Last year, I followed the streaks without being shutout of all 119 FBS programs from the season's beginning until its end. 7 streaks that dated back to before 2000 were ended, including Nevada's (which had not been shutout since 1980 before their 23-0 defeat in the New Mexico Bowl) and Oregon's (whose streak extended back to 1985 before their 16-0 loss to UCLA). At season's end, Washington State claimed the longest active streak - dating back to September 15, 1984. Given the popularity of the post last season, I will continue to follow the active streaks this season. This year, there is one more school to monitor as Western Kentucky has joined the ranks.
Shutouts in college football are a rare thing. In fact, only 4.1% (189 of 4552) of games involving FBS (formerly I-A) teams in the past 6 years (2002-2007) have involved shutouts of an FBS school. That rate has been practically matched in the 2008 season, as FBS programs have been shutout 33 times in the 804 contests this year (4.1%).
Streaks Ended in 2008
#1 Washington State, lost 69-0 to USC (wk 8), began 09/15/1984
#3 Colorado, lost 58-0 to Missouri (wk 9), began 11/12/1988
#11 Pittsburgh, lost 3-0 to Oregon St. (bowl), began 09/28/1996
#21 Wake Forest, lost 26-0 to Maryland (wk 8), began 09/05/1998
#23 Toledo, lost 31-0 to Ball State (wk 6), began 09/12/1998
#27 Northern Illinois, lost 16-0 to Navy (wk 14), began 09/18/1999
#42 UCLA, lost 59-0 to BYU (wk 3), began 11/17/2001
#46 Auburn, lost 36-0 to Alabama (wk 14), began 08/30/2003
#48 Army, lost 34-0 to Navy (wk 15), began 10/04/2003
#59 Washington, lost 56-0 to USC (wk 10), began 10/23/2004
#64 Arizona State, lost 28-0 to USC (wk 7), began 10/30/2004
#66 Maryland, lost 31-0 to Virginia (wk 6), began 11/06/2004
#69 UL Monroe, lost 34-0 to Auburn (wk 1), began 09/10/2005
#70 UCF, lost 15-0 to UAB (wk 14), began 09/09/2006
#77 Minnesota, lost 55-0 to Iowa (wk 13), began 10/28/2006
#80 Duke, lost 27-0 to Georgia Tech (wk 6), began 09/30/2006
#84 Mississippi St, lost 45-0 to Ole Miss (wk 14), began 08/30/2007
#85 FAU, lost 17-0 to Michigan State (wk 3), began 10/18/2006
#91 Notre Dame, lost 17-0 to BC (wk 11), began 10/20/2007
#92 E. Michigan, lost 37-0 to N. Illinois (wk 5), began 11/24/2006
#92 New Mexico St, lost 49-0 to Boise St (wk 10), began 10/07/2007
#92 San Jose St, lost 21-0 to La Tech (wk 11), began 10/20/2007
#94 Kent State, lost 21-0 to Boston College (wk 1), began 11/11/2006
#95 Arkansas State, lost 35-0 to Alabama (wk 10), began 10/27/2007
#96 Idaho, lost 70-0 to Arizona (wk 1), began 11/18/2006
#98 FIU, lost 42-0 to Iowa (wk 2), began 09/01/2007
#100 UL Monroe, lost 59-0 to Ole Miss (wk 12), began 08/30/2008
#103 Louisiana Tech, lost 29-0 to Kansas (wk 2), began 10/06/2007
#106 Wyoming, lost 44-0 to BYU (wk 4), began 11/10/2007
#118 NC State, lost 34-0 to South Carolina (wk 1), began 11/24/2007
#118 Wash St, lost 58-0 to Stanford (wk 10), began 10/18/2008
#118 Wash St, lost 31-0 to Arizona St (wk 12), began 11/01/2008
#119 Wyoming, lost 24-0 to New Mexico (wk 6), began 09/20/2008
The dates of the last shutout for each program are detailed below, with the twenty-five longest streaks being highlighted. Also noted for each program is the year they began their current run at the NCAA's highest level. Note that NCAA classification started in 1937.
