Fort Worth, Texas ? World War I had “The Guns Of August,” a book about how the war to end all wars started.

If someone was to write a book about the 2002 college football season, the publisher could call it “The Losses Of September”. Here we are about to roll into October and the defeats have been numerous and significant.

Already, 15 of the 25 teams ranked in The AP preseason Top 25 have lost. Penn State closed the month by adding to that total. Florida State, Tennessee, Florida, Colorado, Washington and Nebraska were all Top 10 teams. The Buffaloes and the Huskers have tarnished the Big 12 Conference’s Best In Football boasts by each having two losses before the baseball playoffs begin.

Two things are certain in a season that is becoming more and more unpredictable.

One: Of the Big Three in the Sunshine State Miami, Florida and Florida State either the Gators or the Seminoles “will not” be playing in the Fiesta Bowl. Each has a loss, and either Florida or Florida State will have two losses after they play each other Nov. 30.

Two: This is Miami’s world and we’re all just taking up space.

The Hurricanes are 4-0 and appear to have three challenges remaining Oct. 12 at home against Florida State, Nov. 9 at Tennessee and Dec. 7 at home against Virginia Tech. Until proven otherwise, Miami is a strong favorite to be one of two teams playing for the national championship in the Fiesta Bowl. Who will be the Hurricanes’ victim uh, opponent should provide considerable drama over the next two months.

When the first BCS rankings are released Oct. 21, Jerry Palm projects that the top five will be Miami, Ohio State, the winner of the Oct. 12 Texas-Oklahoma game, Virginia Tech and Oregon. Palm is a Chicago-based math expert whose Web site (www.collegebcs.com) accurately projects the BCS standings.

With the 12-game schedule and the rash of defeats among ranked teams, it’s becoming more obvious that there could be a bunch of teams with one loss. There are some doomsday scenarios shaping up for the BCS:

Miami goes undefeated, but Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Oregon, Florida, Georgia and Virginia Tech all finish with one loss and all have a legitimate claim to playing in the Fiesta Bowl.

The winner of the Texas-Oklahoma game goes into the Big 12 Conference Championship Game undefeated against an undefeated (or one loss) Kansas State or an 11-1 Iowa State. The North Division champion wins, but the BCS computers don’t give either team enough love to justify a honeymoon in Tempe, Ariz.

Undefeated Virginia Tech beats undefeated Miami in the season finale on a fluke play (say, a blocked punt). The Hokies are the only undefeated team, the Hurricanes are among several one-loss teams. Voters in both polls believe Miami is good enough to still be No. 2 and the Fiesta Bowl is a Hokies-Hurricanes rematch.

North Carolina State goes 13-0, but the Wolfpack’s weak schedule (two I-AA foes) keeps it from rising above No. 3 in the BCS ratings. N.C. State gets to play in the Orange Bowl instead. Just over two months of games to be played, but the season’s first month has set an upsetting and unsettling tone.