Off to its first 4-0 start in more than two decades, Rutgers has reached another milestone: its first national top 25 ranking in 30 years. A day after routing Division I-AA Howard, 56-7, Rutgers was ranked No. 23 in The Associated Press poll yesterday, ahead of Georgia Tech and Missouri. The previous time the Scarlet Knights received a ranking was in 1976, when they finished 11-0 and were ranked as high as No. 17. A year ago, the Scarlet Knights went 7-5 and earned a berth in the Insight Bowl, their first postseason appearance in 27 years. It was Rutgers' first winning season since 1992.

Kansas

Coach Mark Mangino already is facing a deluge of questions about who will start under center when the Jayhawks open their Big 12 Conference season this week at Nebraska. "I haven't even taken a shower yet," Mangino said, after senior backup Adam Barmann led the team to a 13-7 victory against South Florida. Standout freshman Kerry Meier had been the starter this season, but missed the South Florida game with a sore shoulder after throwing four interceptions, including one in overtime, in the Jayhawks' 37-31 double-overtime loss at Toledo.