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Are the days of the undefeated national champions over?

Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:01 pm
Posted by Darth_Vader
A galaxy far, far away
Member since Dec 2011
68864 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:01 pm
Here is the list of every undefeated national champion since the beginning of the BCS/playoff era…

1998: Tennessee 12-0
1999: Florida State 12-0
2000: Oklahoma 13-0
2001: Miami 12-0
2002: Ohio State 14-0
2004: USC 13-0
2005: Texas 13-0
2009: Alabama 14-0
2010: Auburn 14-0
2013: Florida State 13-0
2018: Clemson 15-0*
2019: LSU 15-0
2020: Alabama 12-0**
2022: Georgia 15-0
2023: Michigan 15-0

*first team to go undefeated in playoff era
** Covid year

What I’m wondering is, with the dawn of the NIL and wide open transfer portal, all which make it difficult to keep a team together for any amount of time; and now the with the expanded playoff, it seems that being able to go through the gauntlet of the regular season, conference championship, and then 3 or 4 playoff games, it’s going to be extremely difficult for a team to go undefeated. I mean, depending on playoff byes, they’d have to go 16-0 or even 17-0. Seems like a tall ask.

Thoughts?
This post was edited on 1/4/25 at 4:40 pm
Posted by labamafan
Prairieville
Member since Jan 2007
25708 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:04 pm to
It will be a rarity for sure.
Posted by cornerstore
Member since Jul 2024
927 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:05 pm to
Good lord, please asterisk the Bama 2020.
Posted by Darth_Vader
A galaxy far, far away
Member since Dec 2011
68864 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:11 pm to
quote:

Good lord, please asterisk the Bama 2020.


You’re right. It’s fixed.
Posted by RandySavage
Member since May 2012
33465 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:15 pm to
2004 Auburn get it right
Posted by Darth_Vader
A galaxy far, far away
Member since Dec 2011
68864 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:17 pm to
quote:

2004 Auburn get it right


I’m still pissed off at that one.
Posted by VagueMessage
Springdale, AR
Member since Jun 2013
4145 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:18 pm to
quote:

Good lord, please asterisk the Bama 2020.


2004 USC is the one that needs to be asterisked. They vacated their NC win. I don't know why Auburn doesn't claim that one. Bama would.
Posted by Opry
Member since Oct 2023
5204 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:21 pm to
2020 Bama best offense on list by a mile.
Posted by DD_Rolltide
Member since Oct 2024
556 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:23 pm to
Maybe, I mean it takes what 15 games now to win it all best case scenario? Much less likely nowadays. Another reason why total yards and total tds records are much less meaningful. YPG and TDPG mean much more.
This post was edited on 1/3/25 at 10:24 pm
Posted by NineLineBind
LA....no, the other one
Member since May 2020
7984 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:29 pm to
It would take 17 games if you don’t get the bye. Ask NFL teams how hard it is to win 17 games in a row.
Posted by SEC Doctor
Member since Aug 2024
6281 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:46 pm to
quote:

2020 Bama best offense on list by a mile.


2019 Bama offense was better than 2020 Bama offense. Mac Jones, lol.
Posted by 3down10
Member since Sep 2014
30655 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:50 pm to
quote:



2019 Bama offense was better than 2020 Bama offense. Mac Jones, lol.


Not according to advanced metrics.

OF+:

2019 LSU: 2.84
2019 Alabama: 2.84
2020 Alabama: 3.14

Posted by Opry
Member since Oct 2023
5204 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:52 pm to
quote:

2019 Bama offense was better than 2020 Bama offense.
Not even close. Bama had to shut most their game down by half time that year.
Posted by boston vol
Lexington-Fayette, KY
Member since Sep 2015
6221 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 10:54 pm to
quote:

Here is the list of every undefeated national champion since the beginning of the BCS/playoff era…

I know that we’ve sucked for the better part of 25 years, but at least give us our due for going undefeated in 1998.
Posted by Tarpon08
Cut Off, LA
Member since Dec 2014
6310 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 11:21 pm to
Wow only 4 Teams have EVER gone 15-0? Certainly Alabama must be one of them!?!?
Posted by TheDeathValley
New Orleans, LA
Member since Sep 2010
18914 posts
Posted on 1/3/25 at 11:24 pm to
quote:

15 games


12 Regular Season
Conference Championship
QF
SF
CFPNCG

16-0 with a bye
17-0 without a bye (I don’t see this ever happening)
Posted by PuertoRicanBlaze
Book Board Admin
Member since Apr 2024
4889 posts
Posted on 1/4/25 at 1:40 am to
quote:

2019: LDU 15-0***


***played an unpracticed Tua coming off tightrope surgery which resulted in an uncharacteristically sluggish start that would ultimately decide the game.
This post was edited on 1/4/25 at 1:41 am
Posted by PuertoRicanBlaze
Book Board Admin
Member since Apr 2024
4889 posts
Posted on 1/4/25 at 1:47 am to
quote:

2004 USC is the one that needs to be asterisked. They vacated their NC win. I don't know why Auburn doesn't claim that one. Bama would.


If so, Bama should also claim 1936, 1945, 1966 and 1977.

Die mad about Bama's 1964 AP/UPI title.
Posted by geauxbrown
Louisiana
Member since Oct 2006
22400 posts
Posted on 1/4/25 at 2:33 am to
I don’t understand why everyone is talking about how the CFB landscape is changing. The 4 remaining teams are all Blue Bloods

Nothing has changed.
Posted by theballguy
Member since Oct 2011
18204 posts
Posted on 1/4/25 at 3:57 am to
Mulkey Man never quit Tigah
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