CFB - Seven (7) Unbeaten teams remain - Will any fall this weekend?
Air Force fell to Army so the ranks of the unblemished has been reduced to seven (7) teams.
Which team(s), if any, will fall from the ranks of the unbeaten this weekend? Here’s the list – and their opponent. The unbeatens are bolded with the teams' AP ranking in parentheses.
- Georgia (1) hosting Ole Miss (10) - Game Day will be in Athens
- Michigan (2) at Penn State (9) - Big Noon will be in State College
- Ohio State (3) hosting Michigan State
- Florida State (4) hosting Miami
- Washington (5) hosting Utah (13)
- James Madison (21) hosting UConn
- Liberty (25) hosting Old Dominion
Since inquiring minds want to know – specifically, who else is on the schedule, the above noted unbeatens and their remaining regular season opponents follow:
- Georgia: Ole Miss (10), at Tennessee (14), and at Georgia Tech.
- Michigan: at Penn State (9), at Maryland, and Ohio State (3).
- Ohio State: Michigan State, Minnesota, and at Michigan (2).
- Florida State: Miami, North Alabama, and at Florida.
- Washington: Utah (13), at Oregon State (12), and Washington State.
- James Madison: UConn, Appalachian State, and at Coastal Carolina.
- Liberty: Old Dominion, UMass, and at UTEP.
November 6th, 2023 at 9:26 AM ^
I would say most likely to lose this week is Washington vs Utah. If GA beats Ole Miss (which is expected), I think they jump OSU.
Disclaimer: I have no idea about James Madison and Liberty.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:14 AM ^
Georgia and Washington both lose.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:51 AM ^
OSU will lose.
November 6th, 2023 at 12:25 PM ^
Utah is always dangerous. Outside Harbaugh, Whittingham is my next favorite coach in the country.
November 6th, 2023 at 1:47 PM ^
James Madison is a winner. Every week someone picks JMU to lose but they don't. They know what they are doing down in Harrisonburg and aren't even eligible for a D1 bowl game this year if I recall.
November 6th, 2023 at 9:29 AM ^
OSU gonna lose. Sparty on a roll.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:09 AM ^
+31
Will be interesting to see how Carter runs against them though.
November 6th, 2023 at 9:32 AM ^
I can't believe I am rooting for Miami (YTM).
November 6th, 2023 at 10:02 AM ^
Why would you do that? If FSU loses that only increases Ohio States chances of sneaking into the playoffs with a loss to UM and no conference championship yet again.
If you want OSU to get left out of the playoff (and you should), you should be rooting for at least two of FSU, Texas and Washington (or Oregon) to win out.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:13 AM ^
I generally root for chaos (except for Michigan games). Thank you for your counsel, but my "should be rooting for" choices seem a bit different than yours, and I am OK with that.
I am rooting for Texas to win out (except for any matchup with Michigan), but that is because of a pretty girl I know who went there. She's more chatty when the Longhorns are winning.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:42 AM ^
I want Ohio to get in and play Michigan for the title and I want to smash Honda McCord again.
I am very confident in the outcomes against McCord.
I want to beat them twice and effectively twice for two championships.
And I want Ryan Day to continue to make it hard for Ohio to fire him. I am confident that program is very very slowly eroding to a level below Michigan and I want it to stay there.
I will always root against them.
But it's an S&M fantasy to whip them twice. This is the year to do it!
November 6th, 2023 at 11:44 AM ^
Good point. Let FSU run the table. No way the Buckeyes get in the backdoor this year, assuming Michigan also runs the table.
November 6th, 2023 at 2:36 PM ^
I don't think osu sneaks in this year...
1.Michigan
2. SEC champ (UGA or Bama)
3. FSU
4. PAC champ (undefeated UW or 1-loss Oregon)
November 6th, 2023 at 9:38 AM ^
I think my teeth are going to be clenched for a while during the Michigan PSU game. I have massive faith that our men will pull through, but they have yet to see a defense remotely in the realm of PSU's. However, I know the defense will be focused and lockdown Drew "I-don't-know-what-'Beyond the Sticks'-means" Allar and their semi-anemic run game. The offense will make the necessary adjustments and take a close one into a blow out.
November 6th, 2023 at 9:42 AM ^
This will be the most informative game as to how the season will wrap up. I see psu as very close to osu, with the primary difference in their game earlier being Harrison and osu’s home field advantage. If we win this game I think we have the season wrapped up.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:09 AM ^
If our rungame is "OK" against Purdue at home, we're going to have a rough time in Happy Valley. The game will be a grind. I still think Michigan will win, but it will not be a cakewalk.
That said, (so far) this Michigan team has played better on the road than any we have ever seen in the past. It's been remarkable. Maybe this game offers the evidence to solidify that statement.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:13 AM ^
JJ's zone reads were obviously turned off. I don't think he crossed the LOS once against Purdue. At this point we all know how much of a difference that makes to a run game.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:38 AM ^
IIRC - he did run / improvise on at least one play - and picked up a few yards.
November 6th, 2023 at 12:52 PM ^
He did. Ran up the middle and dove headfirst to pick up around 4.
November 6th, 2023 at 1:29 PM ^
Manny Diaz loves to blitz frequently (Don Brown approves). It can create some chaos for the offense, but it can also leave opportunities for plays to be made if it does not get home. If we can hold their offense in check, it might just take a couple of big plays to pull that game out.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:43 AM ^
I disagree with the season being wrapped up. OSU will be a large challenge with Henderson back and running well and Egbuca back and presumably getting back into all B1G form.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:06 AM ^
I think one stays close throughout. I don't think we move and score on their D like we have other teams.. that said, we probably don't need more than 21 to beat their shitty ass offense.
