Feast or Famine: A closer look at every unbeaten FBS team … and every winless team

And then there were 13.

Or, then there was one.

Perspective is everything.

And as college football has widely crossed the midpoint of its season, with numerous teams at six games played and even outlier or two with seven contests completed, 13 teams remain undefeated at the Football Bowls Subdivision level.

Only Nevada remains winless at the FBS level. The Wolf Pack have lost to Power-5 foes Southern Cal and Kansas, as well as FBS teams Fresno State and Texas State, plus FCS powerhouse Idaho. They host UNLV this week. Ken Wilson's squad's best shot at notching wins appear to be games vs New Mexico and Hawaii and perhaps at Utah State or Colorado State. 

Eleven of the 13 teams left undefeated hail from Power 5 Conferences, but only one is from the Southeastern Conference: two-time defending national champion Georgia. Kirby Smart's team will look to finish the regular season unbeaten; but still have Florida, Missouri and Ole Miss in Athens and have to go to Neyland and close out the regular season with the oft-challenging Georgia Tech game. 

The Atlantic Coast Conference has Florida State, Louisville and North Carolina.

FSU's most challenging remaining games figure to be vs Duke, vs Miami and at Florida. Louisiville's challenges appear to be vs Duke, at Miami and the finale vs Kentucky. North Carolina has a more challenging road with contests vs Miami and Duke and at Georgia Tech, Clemson and NC State. 

The Big Ten brings Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State to the table.

Michigan plays at Penn State November 11th and hosts Ohio State in the finale. Ohio State still has Penn State at home and has to travel for their games at Wisconsin and Michigan. Penn State travels to Ohio State and Maryland (who knows what might happen) and has Michigan at home followed by Rutgers who might put up a fight as well. A lot of football to be played in the Big Ten. 

The Big 12 boasts Oklahoma. The Sooners unbeaten status will be challenged often. Coming off of their emotional victory over Texas, this weekend UCF comes to Norman. Then the Sooners have to travel to Lawrence, Kansas to take on Lance Leipold's squad. Bedlam is in Stillwater. West Virginia still has to come to town before the Sooners close it out at BYU and vs TCU. Will be stunning and extremely impressive is this Oklahoma team runs that gauntlet. 

Still considered in a transition stage as it moves up rather seamlessly from Football Championship Subdivision powerhouse to successful FBS program, James Madison is 5-0 on the season as it continues becoming a full-time member of the Sun Belt Conference. The Dukes still have several remaining games of high difficulty remaining; they host Georgia Southern this week and are at Marshall the following Thursday. Additional contests of note are against Old Dominion, Georgia State, Appalachian State and Coastal Carolina. 

Because it is still a transition year for JMU, it does not appear in the NCAA statistics for best team winning percentage. 

And the PAC-12, college football’s clear top collection of teams midway through this 2023 season, has Oregon, Southern Cal and Washington. Oregon is at Washington this weekend and still has Washington State, Utah, USC and Oregon State to go amongst others. USC has no defense and still has to play at Notre Dame, vs Utah, Washington, at Oregon and vs UCLA among other games. Washington's path is equally challenging with remaining games vs Oregon, at USC, vs Utah, at Oregon State and vs Wazzu to close it out (among other games as well). 

The Group of 5 programs are Air Force and Liberty. Air Force has a big one this weekend when they host Wyoming. They still have Navy and Army plus they close the season with UNLV and Boise State. If Air Force were to finish undefeated that would likely be deserving of a very strong ranking. Liberty's path to undefeated won't be easy; but their remaining schedule isn't going to frighten anyone. Their likely most challenging games will be this weekend at Jacksonville State, at Western Kentucky and vs Old Dominion. Jamey Chadwell is going to stack wins in year 1. 

The list of perfect teams is guaranteed to shrink by at least one this week: Oregon visits Washington Saturday at 3:30 p.m.