Much of the talk surrounding college football in the next few days will focus on the upcoming big-time matchups: #3 Louisville vs. #15 Rutgers on Thursday, followed by a much anticipated contest between #1 Ohio State and #2 Michigan nine days later.  Those games alone will winnow the ranks of the unbeaten teams in Division 1-A by two, leaving at most a trio of programs without a loss.

 

Hype will be the operative word for the next twelve days, as hundreds, if not thousands, of stories are written and broadcast in all forms of media on virtually all facets of the games (be forewarned: when we start seeing articles comparing and contrasting the mascots, it is officially time to worry).

 

I hate hype.  A lot.  And that's why I'm not going to write an article on the merits of the five remaining unbeaten teams in Division 1-A, even though that was the first thought that popped into my head.  No, I'm going to go the other way.  There are three teams in Division 1-A right now who are sitting at the exact opposite end of the spectrum from Ohio State, Michigan and company, three teams who have steadily sunk lower and lower as the season has progressed.  They are the winless teams of Division 1-A: Florida International, Duke and Stanford.

 

In many ways, it is just as difficult to go winless in a season as it is to go undefeated.  Oftentimes, the team that originally takes the field in late August and early September is reasonably competitive, but a few close losses, an increasingly tough schedule and some plain old bad luck conspire to keep that team winless.  As the losses pile up, winning becomes more and more difficult, leaving a couple teams every year who never manage to get into the win column.

 

In order for Florida International, Duke and Stanford to escape the ranks of the winless and enjoy the sweet taste of victory, they will need to increase the effort and get a little bit lucky.  Here's the story on the Final Three:

 

Florida International

 

Current Record: 0-8 (0-3 Sun Belt Conference)

 

Remaining Opponents' Record: 12-21

 

Toughest Loss: It's hard to choose just one.  There was the season opener, a 7-6 loss to Middle Tennessee on September 2 in which the difference was a missed extra point by senior kicker Chris Patullo; the second game, a 21-20 heartbreaker at South Florida on September 9 in which the difference was a missed extra point by senior kicker Chris Patullo; and the 35-0 loss at Miami on October 17 in which a brawl broke out, resulting in the loss of sixteen players and nine starters.  The first two losses were tough, but the regrettable incident in Miami might have cost the Golden Panthers any chance of a win this season.

 

Best Chance: November 11 at home against 1-7 Louisiana-Monroe

 

Why They Won't Win A Game: The offense wasn't that good before the Miami game, with eight touchdowns in seven games, and the suspensions didn't help: the Golden Panthers managed just three points in a 38-3 loss to Alabama on October 28.  If the suspended players aren't reinstated, Florida International is in trouble.

 

How They Can Earn A Victory: Florida International was competitive early, losing its first four games by a total of eleven points.  If they can regain the spirit that kept them close in those games and put the combined 73-3 of the Miami and Alabama games behind them (and get something out of the offense), they could steal a victory.

 

Duke

 

Current Record: 0-9 (0-5 Atlantic Coast Conference)

 

Remaining Opponents' Record: 15-12

 

Toughest Loss: A 14-13 loss at Wake Forest on September 9; the Blue Devils were denied victory when a 28 yard field goal attempt was blocked on the last play of the game.

 

Best Chance: November 25 at home against 1-8 North Carolina.

 

Why They Won't Win A Game: Before finishing at home against North Carolina, Duke has to go on the road to take on ranked opponents Boston College and Georgia Tech; by the time the Tar Heels come to town, the Blue Devils could be 0-11 and running on fumes.

 

How They Can Earn A Victory: Knowledge is power, and Duke knows that they can handle North Carolina, which is likely to arrive on-campus with a 1-10 record. If the players can maintain a high level of intensity after what figures to be tough games against BC and GT, they have a very real chance of making good things happen.

 

Stanford

 

Current Record: 0-9 (0-6 Pac-10 Conference)

 

Remaining Opponents' Record: 18-10

 

Toughest Loss: On September 9, the Cardinal led San Jose State 27-7 in the second quarter and 34-21 at the half; a missed extra point on the first Stanford touchdown in the first quarter was the difference in the game.

 

Best Chance: November 11 at 4-6 Washington

 

Why They Won't Win A Game: Stanford's three remaining games grow increasingly more difficult, from 4-6 Washington to 6-3 Oregon State to 8-1 California.  No other winless program faces that type of uphill climb.

 

How They Can Earn A Victory: Beating Washington is virtually the only option.  To do that, they need to figure out what worked offensively against San Jose State (the 34 point outburst was by far the highest of the season and included five of the team's nine touchdowns this season.  The second best total: 10) and make it work again against the Huskies. 

There you have it.  Going winless in college football is by no means an historic achievement, but it is certainly one that most programs could do without.  All three of the teams listed here have the chance to win a game over the final month of the season, but it's going to take hard work, increased offensive production and better special teams play (all three teams lost by one point on September 9; the difference in all three games was a missed extra point).