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Three Unbeaten Teams Face Brutal November Tests Ahead
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- Three Unbeaten Teams Face Brutal November Tests Ahead
Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Thirteen six teams started the 2026 season with a dream of staying perfect. Now, only three remain standing. Miami, Utah, and UCLA are the final unbeaten programs left in college football. They have all earned spots as legitimate contenders for the College Football Playoff. But the road to a title gets much harder in November. Two of these teams face top-10 opponents this weekend. The third must navigate a gauntlet of tough Big Ten games. The pressure spikes when the first playoff rankings drop on Tuesday night.
Miami holds the top spot in the AP poll at 8-0. Yet the Hurricanes have not looked invincible lately. They escaped a tight game against Florida State and barely beat North Carolina, 38-35. Now they travel to South Bend to face No. 4 Notre Dame. A win here cements their case as the nation's best team. A loss opens the door for Georgia or Utah to climb the ranks. The stakes could not be higher for both sides.
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Notre Dame's Single Shot at Glory
ESPN analyst Greg McElroy believes the entire playoff case for Notre Dame rests on this one Saturday game. The Fighting Irish are 7-1 but have not beaten a ranked opponent yet. Their only chance against a top team ended in a narrow loss to BYU. McElroy points out that their other wins have lost value. "The seven teams they've beaten are a combined 21-36 right now," McElroy said, according to Sports Illustrated . The rest of their schedule offers little help. Boston College, SMU, and Syracuse cannot boost their resume anymore. "After that, Boston College can't help you. SMU can't help you now after the loss this past weekend, and I don't think Syracuse can help you, either," he said.
Notre Dame cannot win this game by just running the ball. They need their passing attack to step up. McElroy says the Irish must throw for 300 yards to win. "The only way Notre Dame's winning that game next week is not by running for 300," McElroy said. "They're going to throw for 300." Quarterback CJ Carr must lead the way. McElroy trusts him to make the right plays. "I still think CJ Carr is their best player. I still think the passing game is their best offensive attribute," he said.
Rivalries and Surprises in the West
Utah faces a different kind of test at home. The Utes are 8-0 and ranked No. 3. They host No. 7 BYU in a rivalry game that could decide the Big 12 championship. Utah crushed Cincinnati 49-25 last week and rushed for 268 yards. But BYU is a tough 7-1 team with its own playoff hopes. A win here keeps Utah on top of the conference. A loss complicates everything for the Utes.
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Meanwhile, UCLA has been the biggest surprise of the year. The Big Ten preseason projections selected the Bruins to end in 12th place. Instead, they are 8-0 and ranked No. 5. They travel to Minnesota next. It is a tough road, but they have proven they can handle pressure. These three teams have earned their place. Now they must prove they can survive the final stretch.
The Crunch Time Begins Now
The first College Football Playoff rankings arrive Tuesday night. Every point in the standings matters more now. According to PFF, Miami tops FBS offensive EPA per play with 0.38. They also lead in offensive success rate.
