Teams with 1st Loss Week 0/1:
San Jose State
Texas Christian
North Carolina State
Jacksonville State
Sacramento State
Hawaii
New Mexico State
UNLV
Rutgers
Akron
Georgia Tech
UAB
Stanford
UTEP
Fresno State
Eastern Michigan
Toledo
Ball State
Boise State
Texas State
North Texas
Clemson
East Carolina
Western Michigan
Marshall
Northern Illinois
Oregon State
Coastal Carolina
Ohio U.
Bowling Green
Liberty
Miami (OH)
Kent State
Baylor
Boston College
Tulane
Charlotte
Oklahoma State
Wyoming
Utah State
Arkansas State
Florida International
Sam Houston
Louisiana-Monroe
Florida Atlantic
Central Michigan
California
Western Kentucky
Washington State
Louisville
Wisconsin
Missouri State
Florida State
Percent with 1st Loss:
Week 0/1: 38.4% (53 of 138)
Maximium Number of Undefeated Teams at End of the Regular Season: 12
-For now assuming only one per conference even though possibilities exist of more. The champ of each conference plus Notre Dame and UConn.
Team 0 and 1 Thoughts:
-It is good to have college football back.
-I think the SEC had the best week 0/1. Every single SEC team won. In the bigger games, LSU looked dominant over Clemson, while Auburn beat Baylor by a point, and Ole Miss beat a ranked Louisville also in a close one.
-The Big Ten looks fine overall, but had to be a little disappointed in the weekend. Michigan needed a controversy and then a successful Hail Mary to beat Western Michigan. Meanwhile, Rutgers, while a huge favorite, got beat by a previously atrocious UMass, and Wisconsin couldn't handle Notre Dame. Oregon took a long time to put away Boise State, which could just be playing a decent opponent week 1, but could also be a little telling.
-The ACC's best win of the weeks was North Carolina win over TCU week 0. North Carolina is one of those teams that has under-performed their resources for a long time. With Belichick there, they can also gain a lot attention nationally if they start to look good (personally I thought the hire wouldn't work, but also thought people piled on too hard last year as success, if it was coming, was likely another year or two away). On the flip side, Georgia Tech lost at home to Colorado week 0. For the ranked teams: 1. Miami went to the west coast and demolished Stanford and looks like a national contender again (something the ACC very much wants). 2. Clemson did not look impressive at all vs. LSU and we are past the point we have to wonder if Dabo, for all his success, can successfully navigate the new realities in the sport. 3. Louisville had the one ranked vs. ranked game and came close to upsetting Ole Miss (would have been big for the conference), but still enters the season fine. 4. SMU won a close game vs. Florida State. This was a mixed blessing for the conference. Florida State being back would garner more attention and they do look better. SMU starting ranked and moving up is not bad though.
-The Big 12's best win was a surprise Colorado win over Georgia Tech week 0. Colorado rising some would be particularly valuable to the Big 12 given the attention it gives them with Coach Sanders. One game won't get back the initial hype, but if they keep winning it will start to return. TCU's loss the same week hurt a little, but the two mostly balance out in an ACC vs. Big 12 comparison (which will be made). In week 1, the ranked teams all won. Against other power 4 conference teams, Cincinnati beat Boston College and Baylor came up a bit short vs. Auburn. The most disappointing game was Oklahoma State falling to Tulsa.
-Notre Dame looks very much like a playoff team with a dominant win over Wisconsin to start.
-With the Group of 6 looking for the playoff spot, we definitely had some interesting developments. The MAC is down to 2 undefeated teams, but I think Western Michigan will get a lot of sympathy if it wins out. It was last years MAC Champion and it does have a game coming up hosting Boise State so that could be a very big deal.
-Boise State, for their part, had a close loss vs. Oregon and I think is the PAC-12's best bet to take the spot this year (although others contenders certainly there).
-I think the American, still with 8 undefeateds, is the one to beat again this year and Tulsa's win over Oklahoma State was nice for the conference to see off the bat.
The Mountain West is much changed this year, but did not have a bad start and I think has to be very happy with North Dakota State's transition to FBS. They killed a Jacksonville State team who had been competing for Conference USA Championships week 0. Nevada also had a surprisingly easy game vs. Western Kentucky.
The Sun Belt still has 10 undefeated teams although schedule a little less than normal is seemed for week 1. Louisiana Tech, in their first game as a conference member, put up 80 on Northwestern State.
Conference USA left the first weeks with 3 undefeated teams, but without an FBS win. I think right now it has the most uphill battle for the CFP, but it surprised last year and possibilities certainly remain.
Week 2 Thoughts:
-By my quick count, we have 23 games between undefeated FBS teams.
Undefeated Missouri at Undefeated Kansas (Friday): The Border War and one of the greatest casualties of conference realignment, this game drew a lot of emotion last year. Mizzou is a 5.5 point road favorite, but look for both teams to put everything in this game.
