Teams with 1st loss Week 14:
none
Teams with 2nd loss Week 14:
Cincinnati
Minnesota
Alabama
Teams with 1st win Week 14:
none
Maximum number of Undefeated Teams at the End of the Regular Season:
3: Clemson, LSU, Ohio State
-no changes this week
Teams with 1st loss:
Week 0 and 1: 35.38% (46 of 130)
Week 2: 38.01% (32 of 84)
Week 3: 32.69% (17 of 52)
Week 4: 34.29% (12 of 35)
Week 5: 21.74% (5 of 23)
Week 6: 11.11% (2 of 18)
Week 7: 25% (4 of 16)
Week 8: 16.67% (2 of 12)
Week 9: 10% (1 of 10)
Week 10: 22.22% (2 of 9)
Week 11: 28.57% (2 of 7)
Week 12: 40% (2 of 5)
Week 13: 0% (0 of 3)
Week 14: 0% (0 of 3)
Week 14 Thoughts:
-For all but 12 teams (the 10 teams in conference championships plus Army and Navy), the only game left to play is possibly a bowl. Can't believe we are here already.
-Let's start on the winless column. Akron lost badly to the Bobcats of Ohio University and finish the year 0-12, making them finish winless. They are the only team to finish on the list. Last year we had none.
-Biggest news of the week was probably Auburn defeating previous 1-loss Alabama. This effectively eliminates the Tide from contention for the Fiesta/Peach Bowls. They'll most likely play in either the Sugar Bowl or the Orange Bowl.
-The biggest beneficiary of that loss will be Oklahoma/Baylor/Utah. Now the only thing that can possibly keep all 3 of those out will be a Georgia victory over LSU. If LSU wins, regardless of what happens in the Ohio State and Clemson games, either the Big 12 or PAC-12 champ will be in.
-Looking at scenarios now, Clemson, Ohio State, and LSU are obviously all in with wins. Any one of them might also be in with a loss. LSU could probably afford it the most just because the loss would be to the team likely to be #4 this week, but I'd lean on Ohio State getting in with a loss too if not too bad. Clemson I'd think would be a nail-biter, but am really not sure.
-Between Utah and the Big 12 winner, this weeks committee rankings will tell a lot. Oklahoma might get a bit more credit for being Oklahoma State than Utah beating Colorado. If it's not enough to jump Utah this week, I'd lean against next week too, but how the games look will matter. If Utah or one of Oklahoma/Baylor blows out their opponent in the championship game, that might be enough to push them over the edge.
-For the Group of 5 Cotton Bowl bid, we saw Boise State pull out a win to secure their division and we saw Appalachian State with a high scoring victory. Both will be playing in championships and both will be watching the American Championship score. Our biggest news this past week was Memphis beating Cincinnati. They will now play again this week for the championship. If the Memphis wins again, they are going to the Cotton Bowl. If Cincinnati wins, then Boise State will almost certainly go with a win. If Boise State loses to Hawaii then it would come down to a 2-loss Cincinnati and a 1-loss Appalachian State. I would lean to the committee giving the edge to Cincinnati.
Week 15 Thoughts:
-Our undefeated teams play in the following: Undefeated LSU vs. 1-loss Georgia, undefeated Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, undefeated Clemson vs. Virginia
-Our 1-loss teams play in the following: 1-loss Oklahoma vs. 1-loss Baylor, Cincinnati @ 1-loss Memphis, 1-loss Utah vs. Oregon (Friday), Louisiana-Lafayette @ 1-loss Appalachian State, Hawaii @ 1-loss Boise State
-Thoughts on games:
MAC Championship: Miami (OH) vs. Central Michigan: Miami secured this spot a few weeks ago although limps in a bit after a 2 touchdown loss to Ball State. Central Michigan needed to beat Toledo last week and have Western Michigan lose and got both. I think Central Michigan will be favored here.
Conference USA Championship: UAB @ Florida Atlantic: Nice seeing UAB continue to do strong after their return to football. They won a 2 way tie atop their division with Louisiana Tech. Florida Atlantic won their division outright with their only conference loss to Marshall.
Sun Belt Championship: Louisiana-Lafayette @ 1-loss Appalachian State: Appalachian State is playing this game hoping for some luck and an outside shot at the Cotton Bowl (and really wishing to have the Thursday night Georgia Southern game back). Louisiana-Lafayette is coming into this game 10-2 though so this shouldn't be considered quite the gimme most will probably take it as.
Mountain West Championship: Hawaii @ 1-loss Boise State: The Broncos are once again in a prime spot for a major bowl. Hawaii, for their part, beat San Diego State 2 weeks ago which put them on top and gave them the tie breaker over the Aztecs and have improved a lot over the past year.
American Championship: Cincinnati @ 1-loss Memphis: Both teams are playing for the Cotton Bowl. Memphis just needs to win. Cincinnati probably needs a bit of help, but it will still help to look strong. This is the 2nd week in a row these two have played a game at Memphis.
ACC Championship: Virginia vs. undefeated Clemson: Virginia is probably in the Orange Bowl no matter what happens in this game (biggest competitors were Virginia Tech and Wake Forest who lost last week). They would, really, really like this title though. Clemson has looked like a different team since their near escape vs. North Carolina some time ago. They will want to roll through this and secure their (at worst) #3 seed.
Big Ten Championship: Wisconsin vs. undefeated Ohio State: For the buckeyes, it is not just if they win, but how they look in either a win or a loss. If they can get the #1 seed, it likely means no Clemson in the 1st bowl. Utah/Oklahoma/Baylor would all be strong too, but avoiding Clemson probably preferable. If they were to lose, they can probably still make it as long as they don't lose too badly. For Wisconsin, they are kicking themselves for the Illinois loss still which is what takes this away from being a game for a playoff bowl spot. Still, they are playing for the Rose Bowl here and will probably not get it with a loss (I'd lean to Penn State).
PAC-12 Championship: Oregon vs. 1-loss Utah: The Utes will probably be #5 going into this game and the most likely one to move into playoff bowl with a Georgia loss. They will want to leave nothing for question. Oregon, for their part, wants to rid themselves of the ghost of knowing they were so close to being in the same spot if not for the late loss vs. Arizona State. They are heading to the Rose Bowl with a win and a decent chance of doing the same with a loss.
Big 12 Championship: 1-loss Oklahoma vs. 1-loss Baylor: Both teams need a win to possibly get the playoff spot and both want to look impressive doing it. If winner gets it, the loser goes to the Sugar Bowl vs. an SEC team (likely Georgia or Alabama).
SEC Championship: Undefeated LSU vs. 1-loss Georgia: Winner is definitely in playoff bowl and LSU might be in regardless. LSU would like to look good enough in this to be #1 and avoid Clemson in the first round. Georgia has recovered nicely from the South Carolina loss and is looking very good again.
Remaining Undefeated Teams: ACC: 1, Big Ten: 1, SEC: 1, total: 3
Clemson
Ohio State
Louisiana State
1-loss Teams: ACC: 0, American: 1 Big 12: 2, Big Ten: 0, Mountain West: 1, PAC-12: 1, SEC: 1, Sun Belt: 1, total: 7
Utah
Georgia
Memphis
Boise State
Oklahoma
Appalachian State
Baylor
Remaining Winless Teams: MAC: 1, total: 1
Akron
