The Week

SOUTHWEST

Although he had tied Steve Little's NCAA record with his 53rd career field goal (a 48-yarder) earlier in the day, Tony Franklin, Texas A&M's barefoot kicker, had never won a game with a kick. At Southern Methodist he got his chance with 55 seconds to play and the score 17-17. Franklin came through with a 29-yarder for a 20-17 victory.

Curtis Dickey had helped A&M take a 14-7 lead, rushing for 148 yards in 33 carries and scoring on a 15-yard dash. But SMU's Mike Ford, who pulled a hamstring in the second period but returned in the third with his leg frozen and heavily taped, kept the Mustangs going. Ford coolly completed 23 of 41 passes for 290 yards and one touchdown, and directed an 84-yard march in the fourth quarter that brought about the stalemate that Franklin broke.

With Danny Davis scoring twice from close in and John Newhouse tallying on 34-and 15-yard runs, Houston breezed past Texas Christian 63-6. The Cougars piled up 409 yards rushing as they readied themselves for this week's showdown at Texas, which was idle last week, for the Southwest Conference lead.

Trying to perk up his Arkansas team, which had lost two SWC contests, Coach Lou Holtz put the Hogs through a tough pregame workout. Defensive Tackle Jimmy Walker hyper-extended his left elbow during that drill minutes before facing Rice at Little Rock. Undeterred. Walker made nine tackles and dropped Owl runners for 26 yards in losses as the Razorbacks won 37-7. And, for the first time in 12 quarters, Arkansas forced a turnover in an opponent's territory.

The hard running of James Hadnot and the alert defensive play of Alan Swann helped Texas Tech topple Baylor 27-9. Hadnot ran for 212 yards. Swann, a defensive back, stole two passes and recovered a fumble.

1. TEXAS (6-1)
2. HOUSTON (7-1)
3. ARKANSAS (5-2)

MIDWEST

When the Kansas squad assembled for practice on Halloween they were greeted by Count Dracula. But the Jayhawks equipment manager was spotted for who he actually is and there were more laughs than screams. Four days later, however, the Jayhawks were really shaken up by Nebraska, which knocked the bejeebers out of them 63-21 in Lawrence. The Huskers had a Big Eight-record 799 yards in total offense (516 rushing, 283 passing), the most since they took up football in 1890. Craig Johnson, a third-stringer, rushed 10 times for 192 yards and scored on runs of 64 and 60 yards and on a 78-yard pass play.

Two big second-half scoring plays, a 59-yard run by Billy Sims and a 74-yard burst by Kenny King, helped Oklahoma win 28-7 at Colorado. By late in the first half, the Buffaloes had taken over the ball on turnovers on the Sooner 23-, 13-and nine-yard lines, but only once did they cash in. James May-berry ramming over from four yards out. Disdaining chip-shot field-goal tries, Colorado Coach Bill Mallory went for broke the next two times, came up empty, and had to settle for a 7-7 halftime deadlock.