NCAAF · 1 year ago

2024 College Football Teams Targeting Unbeaten Runs: Who Can Win Out?

Grant White

Host · Writer

Texas Longhorns
Remaining Schedule: Week 7 @ Oklahoma, Week 8 vs. Georgia, Week 9 @ Vanderbilt, Week 11 vs. Florida, Week 12 @ Arkansas, Week 13 vs. Kentucky, Week 14 @ Texas A&M

It took too long for the Texas Longhorns to get the respect they deserve, and we expect them to play with a chip on their shoulder the rest of the way. Texas has manhandled its opponents thus far, putting together an explosive offense and one of the best defenses in the country. They can wield that to their advantage with key matchups in Week 7 against the Oklahoma Sooners, Week 8 against the Georgia Bulldogs, and Week 14 versus the Texas A&M Aggies.
James Madison Dukes
Remaining Schedule: Week 8 @ Georgia Southern, Week 9 vs. Southern Miss, Week 11 vs. Georgia State, Week 12 @ Old Dominion, Week 13 @ Appalachian State, Week 14 vs. Marshall

Some love for the Group of 5 powerhouse James Madison Dukes. Up until last week, the Dukes had a conceivable path to a playoff spot. But after Week 6's 21-19 defeat to the UL Monroe Warhawks as -16.5-point chalk, the best JMU can hope for is a more prestigious bowl game. We're anticipating exactly that as they cruise to the end of the season.

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Memphis Tigers
Remaining Schedule: Week 7 @ South Florida, Week 8 vs. North Texas, Week 9 vs. Charlotte, Week 10 @ UTSA, Week 11 vs. Rice, Week 12 vs. UAB, Week 14 @ Tulane

A humbling defeat at the hands of the Navy Midshipmen is the only blemish on the Memphis Tigers' record. Still, they have an outside shot to claim a playoff berth with some help from the UNLV Rebels. Of course, that's assuming they can make their way to the end of the season without another defeat, which is a tangible outcome considering the Tigers' upcoming schedule.

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Clemson Tigers
Remaining Schedule: Week 7 @ Wake Forest, Week 8 vs. Virginia, Week 10 vs. Louisville, Week 11 @ V-Tech, Week 12 @ Pittsburgh, Week 13 vs. Citadel, Week 14 vs. South Carolina

Not much was made of the Clemson Tigers' chances in the ACC this year. Yet here we are nearly halfway through the season and Clemson appears to be the class of the conference. Their biggest test comes in Week 12's clash versus the surprising Pittsburgh Panthers, but we give the edge to the Tigers' fighting their way to an 11-1 record.

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Iowa State Cyclones
Remaining Schedule: Week 7 @ West Virginia, Week 8 vs. UCF, Week 10 vs. Texas Tech, Week 11 @ Kansas, Week 12 vs. Cincinnati, Week 13 @ Utah, Week 14 vs. Kansas State

The Iowa State Cyclones' path to an unbeaten record isn't without traps. The playoff hopefuls face top-tier talent in Weeks 7, 10, and 13, taking on the best the Big 12 has to offer. Nevertheless, Iowa State's defense has been up to the task and we expect them to prevail as the unsuspecting top seed in the conference.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Remaining Schedule: Week 7 @ USC, Week 9 @ Wisconsin, Week 10 vs. Ohio State, Week 11 vs. Washington, Week 12 @ Purdue, Week 13 @ Minnesota, Week 14 vs. Maryland

Of all the Big Ten teams, the Penn State Nittany Lions have the most unobstructed path the rest of the way, but they can't look past their upcoming showdown versus the USC Trojans. More dauntingly, they host the mighty Ohio State Buckeyes in Week 10, but an unrelenting home crowd gives them an inside edge in fighting their way to victory.
Liberty Flames
Remaining Schedule: Week 9 @ Kennesaw State, Week 10 vs. Jacksonville State, Week 11 @ Middle Tennessee, Week 12 @ UMass, Week 13 vs. Western Kentucky, Week 14 @ Sam Houston

The Liberty Flames narrowly escaped with a win in Tuesday night's Conference USA battle versus the FIU Panthers. However, a come-from-behind overtime win maintained their perfect record. The rest of the schedule appears academic, but the Flames can't take a resilient Sam Houston Bearkats side for granted in the last week of the regular season.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Remaining Schedule: Week 7 vs. Stanford, Week 8 @ Georgia Tech, Week 9 @ Navy, Week 11 vs. Florida State, Week 12 vs. Virginia, Week 13 vs. Army, Week 14 @ USC

One loss was the most the Notre Dame Fighting Irish could soak while still maintaining their playoff ambitions. And they reached that benchmark in Week 2's loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies. Now, they have no choice but to run through the rest of their schedule undefeated if they want to be included in the 12-team field. In all likelihood, it will come down to the regular season finale versus the USC Trojans but we like Notre Dame's chances of prevailing.
Boise State Spartans
Remaining Schedule: Week 7 @ Hawaii, Week 9 @ UNLV, Week 10 vs. San Diego State, Week 11 vs. Nevada, Week 12 @ San Jose State, Week 13 @ Wyoming, Week 14 vs. Oregon State

Once again, the Boise State Broncos have proven to be the best in the Mountain West Conference and the pre-eminent Group of 5 power. They gave the now third-ranked Oregon Ducks all they could handle, making the rest of their schedule look like child's play. Circle Week 9's rematch of last year's MWC Championship Game versus the UNLV Rebels as Boise State's toughest challenge the rest of the way.
Washington State Cougars
Remaining Schedule: Week 7 @ Fresno State, Week 8 vs. Hawaii, Week 9 @ San Diego State, Week 11 vs. Utah State, Week 12 @ New Mexico, Week 13 @ Oregon State, Week 14 @ Wyoming

The Washington State Cougars aren't getting enough credit for their early-season success. Nevertheless, we expect them to pick up momentum before the end of the campaign. No disrespect to the rest of the competition, but a Pac-12 showdown between the Cougars and Oregon State Beavers is all that stands between them and a perfect end to the season.
Texas Longhorns
Remaining Schedule: Week 7 @ Oklahoma, Week 8 vs. Georgia, Week 9 @ Vanderbilt, Week 11 vs. Florida, Week 12 @ Arkansas, Week 13 vs. Kentucky, Week 14 @ Texas A&M

It took too long for the Texas Longhorns to get the respect they deserve, and we expect them to play with a chip on their shoulder the rest of the way. Texas has manhandled its opponents thus far, putting together an explosive offense and one of the best defenses in the country. They can wield that to their advantage with key matchups in Week 7 against the Oklahoma Sooners, Week 8 against the Georgia Bulldogs, and Week 14 versus the Texas A&M Aggies.
James Madison Dukes
Remaining Schedule: Week 8 @ Georgia Southern, Week 9 vs. Southern Miss, Week 11 vs. Georgia State, Week 12 @ Old Dominion, Week 13 @ Appalachian State, Week 14 vs. Marshall

Some love for the Group of 5 powerhouse James Madison Dukes. Up until last week, the Dukes had a conceivable path to a playoff spot. But after Week 6's 21-19 defeat to the UL Monroe Warhawks as -16.5-point chalk, the best JMU can hope for is a more prestigious bowl game. We're anticipating exactly that as they cruise to the end of the season.

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