We’re heading down the stretch of the regular season and there are still four undefeated teams left in the whole country. The playoff push is heating up around the college football landscape with Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, and TCU holding the top four spots heading into week 11. The season has been filled with nothing but huge upsets, crazy games, and big surprises and with the race for Conference Championships, Bowl Games, and the College Football Playoff, the rest of the way might get even crazier as we head down the stretch.
Undefeated Teams In College Football (FBS)
Georgia (6-0 Conference; 9-0 Overall)
College Football Playoff Rank: 1
The Bulldogs went into week 10 ranked number three in the latest College Football poll and would face their toughest test to date against number one Tennessee at the time. Then the game started and it didn’t look like that at all for Georgia as they cruised to a 27-13 win. The Bulldogs gathered nearly 400 yards of total offense while they held Tennessee to under 300 and that’s been the story of this team all year, as their offense is third in total yards while their defense is fourth in fewest total yards given up and second in fewest points allowed.
Everyone had questions about Stetson Bennett since taking over under center but those should come to a halt as he’s been very good for Georgia. He was brilliant in their run to the National Championship last year and has carried his good play over to this year. Bennett has passed for 2606 yards and 11 touchdowns while only throwing three interceptions. His passing touchdowns have dipped this season but he’s been getting it done with his legs more, rushing for a touchdown in six of nine games played. The receiving duo of Brock Bowers (574 yards) and Ladd McConkey (507 yards) have been played a big part in Bennett’s success.
Even though not one running back has over 500 yards rushing on the season, the run game as a whole has been good for Georgia. It ranks 30th in the country with over 1400 yards just between the running backs, which is led by Daijun Edwards (7 touchdowns) and Kenny McIntosh (6 touchdowns). McIntosh has also accumulated 323 yards and a touchdown through the air. It’s likely Georgia goes into the SEC Championship Game among the undefeated teams with Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Georgia Tech left on their regular season schedule.
Ohio State (6-0 Conference; 9-0 Overall)
College Football Playoff Rank: 2
Nothing was pretty about Ohio State’s 21-7 win on the road against Northwestern this past Saturday but they’ll take it. Both teams had to rely on their run game to get the job done through a driving rain storm that saw 40-mile-per-hour winds. That was just one example of the resilience shown by the Buckeyes and why they’re one of the undefeated teams through 10 weeks. Ohio State has won each of its games this season by double digits with six of them being blowouts.
C.J. Stroud came into the season as the Heisman favorite and is still trending that way as he’s first in the Big Ten in passing yards (2,377) and touchdowns (29) while only throwing four interceptions. The receiving duo of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka has been lethal in this team’s success, combining for 1628 yards and 19 total touchdowns (2 on the ground). The duo of Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson on the ground has been the perfect complement to this passing attack. Williams has rushed for 636 yards and 12 touchdowns, having three 100+ yard games while Henderson has rushed for 552 yards and six touchdowns with two games of 100+ yards.
This leads to Ohio State being 19th in the nation in passing yards, 14th in total yards, and the number one team in points scored. The Buckeye’s offense is lethal but isn’t the only reason why they’re one of the last undefeated teams left. The defense has been one of the best in the country as well as they rank 13th against the rush, 7th against the pass, 6th in fewest total yards given up, and 8th in fewest points allowed. The remaining schedule for Ohio State includes Indiana at home, Maryland at home, and then the biggest rivalry game in all of college football when they go on the road to face another undefeated team in Michigan.
Michigan (6-0 Conference; 9-0 Overall)
College Football Playoff Rank: 3
Virtually every game has been a blowout for Michigan thanks to a high-scoring offense and a great defense. Although the passing game isn’t where they hoped it would be with J.J. McCarthy and Cade McNamara, the run game has picked it up in a huge way. Blake Corum has had an unbelievable season so far as he’s rushed for 1187 yards and 16 touchdowns. He is the reason why Michigan has the fourth ranked rushing attack in the country and is fifth in points scored.
With this offense comes one of the best defenses in the nation. Michigan is third in fewest points allowed while being ninth in passing defense and number one against the run, equating to being the 2nd best team in total yards given up. Mike Morris has been a force up front with 11 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks to go along with a forced fumble. On the back end, Rod Moore is fourth in the Big Ten in interceptions with three while having 32 total tackles and a half sack.
The Wolverines play two ranked opponents to end the season in Illinois and their undefeated rival Ohio State. Depending on what happens with the rest of the top four, that could very well be for a playoff spot or even a possible playoff preview.
TCU (6-0 Conference; 9-0 Overall)
College Football Playoff Rank: 4
Undoubtedly the biggest surprise among the undefeated teams, TCU has come into week 11 passing every test put in front of them so far. This includes a tough four-game stretch that saw victories against Oklahoma, Kansas, Oklahoma State, and Kansas State. In all ten of their games, TCU has scored 34 or more points with five being 40+ and two being 50+. This adds up to the Horned Frogs having the third best scoring offense in the country while being fourth in total yards.
A big reason for this is that quarterback Max Duggan is having the best season in his four-year college career. He’s first in the Big 12 in passing yards (2,407) and has an impressive touchdown/interception ratio of 24/2. Duggan has added 282 yards on the ground for four touchdowns. Kendre Miller has played a big part in this team’s success in the backfield, rushing for just over 1000 yards so far with 12 touchdowns. The defense hasn’t been the best but that comes with the territory of being in the Big 12. With TCU’s offense putting up about 43 points a game, you can put up with a defense that allows about 27 points a game.
TCU has a tough task ahead this week to stay among the undefeated teams as they face a ranked Texas team on the road, who’s top 30 in yards and points. Then they finish out with Baylor on the road and Iowa State at home.
