Six weeks ago, 134 FBS teams were undefeated. Beginning with Georgia Tech's stunning (at the time) upset of then-No. 10 Florida State way back on Aug. 24, that number dropped by the game. Now, as the calendar turns from September to October, the unbeaten ranks has shrunk to 19.
Knowing that the number will be a maximum of eight by Selection Sunday and one by the end of Championship Monday, now feels like the right time to acknowledge and celebrate the 18 that survived the season's first month unscathed.
American (2)
-- Army (4-0, 3-0 AAC): The Black Knights are sixth in the country in scoring defense at 10.6 points per game while leading the nation in rushing by 45 yards per game.
-- Navy (4-0, 3-0 AAC): Navy is averaging 46 points per game while ranking fifth in rushing (287.3 ypg), first in passing efficiency and first in yards per attempt. Through a third of the season, the Midshipmen's yards per attempt have exploded from 4.82 (119th in 2023) to 7.83 (fifth).
As I'm sure you've heard, Army and Navy are off to simultaneous 4-0 starts for the first time since 1945.
ACC (2)
-- Duke (5-0, 1-0 ACC): Last week, Duke was off to its first 4-0 start since 2023. But thanks to a 21-point comeback over North Carolina, Duke is now 5-0 for the first time since its 7-0 start in 1994. In fact, Duke had lost its fifth game after a 4-0 start five times in a row until Saturday. So, now the Blue Devils may never lose again.
-- Pitt (4-0, 0-0 ACC): It's early, but so far no coordinator hire has had a bigger impact than Kade Bell. Pitt scored an even 20 points a game last year; so far they're above 48.
-- Miami (5-0, 1-0 ACC): Like Duke, Miami also started 4-0 last season, but the Canes are now 5-0 for the first time since 2017. That season saw The U start 10-0 and play in the Orange Bowl. This year, the Orange Bowl is a College Football Playoff semifinal.
Big 12 (2)
-- BYU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12): BYU has cut its scoring defense nearly in half (29.8 points per game allowed in 2023; 15.8 in 2024) while chopping more than a yard and a half off per play (5.92 to 4.37). In fact, the 2024 Cougars have already held more opponents to 15 or below (four) than the 2023 team did all season (two).
-- Iowa State (4-0, 1-0 Big 12): Iowa State is 4-0 for the first time since 2000, having started 3-0 and losing Game 4 five times in the interim. Matt Campbell's team has scored 20 or 21 points three times in four games, but limited opponents to seven, three or zero three times in four games.
Big Ten (5)
-- Indiana (5-0, 2-0 B1G): How do we feel about ties? Indiana started 4-0-1 in 1990 and 5-0-1 in '88, but the last 5-0 start hasn't been enjoyed since 1967, which also happens to be the last time IU played in the Rose Bowl until visiting last month for a conference game. Coincidence? Yes. But either way, Ohio State is lucky they get the Hoosiers at home this season.
-- Ohio State (4-0, 1-0 B1G): Ohio State has not started 4-0 only three times since Urban Meyer's first season of 2012, so the Buckeye faithful will be impressed when the number gets to 13 or 14. But so far, so good: Ryan Day's team is in the top five nationally in scoring and yards per play offense and defense.
-- Oregon (4-0, 1-0 B1G): How good is this team? I have no idea, and I doubt they do either. We'll all find out Oct. 12 when Ohio State comes to Autzen.
-- Penn State (4-0, 1-0 B1G): Over the last two-plus seasons, Penn State is 0-4 against Michigan and Ohio State and 25-1 against everyone else. Like with Oregon, a visit from Ohio State will be the proving ground for the Nittany Lions.
-- Rutgers (4-0, 1-0 B1G): Rutgers is off to its best start since beginning 7-0 in 2012 and 9-0 in 2006. The last 4-0 start that Greg Schiano did not have direct or indirect involvement in? How about 1980, a 4-0 start that included wins over Princeton and Cornell.
C-USA (1)
-- Liberty (4-0, 2-0 C-USA): Liberty has won 16 straight regular season games, plus the 2023 C-USA championship. Fifteen of those wins have come by double digits.
Mountain West (1)
-- UNLV (4-0, 1-0 MW): UNLV is 4-0 for the first time since a 4-0 start to the 1976 seasons that saw wins over Montana, South Dakota, Weber State and Idaho State. Barry Odom's team defeated two Big 12 squads on the road and hammered MW challenger Fresno State with a newly-installed starting quarterback. The Rebels are sixth in the country in rushing at 283 yards per game.
SEC (4)
-- Alabama (4-0, 1-0 SEC): Last year was the first time Bama hadn't started 4-0 since 2015, and this year marks Kalen DeBoer's eighth 4-0 start in 10 years of coaching.
-- Missouri (4-0, 1-0 SEC): At eight games, Mizzou shares the nation's longest active winning streak with Army. Only one of those victories came in a true road game, and the Tigers go to Kyle Field on Saturday.
-- Tennessee (4-0, 1-0 SEC): Tennessee leads the nation in scoring (54 points per game) and is second in scoring defense (7.0). The Vols also lead in total defense and yards per play, while ranking in the top five in rushing and passing defense.
-- Texas (5-0, 1-0 SEC): Texas has literally lost an SEC game, in a conference that has existed since 1932. Why aren't more people talking about this objectively true fact?
In all seriousness, Texas is 5-0 in consecutive seasons for the second time since 1969-70. The Longhorns are second nationally in touchdown passes (17) and tied for first in touchdown passes allowed (1).
Sun Belt (1)
-- James Madison (4-0, 0-0 SBC): JMU is 4-0 for the fifth straight season, the longest streak in the nation. Overall, this program is 23-5 since joining FBS and 93-15 since Mike Houston's hiring in 2016.