NCAAF · 20 minutes ago

Predicting the 1st Loss for All 15 Undefeated College Football Teams Heading Into Week 6

Grant White

Host · Writer

Sun Belt: James Madison Dukes
James Madison Dukes Team Profile
- Head Coach: Billy Napier (1st Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Cam Aiken
- Defensive Coordinator: Robert Bala
- Conference: Sun Belt
- Location: Harrisonburg, Virginia
- 2026 Record: 5-0 (2-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: NR
Could they do it twice in a row? JMU doesn't appear to have a losable game in the regular season. That could mean another CFP berth come December.

Predicted First Loss: CFP First-Round
Big Ten: Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers Team Profile
- Head Coach: Curt Cignetti (3rd Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Mike Shanahan
- Defensive Coordinator: Bryant Haines
- Conference: Big Ten
- Location: Bloomington, Indiana
- Stadium: Memorial Stadium
- 2026 Record: 5-0 (2-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: No. 7
Indiana has yet to be tested. We're anticipating more humble showings in the middle of October.

Predicted First Loss: Week 7 vs Ohio State
Big Ten: UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins Team Profile
- Head Coach: Bob Chesney (1st Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Dean Kennedy
- Defensive Coordinator: Colin Hitschler
- Location: Pasadena, California
- Stadium: Rose Bowl
- 2026 Record: 4-0 (2-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: 21
Like their SoCal counterparts, UCLA is getting by on offensive ability mostly. They are no match for the top teams in the conference.

Predicted First Loss: Week 6 @ Oregon
Big Ten: Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Team Profile
- Head Coach: Matt Rhule (4th Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Dana Holgorsen
- Defensive Coordinator: Rob Aurich
- Conference: Big Ten
- Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
- 2026 Record: 5-0 (2-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: NR
Matt Rhule is slowly building Nebraska into its former reputation. Still, there's a way to go.

Predicted First Loss: Week 6 vs Indiana
SEC: Texas Longhorns
Texas Longhorns Team Profile
- Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian (6th Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Kyle Flood
- Defensive Coordinator: Will Muschamp
- Conference: SEC
- Location: Austin, Texas
- 2026 Record: 4-0 (1-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: No. 1
Texas is overvalued but also has a very winnable schedule through November. We predict they get stymied in Death Valley.

Predicted First Loss: Week 10 @LSU
SEC: Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama Crimson Tide Team Profile
- Head Coach: Kalen DeBoer (3rd Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Ryan Grubb
- Defensive Coordinator: Kane Wommack
- Conference: SEC
- Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- 2026 Record: 5-0 (3-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: No. 6
Alabama survived an early-season test in Week 5, but its marquee test of the season comes at home on Saturday. We don't think the Crimson Tide survives.

Predicted First Loss: Week 6 vs Georgia
SEC: Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Bulldogs Team Profile
- Head Coach: Kirby Smart (11th Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Mike Bobo
- Defensive Coordinator: Glenn Schumann
- Conference: SEC
- Location: Athens, Georgia
- 2026 Record: 5-0 (3-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: No. 2
Georgia is still in National Championship mode. An SEC Championship Game is in their future, albeit with one loss incurred.

Predicted First Loss: Week 10 @ Ole Miss
Independent: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Team Profile
- Head Coach: Marcus Freeman (4th Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Mike Denbrock
- Defensive Coordinator: Chris Ash
- Conference: Independent
- Location: Notre Dame, Indiana
- 2026 Record: 5-0
- AP Top 25 Ranking: No. 3
We could very well see another perfect season in 2026-27. Notre Dame runs through the regular season before losing a heartbreaker in the National Championship.

Predicted First Loss: CFP National Championship
ACC: Miami Hurricanes
Miami Hurricanes Team Profile
- Head Coach: Mario Cristobal (5th Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Shannon Dawson
- Defensive Coordinator: Corey Hetherman
- Conference: ACC
- Location: Coral Gables, Miami, Florida
- 2026 Record: 5-0 (3-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: No. 4
Miami is playing with a chip on its shoulder. A perfect season is out of reach, but the Hurricanes are National Championship contenders.

