More than 40 teams in college football are still undefeated after three weeks of football. The far more exclusive club sits on the other side of the tracks: Only 12 teams have yet to win a single game heading into Week 4.
Florida State gets the lion's share of attention (for good reason), but there are a few other surprises. Jacksonville State was picked No. 3 in the preseason Conference USA poll. Miami-Ohio was at No. 1 in the MAC. Consistent Sun Belt competitor Troy lost a heartbreaker to Nevada in Week 1. Now, it's the only thing keeping the Wolfpack off the list.
While plenty of teams struggle, going winless is still a relative rarity in college football. First, it requires a perfect storm of a schedule, one where there isn't a single scheduled win. Most of the bottom of the FBS finds a lackluster FCS opponent to guarantee at least one W. Additionally, the rest of the conference has to be far enough above the team that they can't punch up. Even with all those factors, luck needs to go the wrong direction.
In 2015, Kansas and UCF both went 0-12. Since then, only two programs have reached the dreaded mark outside of the pandemic: 2017 UTEP and 2018 Akron. Most of the 12 teams left on the board will find wins. Here's where we think they might come.
Florida State
Losses: Georgia Tech (24-21), Boston College (28-13), Memphis (20-12)
Upcoming schedule: California, at SMU, Clemson
The Seminoles are the only power conference team left without a win, but are hard to figure out in their own right. While losses against Georgia Tech and Memphis were close, the schedule only gets harder from here. California this week is a must-win game, but the Golden Bears have plenty to hang their hat on after a 3-0 start and won't come into Tallahassee scared; they beat Auburn on the road two weeks ago.
A road game against SMU in the latter's ACC conference debut won't be easy. Playing Clemson the next week could be a bloodbath. The worst part about being below average in the ACC is that it means every single team on the schedule is capable of beating you.
Pick: at Duke (Oct. 18)
Jacksonville State
Losses: Coastal Carolina (55-27), Louisville (49-14), Eastern Michigan (37-34)
Upcoming schedule: Southern Miss, at Kennesaw State, New Mexico State
The Gamecocks came into the year with real expectations in Conference USA, but the first few weeks have been a struggle, headlined by a double-overtime loss against Eastern Michigan. Luckily, clear skies are ahead with four straight winnable games. JSU was picked third in the preseason CUSA poll and everything is still on the table.
Pick: Southern Miss (Sept. 21)
Kennesaw State
Losses: UTSA (28-16), Louisiana (34-10), San Jose State (31-10)
Upcoming schedule: UT-Martin, Jacksonville State, Middle Tennessee
The Owls are the lone program in their first year of transitioning from FCS to FBS and are behind the eight-ball as a result. A close game against UTSA in the opener looks slightly less impressive as the weeks go on, but KSU should handle an FCS opponent.
Pick: UT-Martin (Sept. 28)
Kent State
Losses: Pittsburgh (55-24), St. Francis PA (23-17), Tennessee (71-0)
Upcoming schedule: at Penn State, Eastern Michigan, Ball State
Finding even competitive games is unbelievably difficult for Kent State, which right now owns the position of last place in the CBS Sports 134 Rankings. To give them some credit, the Golden Flashes turned down a running clock in a 71-0 loss to Tennessee; bless them for loving football so much. Otherwise, a winless season is very much possible.
Pick: Akron (Nov. 19)
Massachussets
Losses: Eastern Michigan (28-14), Toledo (38-23), Buffalo (34-3)
Upcoming schedule: Central Connecticut, at Miami (Ohio), at Northern Illinois
UMass showed some fight against future conference opponents EMU and Toledo early in the season and former Clemson quarterback Taisun Phommachanh gives them a little juice under center. More importantly, the Minutemen scheduled two FCS opponents. Smart move.
Pick: Central Connecticut (Sept. 21)
Miami (Ohio)
Losses: Northwestern (13-6), Cincinnati (27-16)
Upcoming schedule: at Notre Dame, UMass, at Toledo
There's one major exception to the rule of winless teams: A solid Group of Five team that loves to cash checks. Miami (Ohio) is probably the best winless team in America, but scheduled nonconference games against Northwestern, Cincinnati and Notre Dame. While 0-3 is 0-3, the RedHawks are probably the best winless team in America after getting picked No. 1 in the preseason MAC poll. Survive this blitz, though, and there are plenty of wins ahead.
