TODAY'S GAMES : NORTHWESTERN FIGHTS TO KEEP NEW IMAGE UP.

In one respect, Northwestern needed to beat Penn State last season before true respect could come to Evanston, Ill. The Nittany Lions were the reigning Big Ten champs, and it takes one to beat one.

Incredibly, with Northwestern's conference winning streak now at 13 games, the Wildcats who were once the perennial Big Ten doormats once again are seeking such recognition at Penn State's expense.

That seems silly for a team ranked 11th nationally and in the running for another Rose Bowl. But several victories apparently have not impressed observers.

After beating its past four foes by a total of 10 points, Northwestern (7-1 overall, 5-0 Big Ten) is a 10-point underdog entering today's game against the 15th-ranked Nittany Lions in Happy Valley.

There is a sense that the Wildcats are living on borrowed time, with comeback after comeback over lesser opponents.

The Wildcats have played teams with a combined record of 23-36, including four Big Ten teams that together make a 1-16 conference. Northwestern this year doesn't play Ohio State or Michigan State, the two squads right behind it in the league standings.

``Somebody asked me if we just play as well as it takes to beat a particular team, and I guess we have the last couple of weeks,'' conceded Wildcats coach Gary Barnett. ``But you never want to admit that.

``We haven't played spectacularly, and not as thoroughly as we played last year.''

Since a 45-17 loss to Penn State last year, Northwestern has won 13 straight in conference.

``In the league today, as tough as it is, that's an amazing feat,'' Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. ``They are playing with as much confidence as a football team can have.''

No. 15 Penn State (7-2, 3-2) is eager to continue Paterno's November dominance at home. In his 31 years, Paterno's teams have assembled a 50-8 record during this month at Beaver Stadium.

Minnesota (3-4, 0-4) at No. 2 Ohio State (7-0, 4-0): For Northwestern to go back to the Rose Bowl, Ohio State has to lose. Don't count on that here. The Buckeyes are favored by 35.

Georgia (3-4, 2-3 in the SEC) vs. No. 1 Florida (7-0, 5-0): ``The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party'' returns to Jacksonville, Fla., yet no matter how much anyone drinks, there's no question who will win.

``Us Georgia fans are just here for the fun,'' said Karen Smith, who drove down in her motor home expecting to see Steve Spurrier's Gators beat her beloved Bulldogs.

That's become a habit since Spurrier took over at Florida, and his players are expected to make him 7-0 against Georgia.

It was dubbed the ``World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party'' in the late 1950s by Bill Kastelz, then the editor of the Florida Times-Union. Athletic directors at both schools tried to tone down the image, especially after Georgia beat then-No. 1 Florida in 1985, leading to nasty brawls and more than 60 arrests.

``They wanted to call it the `World's Largest Outdoor Party,' but it's still a cocktail party,'' said Florida fan Len Williams, sipping a beer from his motorhome Friday afternoon. ``Nobody in this lot come 10 o'clock Saturday morning ought to be behind the wheel of a car.''

No. 4 Arizona State (8-0, 5-0) at Oregon State (1-6, 1-4): The Sun Devils, one game up on Washington in the Pacific-10 race, are 23-point favorites.

No. 5 Nebraska (6-1, 4-0) at Oklahoma (2-5, 2-2): Yawns all around for this Big 12 rivalry in which the Cornhuskers are favored by 35?

``Big game? Are you serious?'' asked Nebraska's Mike Minter, once a redshirt freshman at Oklahoma. ``When Oklahoma plays Nebraska . . . everybody goes nuts down there.''

Perhaps there will be bedlam in Norman, Okla., but likely not a close game. Tom Osborne's Huskers have beaten the once-great Sooners five years in a row, including 37-0 last season at Lincoln.

No. 19 Notre Dame (4-2) vs. Navy (5-1): In Dublin, Ireland's Croke Park stadium, the home of Gaelic football and hurling, the ``Shamrock Classic'' feature the Irish and Midshipmen for the 70th straight meeting.

The Fighting Irish, playing for the first time in the land of their nickname, will seek to extend their winning streak against Navy to an NCAA record 33 straight games.

The last time Navy beat Notre Dame was in 1963, when Roger Staubach led the Middies to a 35-14 victory en route to his Heisman Trophy.

``We're excited to keep the streak going,'' Notre Dame quarterback Ron Powlus said. ``We don't want to be the ones to lose it, and naturally Navy wants to be the team to break the streak.''

Organizers hope for a turnout of 40,000 to 50,000. Many of the fans will be Americans who traveled to Dublin for the occasion.

Although Notre Dame has the Irish connection, Navy is the official home team for the game.

Michigan State (5-3, 4-1) at No. 9 Michigan (6-1, 3-1): The Spartans have not beaten the Wolverines in back-to-back seasons since 1966 and '67. Don't look for Michigan State, which won 28-25 last year, to change the trend, but it should hang around to the very end again.