When Miami, UCLA and Utah Could Take Their First Loss: Predicting Each Remaining College Football Unbeaten’s Test
Miami faces its toughest test
Miami beat Pitt 52-23, led by Malachi Toney’s school-record 16 receptions for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Darian Mensa has more incompletions than touchdown passes this season, while Cooper Barkate has joined him after transferring from Duke.
The Hurricanes travel to Notre Dame in two weeks. North Carolina has improved, but the story considers the Irish Miami’s likeliest source of a first loss and expects the challenge to come before the playoffs.
Notre Dame has little margin for error after losing to BYU. If Miami gets past the Irish, the story predicts the Hurricanes could remain unbeaten through the regular season; it also says they would be the No. 1 seed if they entered the playoffs without a loss.
UCLA’s schedule looks manageable
UCLA beat Michigan State, but starting quarterback Niko Iamaleava is out for the rest of the season. The Bruins’ running game has produced big plays, and the story sees no remaining opponent as unbeatable.
Nevada has already lost to Montana State and other teams, while Minnesota has recently beaten Michigan and Iowa. UCLA visits Minnesota, then plays at Michigan, where weather could become a factor.
Michigan’s defense held Indiana to 13 points, though the Wolverines’ offense has struggled. The story identifies Minnesota and Michigan as the most likely regular-season upset threats before UCLA’s season-ending game against USC.
Utah faces a pivotal stretch
Utah had a tougher time against Houston than Miami and UCLA had in their games. After Texas Tech and BYU lost, the Utes became the Big XII’s last unbeaten team.
Cincinnati enters its matchup with Utah after beating Texas Tech. The Bearcats also have BYU and Houston on their schedule, giving them a role in the conference race; Utah visits Cincinnati this week.
Utah will then host BYU in The Holy War, described as the conference season’s highest-stakes matchup. The provided account ends while discussing what the game’s loser might face, so it does not give a complete forecast of Utah’s remaining schedule.
Key points
- Miami’s biggest remaining test is a road game at Notre Dame in two weeks.
- UCLA’s likely regular-season upset threats are Minnesota and Michigan.
- Utah visits Cincinnati before hosting BYU in a crucial Big XII rivalry game.