As this list changes in the future, I will post updates.
1. Michigan Wolverines, 1937, Big Ten, 10/20/1984
2. Florida Gators, 1937, SEC, 10/29/1988
3. TCU Horned Frogs, 1937, Mountain West, 11/16/1991
4. Air Force Falcons, 1957, Mountain West, 12/31/1992
5. Ohio State Buckeyes, 1937, Big Ten, 11/20/1993
6. Tennessee Volunteers, 1937, SEC, 09/17/1994
7. Virginia Tech Hokies, 1940, ACC, 09/16/1995
8. Georgia Bulldogs, 1937, SEC, 09/30/1995
9. Arkansas Razorbacks, 1937, SEC, 11/18/1995
10. Nebraska Cornhuskers, 1937, Big XII, 09/21/1996
11. Kansas State Wildcats, 1937, Big XII, 11/16/1996
12. Wisconsin Badgers, 1937, Big Ten, 08/24/1997
13. Boise State Broncos, 1996, WAC, 09/27/1997
14. East Carolina Pirates, 1966, C-USA, 10/04/1997
15. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 1937, ACC, 10/18/1997
16. Texas Tech Red Raiders, 1937, Big XII, 10/18/1997
17. USC Trojans, 1937, Pac-10, 11/01/1997
18. Bowling Green Falcons, 1983, MAC, 09/05/1998
19. Hawaii Warriors, 1974, WAC, 10/03/1998
20. Boston College Eagles, 1939, ACC, 10/08/1998
21. Fresno State Bulldogs, 1937, WAC, 11/07/1998
22. Oklahoma Sooners, 1937, Big XII, 11/07/1998
23. Ole Miss Rebels, 1937, SEC, 11/07/1998
24. Memphis Tigers, 1960, C-USA, 09/04/1999
25. California Golden Bears, 1937, Pac-10, 09/11/1999
The remaining FBS programs are ranked below ...
26. Houston Cougars, 1949, C-USA, 09/23/2000
27. Louisville Cardinals, 1962, Big East, 09/23/2000
28. Indiana Hoosiers, 1937, Big Ten, 10/14/2000
29. Iowa Hawkeyes, 1937, Big Ten, 10/14/2000
30. Marshall Thundering Herd, 1997, C-USA, 10/14/2000
31. Michigan State Spartans, 1937, Big Ten, 10/21/2000
32. Rice Owls, 1937, C-USA, 10/28/2000
33. Alabama Crimson Tide, 1937, SEC, 11/18/2000
34. Penn State Nittany Lions, 1937, Big Ten, 10/06/2001
35. West Virginia Mountaineers, 1939, Big East, 10/06/2001
36. Oregon State Beavers, 1937, Pac-10, 09/28/2002
37. Tulane Green Wave, 1937, C-USA, 09/28/2002
38. Central Michigan Chippewas, 1975, MAC, 10/19/2002
39. UL Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns, 1974, Sun Belt, 10/26/2002
40. Kansas Jayhawks, 1937, Big XII, 11/02/2002
41. LSU Tigers, 1937, SEC, 11/16/2002
42. Missouri Tigers, 1937, Big XII, 11/23/2002
43. Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 1946, Big East, 11/23/2002
44. Clemson Tigers, 1937, ACC, 08/30/2003
45. UTEP Miners, 1940, C-USA, 09/13/2003
46. Northwestern Wildcats, 1937, Big Ten, 09/27/2003
47. Iowa State Cyclones, 1937, Big XII, 11/08/2003
48. Texas A&M Aggies, 1937, Big XII, 11/08/2003
49. UNLV Rebels, 1978, Mountain West, 11/08/2003
50. Vanderbilt Commodores, 1937, SEC, 11/22/2003
51. BYU Cougars, 1938, Mountain West, 11/22/2003
52. Southern Miss Golden Eagles, 1963, C-USA, 12/31/2003
53. Tulsa Golden Hurricane, 1937, C-USA, 09/18/2004
54. Texas Longhorns, 1937, Big XII, 10/09/2004