Predicted First Loss: Week 10 @ Notre Dame
ACC: Pittsburgh Panthers
Pittsburgh Panthers Team Profile
- Head Coach: Pat Narduzzi (12th Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Kade Bell
- Defensive Coordinator: Cory Sanders
- Conference: ACC
- Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- 2026 Record: 5-0 (2-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: 25
Pitt emerged victorious in Week 5, setting the stage for a potential 7-0 start to the season. Still, they are a few steps behind Miami.

Predicted First Loss: Week 8 @ Miami
ACC: Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils Team Profile
- Head Coach: Manny Diaz (3rd Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Jonathan Brewer
- Defensive Coordinator: Jonathan Patke
- Conference: ACC
- Location: Durham, North Carolina
- Stadium: Wallace Wade Stadium
- 2026 Record: 4-0 (1-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: NR
Things are coming together for the Duke Blue Devils, and they'll contend for a spot in the ACC Championship. If their only loss comes versus Miami, they will also be in the playoff conversation.

Predicted First Loss: Week 11 @ Miami
Big 12: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech Red Raiders Team Profile
- Head Coach: Joey McGuire (4th Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Mack Leftwich
- Defensive Coordinator: Shiel Wood
- Conference: Big 12
- Location: Lubbock, Texas
- 2026 Record: 5-0 (2-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: No. 11
Texas Tech survived its toughest game of the regular season, triumphing over Houston last time out. Their first loss comes in the Big 12 Championship Game.

Predicted First Loss: Week 14 @ TBD
Big 12: BYU Cougars
BYU Cougars Team Profile
- Head Coach: Kalani Sitake (11th Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Aaron Roderick
- Defensive Coordinator: Kelly Poppinga
- Conference: Big 12
- Location: Provo, Utah
- 2026 Record: 4-0 (2-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: No. 8
BYU appears to be the class of the Big 12, but as we've seen in recent years, anything can happen in that conference. We think the Cougars are a step behind Notre Dame.

Predicted First Loss: Week 7 vs Notre Dame
Big 12: Utah Utes
Utah Utes Team Profile
- Head Coach: Morgan Scalley (1st Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Kevin McGiven
- Defensive Coordinator: Colton Swan
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
- 2026 Record: 4-0 (1-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: No. 12
The Utes are another team that needs to be taken seriously. However, a Week 11 clash sets up as a classic letdown spot for Utah.

Predicted First Loss: Week 11 @ Arizona
Mountain West: North Dakota State Bison
North Dakota State Bison Team Profile
- Head Coach: Tim Polasek (3rd Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Dan Larson
- Defensive Coordinator: Grant Olson
- Conference: Mountain West
- Location: Fargo, North Dakota
- 2026 Record: 5-0 (2-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: NR
North Dakota's foray into the FBS has been a successful one. We think they encounter some resistance on the road versus UNLV.

Predicted First Loss: Week 6 @ UNLV
Sun Belt: James Madison Dukes
James Madison Dukes Team Profile
- Head Coach: Billy Napier (1st Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Cam Aiken
- Defensive Coordinator: Robert Bala
- Conference: Sun Belt
- Location: Harrisonburg, Virginia
- 2026 Record: 5-0 (2-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: NR
Could they do it twice in a row? JMU doesn't appear to have a losable game in the regular season. That could mean another CFP berth come December.

Predicted First Loss: CFP First-Round
Big Ten: Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers Team Profile
- Head Coach: Curt Cignetti (3rd Season)
- Offensive Coordinator: Mike Shanahan
- Defensive Coordinator: Bryant Haines
- Conference: Big Ten
- Location: Bloomington, Indiana
- Stadium: Memorial Stadium
- 2026 Record: 5-0 (2-0)
- AP Top 25 Ranking: No. 7
Indiana has yet to be tested. We're anticipating more humble showings in the middle of October.

Predicted First Loss: Week 7 vs Ohio State