There were seven undefeated college football teams that travelled in Week 9 and only three of them managed to come away with a victory. With a few weeks left in the regular season there is still a lot that can change so we broke down the chances for each of the teams most likely to finish without a loss. Here is a look at which undefeated college football teams have the best chance to finish perfect this season.
Clemson Tigers (8-0)
Likelihood Of Perfect Season: 90%
The Tigers managed to survive tough tests against Louisville and Florida State to keep their perfect season alive and while they still have four games to play their schedule is pretty favorable the rest of the way. Clemson will play three of its final four games at home without a single ranked opponent left on their schedule. The Tigers should be able to manage wins over Syracuse, Pittsburgh and South Carolina at home while a road trip to Wake Forest is very manageable as well. Clemson has played its best games against its toughest opponents so far this season and with the Cardinals and Seminoles in the rearview mirror, they need four more wins over relatively mediocre opponents to stay perfect. Their last big hurdle will probably be the ACC Championship Game.
Western Michigan Broncos (9-0)
Likelihood Of Perfect Season: 75%
The Broncos won’t compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff but they are probably the second-most likely team to finish the year with a perfect record. Western Michigan has rolled through its schedule with seven straight double-digit wins since upsetting Northwestern with a 22-21 win back in September. The Broncos will visit Kent State this week before wrapping up their season schedule with back-to-back home games against Buffalo and Toledo so nobody will be surprised if they stay perfect.
Alabama Crimson Tide (8-0)
Likelihood Of Perfect Season: 65%
The Crimson Tide are on a run of 20-straight wins dating back to last season including 12 straight wins over ranked opponents so it’s no surprise they have earned a spot on this list. However, Alabama also has the toughest remaining schedule of the teams on this list so far beginning with a road trip to LSU this week. The Tigers have won three straight since interim head coach Ed Orgeron took over and even if the Tide survive this test they still get Auburn in the Iron Bowl to close out the regular season and then the SEC championship game. Alabama has outscored its opponents by a total of 206 points in non-garbage time through eight games but with LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn still left on the schedule their odds of a perfect season are still slightly less than Clemson and Western Michigan right now.
Michigan Wolverines (8-0)
Likelihood Of Perfect Season: 55%
Michigan earned a measure of redemption and kept its perfect season alive with a 32-23 win at Michigan State but even though they are in the driver seat in the Big Ten, they still have a tough road ahead. The Wolverines will play two of their final four games on the road including dates with Iowa and then Ohio State to close out their regular season schedule, so they still haven’t clinched anything yet. Michigan should be able to beat the Hawkeyes because they are having a down season. They are just 5-3 on the year and while they get to host Michigan, considering they’ve alreayd lost to Wisconsin, Northwestern and North Dakota State at home, beating Michigan will be a very tall order for them.
Everybody is down on the Buckeyes right now but a lot can change in four weeks. We’ve seen what they’re capable of and it is possible that they are simply slumping right now. If they make it that far they still have to play in the Big Ten championship game. Jim Harbaugh will be preaching for his team to approach the season one game at a time with the awareness that the Wolverines certainly can’t afford a letdown at any point as they attempt to complete the perfect season.
