Taking stock of college football's 10 undefeated teams
We knew there last week would be madness, but none of us knew it'd be that crazy. Both Mississippi schools pulled off upsets. TCU shocked Oklahoma, and Arizona did the same to Oregon. And that was just the undefeated vs. undefeated games. BYU fell to Utah State, UCLA lost to Utah, while Notre Dame survived Stanford at the last second.
Georgia Tech is still here, and Alabama, and Oregon, and Oklahoma, and UCLA, and the entire Big Ten aren't. Who saw that coming?
More carnage awaits this week, where a maximum of eight undefeated teams will remain by Sunday morning.
The maximum number of undefeated teams the schedule allows by season's end is six, but history tells us the final number will be much closer to one or zero.
ACC
Florida State: 5-0
Next game: at Syracuse (noon ET, ESPN)
Best chance for a loss: vs. Notre Dame (Oct. 18)
Prognosis: The 43-3 final looked good, but this game was 3-0 Wake Forest through one quarter, and a one-score game for the first 29:57. While last year's team were demolition experts, blowing their opponents to bits every week, this year's team have gotten good at tightrope walking.
Georgia Tech: 5-0
Next game: vs. Duke (12:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network)
Best chance for a loss: vs. Duke
Prognosis: There are 10 undefeated teams remaining in FBS, and one that has yet to win a game by 20 points - this one. Each of the next five games are imminently winnable, and also imminently losable.
Big 12
Baylor: 5-0
Next game: vs. TCU (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Best chance for a loss: vs. TCU
Prognosis: Baylor hasn't allowed an opponent to come within 21 points, but I think I'd take TCU if this game was played in a neutral site - Hillsboro makes sense. Playing in McLane Stadium severely tilts this game in the Bears' favor, tough.
TCU: 4-0
Next game: at Baylor (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Best chance for a loss: at Baylor
Prognosis: The biggest game in the state of Texas on a day where Texas plays Oklahoma and Texas A&M hosts third-ranked Ole Miss, a TCU win means the Frogs face seven games - not easy by any means - where they will be favored by seven points or more. Win this game and the finish line is in site. Gary Patterson won't acknowledge it, but it's true.
Conference USA
Marshall: 5-0
Next game: vs. Middle Tennessee (noon ET, Fox Sports Net)
Best chance for a loss: vs. Western Kentucky (Nov. 28)
Prognosis: Marshall's best asset for a 12-0 season? Not Rakeem Cato - though he certainly helps - but a defense that hasn't allowed more than 17 points since Aug. 30 and ranks eighth nationally in yards per play allowed.
Independents
Notre Dame: 5-0
Next game: vs. North Carolina (3:30 p.m. ET, NBC)
Best chance for a loss: at Florida State (Oct. 18)
Prognosis: We are now to the point in the season where Notre Dame only has two home games remaining after Saturday. By the way, did you know Everett Golson is 10-0 at Notre Dame Stadium? Moving to 11-0 sets Notre Dame up with an absolutely massive game in Tallahassee next week.
Pac-12
Arizona: 5-0
Next game: vs. USC (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
Best chance for a loss: vs. USC
Prognosis: The same team that barely survived UTSA and needed a miracle to beat Cal went into Autzen Stadium and pushed the Ducks around. Every week is a new season. Which means Arizona needs to put Oregon behind them and give USC their best effort. The Wildcats haven't been great at that, turning last year's 41-16 win over Oregon into a 55-21 loss to Arizona State the next week.
SEC
Auburn: 5-0
Next game: at Mississippi State (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
Best chance for a loss: at Mississippi State
Prognosis: The winner of this game asserts rises above the muck and asserts itself as the clear cut favorite in the SEC race, right?
Mississippi State: 5-0
Next game: vs. Auburn (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
Best chance for a loss: vs. Auburn
Prognosis: The team that beat Texas A&M and LSU can beat anyone in the country. Beat the Tigers, and Mississippi State gets Kentucky, Arkansas and UT-Martin before heading to Tuscaloosa on Nov. 15. I can't wait for this game.
Ole Miss: 5-0
Next game: at Texas A&M (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Best chance for a loss: at Texas A&M
Prognosis: Defense travels, and Ole Miss will need to bring its to College Station. Get through this hurdle, the only true road games left on the slate are at LSU and Arkansas. Not easy, but those are the sixth- and seventh-best teams in the SEC West, which means Auburn and Mississippi State (plus Tennessee and Presbyterian) must come to Vaught-Hemmingway. Ross Bjork may need to pre-order some new goal posts.