21 - 13 Michigan
November 6th, 2023 at 10:15 AM ^
I have completely emerged from the pre-2021 BPONE.
This will be the first game where we see the fully optimized and actualized 2023 offense...with JJ keeping the ball on reads...more play action...more creativity in the run game...etc.
Even with some of the offense staying in the barn, we've blown everyone out. This is unlike in 2021 and 2022, when the team did struggle against at least a few mediocre teams.
On defense, they'll vary things up to confuse and confound PSU's inexperienced QB.
30ish to 10ish.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:10 AM ^
I agree. If our game was at night I'd be a bit more concerned, but in a nooner I think we might just blow them out too.
November 6th, 2023 at 12:52 PM ^
I've left the BPONE too, but our run game has not looked elite like the last two years. PSU's defense is legit and as good as JJ has been we cannot be a one-dimensional offense on the road.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:00 AM ^
Never thought I'd say this...but go sparty....
I feel dirty.
Edit: Which, I have to wonder...if osu loses to msu, would that be a bad enough loss to knock them out of the top 6?
I know, I know...I'm living in fantasy land, but just go with it...
November 6th, 2023 at 11:08 AM ^
I would have to think a loss to Sparty would be the worst loss among all one-loss teams, and it wouldn't even be close.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:23 AM ^
That's what I was thinking and quite honestly as much as the meteor is looking better and better, but a one loss osu to sparty would be so delicious.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:01 AM ^
What are the tie breakers if M loses to PSU but defeats MD and #2 OSU. Who would win the B1G with 3 teams with one loss?
November 6th, 2023 at 10:05 AM ^
I think it comes down to the three teams Western division opponents' records which would almost certainly NOT favor Michigan. Nebraska choking away those games against Minnesota and Michigan State due to turnovers might cost UM a chance at a Big Ten title (assuming your scenario comes to fruition).
November 6th, 2023 at 10:03 AM ^
OSU v Sparty is this week's Meteor Game.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:09 AM ^
JB, if you don’t mind.
The addition of a meteor game to the weekly schedule of games could be fun. I’ll borrow that idea..
November 6th, 2023 at 10:29 AM ^
NB, meteor games should be as common an occurrence as actual meteors hitting the earth, so use it at your cautious discretion.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:07 AM ^
Well, we're the lowest spread at -4.5. But I think we win.
Could see pesky Utah giving Washington a game.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:11 AM ^
I'd think Washington goes down to Utah if this was on the road; they've been playing with fire a bit too much recently and while I don't love Utah's offense they can grind UW defensively. But at home they may just pull it out.
Miami isn't that far off from FSU in terms of talent but they're just so much worse coached that that'll be the difference.
Michigan should win at PSU but it'll be tight. I don't buy the Nittany Lions offensively and Franklin seems a bit shook the past couple of weeks against teams with a pulse (so not Maryland).
James Madison and Liberty are locks to win those games, even if ODU has some fight in them.
OSU is going to murder MSU and it'll be gross, but if Sparty wants to pull something out of their hats by all means.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:19 AM ^
I like Utah this week. Good program.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:24 AM ^
2 teams go down this week. Don't know which 2. But there will only be 5 next week.
I think Washington is my safest bet to lose this week out of the 7
November 6th, 2023 at 10:29 AM ^
I'd say Washington is in trouble. Utah is clicking right now, and they actually play defense.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:35 AM ^
Miami might have a shot. FSU is kind of hot and cold and so is Miami. It could happen if FSU is blah again and Miami plays well
Utah's got a good shot. Good defense and UW's defense stinks - then again Oregon's offense torched Utah at home so maybe not
November 6th, 2023 at 10:40 AM ^
Ole Miss could give Georgia some problems.
I'm betting MSU is up at halftime against OSU, which seems like that happens with most of OSU games. If MSU can convert some field goals into TD's, I can see an upset happening. MSU has nothing to play for, and that program is desperate for a good win. OSU is looking ahead to our game.
November 6th, 2023 at 11:58 AM ^
I watched Ole Miss against LSU and they don’t play any defense. It’s going to be a very tall task for them to beat Georgia.
Maybe *MAYBE* Tennessee could pull it out next week but I don’t have much faith in Ole Miss.
November 6th, 2023 at 10:58 AM ^
More interesting impact to me is the AF loss... an undefeated AF definitely gets the P5 guarantee big money bowl game. With them losing, who's the most likely? Undefeated Liberty? 1 loss Tulane? A 3-loss Notre Dame? 1-loss AF / Fresno MWC champ?
November 6th, 2023 at 11:10 AM ^
I certainly hope it's not a three (or more) loss ND. What is ND's best win this season?
Is it their win over a three loss Southern Cal, a three loss Duke, a three loss NC State - or a four loss Clemson. Oops - they lost to Clemson - who, by the way - is in 10th place in the ACC.
Maybe their best game was one of their other losses - to OSU or Louisville?
November 6th, 2023 at 11:51 AM ^
Okay, I know my fellow Michigan fans have been traumatized by the "extraneous" events of the past several weeks. However, it is sadly humorous to read the comments and note that, while Michigan is likely among the top of the list of possibilities here, any suggestion is being avoided like the plague. It remains okay to be truthful to ones self in this regard-and the world will not end should our beloved boys get beat. Georgia, Michigan and Washington hold the greatest risk of being knocked off.
November 6th, 2023 at 1:03 PM ^
Using AP rankings-I approve. I’ll put Penix on undefeated watch. It would be hilarious if MSU won but don’t see how that happens.
November 6th, 2023 at 6:20 PM ^
Only for sure is that there will be no more than 6 at the end of the regular season.