Teams with 1st Loss Week 4:
Missouri
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Mississippi
Louisiana State
Kentucky
Texas Tech
Vanderbilt
East Carolina
Army
West Virginia
South Carolina
Troy
Georgia Southern
North Carolina State
Florida International
Texas Christian
Maximum number of Undefeated Teams at the End of the Regular Season:
13: The 10 conference champs (including conferences that have not yet started), plus Liberty, UMass, and BYU.
-This is an increase of 3 teams from last week. The Mountain West, PAC-12, MAC, and UMass announced they would all play. The Mountain West did not actually add a possible undefeated as Air Force was already possible.
Percent of Undefeateds with 1st Loss:
Week 1: 6.5% (5 of 77)
Week 2: 18.1% (13 of 72)
Week 3: 13.6% (8 of 59)
Week 4: 33.33% (17 of 51)
Week 4 Thoughts:
-We now everyone confirmed for a fall football season except independents UConn, New Mexico State, and Conference USA member Old Dominion. Old Dominion will probably have the hardest time coming back as it would be as a surprise independent, but we'll see if any of the last 3 change their minds. I am still going to leave the lists as they are until we get closer to everyone else getting back in as I think it's more interesting that way.
-Now that felt more like a full week of football this week. LSU's loss obviously bodes ill for last year's national champions, but for the SEC as a whole it is not a huge deal. It might matter somewhat for a 2nd Rose/Sugar spot though. With the Big 12 struggles and the late starts in the Big Ten/PAC-12, a 2nd SEC team is definitely a strong possibility this year if someone emerges as a top competitor for the spot.
-Oklahoma's loss was both surprising and completely in character. The last several years, they seem to always lose one they shouldn't in the Big 12, and yet someone then go on to win out and make the CFP bowls. This was really early for a loss though and we'll see. The Big 12's show outside of conference might end up hurting here and the national title players don't have as much margin for error now.
-Group of 5 NY6 race getting more interesting with the resume of play of Mountain West and MAC. Without non-conference play and with only 6 games, the MAC is likely no factor no matter what in the race unfortunately. The Mountain West will at least be in the conversation though. That said, the American champ will have a leg up. The Sun Belt continues to put it's hope on Louisiana-Lafayette who is now 3-0 (Coastal Carolina also undefeated) and Conference USA has 5 undefeateds. I think to have a shot now, the Conference USA/Sun Belt champ must be undefeated. With the late start, there is not a lot of margin for error in the Mountain West either.
Week 5 Thoughts:
We have games between undefeated teams. They are Louisiana Tech @ BYU (Friday), Texas A&M @ Alabama, North Carolina @ Boston College, Memphis @ SMU, Charlotte @ Florida Atlantic, Auburn @ Georgia, Virginia @ Clemson
Louisiana Tech @ BYU (Friday): Game big for both schools. BYU needs to go undefeated and look impressive doing it to get into a NY6 bowl. Their revised schedule is very different from their original and doesn't leave any margin for error. That said, they have looked very good so far. On the other side, if Conference USA wants the G5 NY6 spot, these limited non-conference games are ways to get a leg up and a win here would speak a lot.
Texas A&M @ Alabama: A win, but not a great start for the Aggies. This looks like it could be a beat down, but if A&M is going to succeed under Fisher, they need to start showing something.
Auburn @ Georgia: SEC very much alive for 2 CFP spots, although there is not much margin for error with 8 games. LSU obviously down. Who is going to compete strongest against Alabama this year and even if they lose, who can compete for 2nd spot?
Remaining Undefeated Teams: ACC: 8, American: 6, Big 12: 3, Conference USA: 5, SEC: 7, Sun Belt: 2, independents: 3, total: 34
Note: I am counting Air Force as an independent until I bring the Mountain West back to this list.
Boston College
Clemson
Miami (FL)
North Carolina
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Baylor
Oklahoma State
Texas
Texas A&M
Cincinnati
Pittsburgh
Marshall
Memphis
Central Florida
Houston
Rice
Southern Methodist
Air Force
Brigham Young
Florida
Georgia
Tennessee
Alabama
Auburn
Mississippi State
Florida Atlantic
Louisiana-Lafayette
Louisiana Tech
Notre Dame
Temple
UTSA
Coastal Carolina
Liberty