Pick: UMass (Sept. 28)
New Mexico
Losses: Montana State (35-31), Arizona (61-39), Auburn (45-19)
Upcoming games: Fresno State, at New Mexico State, Air Force
Spiritually, it doesn't feel right that the Lobos are winless. New Mexico played Montana State, one of the top FCS teams, but gave them a great game. The Lobos dropped 39 on Arizona and were down just 17-13 against Auburn at halftime. Fresno State this week is another tough test, but the next three games -- at New Mexico State, Air Force, at Utah State -- are all winnable. Sophomore quarterback Devon Dampier is one of the most fun players in all of college football. Bronco Mendenhall's team won't be down long.
Pick: New Mexico State (Sept. 28)
Old Dominion
Losses: South Carolina (23-19), East Carolina (20-14), Virginia Tech (37-17)
Upcoming games: at Bowling Green, at Coastal Carolina, at Georgia State
All three losses for Old Dominion have aged reasonably well. South Carolina was pushed to the limit by the Monarchs in Week 1 and has looked rather strong since, while East Carolina fell late against Appalachian State. The problem? The rest of the Old Dominion schedule suddenly looks incredibly difficult. The Monarchs play three straight games against potential bowl teams before returning home for Sun Belt favorite Texas State. A win against Bowling Green this weekend is possible. If ODU loses, the Monarchs could start 0-7.
Pick: Georgia Southern (Oct. 24)
Temple
Losses: Oklahoma (51-3), Navy (38-11), Coastal Carolina (28-20)
Upcoming schedule: Utah State, Army, at UConn
Stan Drayton's Owls are among the most hopeless programs in the FBS right now. Temple has only one FBS win since Sept. 2, 2023, and it came against a Navy team that the Owls lost to by four touchdowns this season. Utah State comes to town this week, but the Aggies found some juice against Utah last week. Games against Army and UConn looked easier coming into the season, but both have certainly looked better than Temple so far. If the Owls make it through Oct. 19 against Tulsa without a win, they're highly unlikely to find one.
Pick: None
Troy
Losses: Nevada (28-26), Memphis (38-17), Iowa (38-21)
Upcoming games: Florida A&M, ULM, Texas State
The Trojans wasted an opportunity in Week 1 and played back-to-back quality opponents, but a solid special teams performance from Devonte Ross helps bring a little more optimism. Luckily, Troy doesn't have to wait long for its first win. Florida A&M is a legendary HBCU power, but has lost all 10 of its FBS matchups since 2015.
Pick: Florida A&M (Sept. 21)
UTEP
Losses: Nebraska (40-7), Southern Utah (27-24), Liberty (28-10)
Upcoming schedule: at Colorado State, Sam Houston, Western Kentucky
Blowing a 17-6 halftime lead against Southern Utah in overtime could come back to bite the Miners because there are very few winnable games left on the schedule. UTEP could be double-digit underdogs in the next three games against Colorado State, Sam Houston and Western Kentucky. FIU looks interesting after blasting Central Michigan and playing FAU well. Getting FCS transitioner Kennesaw State at home on Nov. 9 should at least ensure that the program doesn't go winless in Scotty Walden's first season, but it's on the table.
Pick: FIU (Oct. 16)
Wyoming
Losses: Arizona State (48-7), Idaho (17-13), BYU (34-14)
Upcoming games: at North Texas, Air Force, San Diego State
The first year of the Jay Sawvel era has been inconsistent, but the schedule ended up being a little more difficult than expected after Arizona State and Idaho had impressive early-season showings. Sawvey is a former defensive coordinator and his team has defended the run reasonably well, though, which bodes well for a home game in two weeks against a rebuilding Air Force team. Expect some low scores, but a win is coming soon.
Pick: Air Force (Sept. 28)