Undefeated Oklahoma at Undefeated Michigan and Undefeated Ohio State at Undefeated Texas: These schools always felt a little like mirrors of each other. In the Texas/Oklahoma and Ohio State/Michigan rivalries, the northern school traditionally recruited in the southern schools state quite heavily. The fanbase of Ohio State/Texas was always bigger, but the success of Michigan/Oklahoma was often more. Both pairs of schools were the biggest draws in the old Big Ten and Big 12. For this year, Ohio State vs. Texas is a top 4 match-up and both the winner and loser will still be favored to make the playoff. Going into the year, it is probably the nonconference game of the year. Texas is a slight home favorite (can't immediately recall last time Ohio State was the underdog). Meanwhile, Michigan would like to recover some from the close call and controversy last year and Oklahoma would like to return to the CFP this year. Oklahoma is a 5.5 point favorite.
Undefeated Memphis at Boise State: Huge American vs. PAC-12 game. If Boise State losses, they have two losses and one against a team from a conference they are likely competing for the playoff spot. Memphis is 2nd favorite to win the American. Boise State is the favorite to win the PAC-12. This game matters a lot to the CFP chase.
Undefeated Arizona State at Undefeated Texas A&M: Aggies are decent favorites, but Arizona State has surprised some last couple of years and a win would be big for Big 12 here.
Undefeated Alabama at Undefeated Kentucky: Kentucky is only a little over a 10 point underdog. Alabama probably takes this, but if the wildcats pull it off, expect panic in Alabama.
Undefeated Arizona at Undefeated BYU: BYU is 2nd favorite to win the Big 12. Should be a good one to watch to see how the early conference race shapes up in a conference that is probably the most open to anyone winning it.
Undefeated Tennessee at Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech lost to Colorado, but taking out Tennessee would more than make up for the loss.
Undefeated Iowa State at Undefeated Iowa: Seems odds to see Iowa favored by 2 touchdowns. Rivalry has been close a lot.
Undefeated Arkansas at Undefeated Utah: Another good SEC vs. Big 12 battle.
Rutgers at Boston College (Friday): Probably two now favored to the bottom of their conferences. Win for either would definitely help in this Friday game.
Undefeated Appalachian State at East Carolina: This game would definitely help the Sun Belt against the American for the CFP spot if App State can pull off the upset.
Undefeated UCF vs. Undefeated Pitt: These Big 12 vs. ACC games can slowly help determine the perceived difference in strength between the Big 12 and ACC.
Undefeated Duke at Undefeated Illinois: Winner of this goes into conference play with decent expectations.
Undefeated Maryland at Undefeated UConn: It is possible (with several different arguments admittedly) that this is independent UConn's toughest game.
UNLV at North Texas: I always paid a little attention to the American vs. Mountain West games the last few years as they were the conference's with the best chances at the CFP. That's more complex now, but still worth noting. UNLV is a small favorite.
Undefeated Kennesaw State at Undefeated Georgia State and Undefeated Middle Tennessee at Marshall: Conference USA teams favored in both of these and games are very important for conference's CFP hopes. I think Conference USA probably needs an undefeated team more than anyone else right now to get to the playoff (that can easily change, but for now).
Undefeated San Diego State at Undefeated UCLA: Southern California battle. Would definitely be a feather in new PAC-12's cap to see their new southern California team knock out one of their old ones.
Undefeated North Dakota State at Undefeated Air Force: Battle of undefeated teams in Mountain West. Big test for transitioning North Dakota State who is a small favorite.
Note Below: Team listed in order of conferences from around time I started this list to myself. Know a bit annoying, but like that little nod to the past.
Remaining Undefeated Teams: ACC: 9, American: 8, Big 12: 13, Big Ten: 16, Conference USA: 3, MAC: 2, Mountain West: 4, PAC-12: 2, SEC: 16, Sun Belt: 10, independents: 2, total: 85
Maryland
Wake Forest
Duke
Miami (FL)
North Carolina
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Colorado
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
Missouri
Nebraska
Oklahoma
Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
Cincinnati
Connecticut
Pittsburgh
South Florida
Syracuse
West Virginia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Memphis
Southern Mississippi
Central Florida
Houston
Rice
Southern Methodist
Tulsa
Buffalo
Air Force
Brigham Young
Colorado State
New Mexico
San Diego State
Utah
Arizona
Arizona State
Oregon
Southern California
UCLA
Washington
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
Louisiana State
Mississippi State
Mississippi
Louisiana-Lafayette
Middle Tennessee
Troy
Louisiana Tech
Nevada
Army
Navy
Notre Dame
Temple
Massachusetts
South Alabama
UTSA
Georgia State
Appalachian State
Georgia Southern
Old Dominion
James Madison
Kennesaw State
Delaware
North Dakota State
