higher than the Florida Gators? Both have one loss a piece, however, Florida beat Tennessee. Maybe the voters should go back to school and take a lesson in logic.
Doug VanSant
Youngstown, Ohio

Why is it that the so-called experts, who are supposed to be aware of everything, rank teams with no losses -- who have played no one who can really compete with them -- ahead of good teams, with one loss, who have played difficult schedules? Cases in point -- Nebraska and Kansas State. The Big Ten and the SEC knock each other around and end up with at least one loss, but many could in all likelihood beat some of the undefeated teams ranked above them.
Norm Edwards
Three Rivers, Mich.

What's with the polls? Southern Miss beat East Carolina away after losing close games at Nebraska and at Texas A&M. Clearly, they are better than the East Carolina team, yet are ranked below them? Help me out on this one!
Matt Brannon
Ocala, Fla.

Someone with a brain plese tell me why Tennessee is ranked ahead of Florida? Does 23-21 ring any bells?
James Wheeler
Castle Rock, Colo.

This 'n' that
Iowa State has turned the corner and made it to respectability. After quickly getting down by 14 on the road, they did not fold as in the past. Winning on the road in the Big XII is big for this program, especially against a Missouri team that has been to two straight bowl games. The two losses on the ISU record are against two top 10 teams, Nebraska and Kansas State. And that KSU game should be a win. The offense is doing well and the defense is coming along. A winning season is almost certain, and a bowl game a distinct possibility. Go Cyclones!
Peter VanAlstyne
Ames, Iowa

It's about time that the University of Southern Mississippi gets some respect. All it took was shutting down the nation's leading rushing team. Army was held to 172 yards on the ground. And you know what? It was an off day for the Eagles.
Chris Johnson
Hattiesburg,Miss.

I knew Syracuse was overrated. They shouldn't have been in the top 25, much less the top 15. The Heisman race is heating up. Joe Hamilton has a slight edge over Shaun Alexander at the moment, but that could change next weekend. Florida State is still the clear No. 1. It's anybody's guess who they'll play in the Sugar Bowl. My pick is either Nebraska or Virginia Tech -- they have an easy enough schedule to make it the rest of the way unscathed. Don't count out the Tide, though. If they win out and get some help, they could be headed for the Big Easy.
Tim Cottrell
Brewton, Ala.

What happened to all of the votes for the Top 25 that Louisiana Tech was getting after its big win at Tuscaloosa? They take a week off following the 'Bama game and then crush its next two opponents and they drop out of sight. Please, take a look at the Bulldogs. I'm not even a 'dawg supporter.
R. Michael Beasley
Shreveport, La.

I'd just like to thank Coach Hal Mumme and the Kentucky Wildcats for an already amazing season! Who would have thought after the Louisville game that UK would be 5-2 and 3-1 in the SEC! Seeing this team grow has been refreshing and extremely exciting. They seem to be having a lot of fun out there and I hope we can pull a win off at Georgia next weekend!
Hope Gashingston
Lexington, Ky.