55. SMU Mustangs, 1937, C-USA, 10/30/2004
56. Western Michigan Broncos, 1962, MAC, 11/06/2004
57. Ohio Bobcats, 1983, MAC, 09/17/2005
58. Arizona Wildcats, 1939, Pac-10, 10/01/2005
59. Oklahoma State Cowboys, 1939, Big XII, 10/01/2005
60. Ball State Cardinals, 1983, MAC, 10/01/2005
61. Cincinnati Bearcats, 1946, Big East, 11/09/2005
62. Connecticut Huskies, 2000, Big East, 11/12/2005
63. USF Bulls, 2001, Big East, 12/31/2005
64. Illinois Fighting Illini, 1937, Big Ten, 09/09/2006
65. South Carolina Gamecocks, 1939, SEC, 09/09/2006
66. UAB Blazers, 1996, C-USA, 09/16/2006
67. Troy Trojans, 2002, Sun Belt, 09/23/2006
68. North Texas Mean Green, 1995, Sun Belt, 09/30/2006
69. Kentucky Wildcats, 1937, SEC, 10/14/2006
70. Navy Midshipmen, 1937, Independent, 10/14/2006
71. Colorado State Rams, 1940, Mountain West, 10/21/2006
72. Purdue Boilermakers, 1937, Big Ten, 10/28/2006
73. Buffalo Bulls, 1999, MAC, 10/28/2006
74. Stanford Cardinal, 1937, Pac-10, 11/04/2006
75. North Carolina Tar Heels, 1937, ACC, 11/11/2006
76. Florida State Seminoles, 1955, ACC, 11/11/2006
77. San Diego State Aztecs, 1969, Mountain West, 11/18/2006
78. Virginia Cavaliers, 1940, ACC, 11/25/2006
79. Baylor Bears, 1937, Big XII, 09/01/2007
80. Syracuse Orange, 1937, Big East, 09/08/2007
81. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, 1999, Sun Belt, 09/15/2007
82. Utah Utes, 1938, Mountain West, 09/22/2007
83. Miami (OH) Red Hawks, 1983, MAC, 09/22/2007
84. New Mexico Lobos, 1940, Mountain West, 11/03/2007
85. Utah State Aggies, 1939, WAC, 11/10/2007
86. Miami Hurricanes, 1946, ACC, 11/10/2007
87. Temple Owls, 1971, MAC, 11/10/2007
88. Akron Zips, 1987, MAC, 11/14/2007
89. Oregon Ducks, 1937, Pac-10, 11/24/2007
90. Nevada Wolfpack, 1992, WAC, 12/22/2007
91. Western Kentucky, 2008, Independent, 09/14/2002*
92. NC State Wolfpack, 1940, ACC, 08/28/2008
93. Kent State Golden Flashes, 1983, MAC, 08/30/2008
94. Idaho Vandals, 1997, WAC, 08/30/2008
95. FIU Golden Panthers, 2006, Sun Belt, 09/06/2008
96. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, 1989, WAC, 09/06/2008
97. FAU Owls, 2006, Sun Belt, 09/12/2008
98. UCLA Bruins, 1937, Pac-10, 09/13/2008
99. Eastern Michigan Eagles, 1983, MAC, 09/27/2008
100. Maryland Terrapins, 1940, ACC, 10/04/2008
101. Duke Blue Devils, 1937, ACC, 10/04/2008
102. Wyoming Cowboys, 1940, Mountain West, 10/04/2008
103. Toledo Rockets, 1962, MAC, 10/04/2008
104. Arizona State Sun Devils, 1956, Pac-10, 10/11/2008
105. Wake Forest Demon Deacons, 1939, ACC, 10/18/2008
106. Colorado Buffaloes, 1937, Big XII, 10/25/2008
107. Washington Huskies, 1937, Pac-10, 11/01/2008
108. New Mexico State Aggies, 1959, WAC, 11/01/2008
109. Arkansas State Red Wolves, 1992, Sun Belt, 11/01/2008
110. Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 1937, Independent, 11/08/2008
111. San Jose State Spartans, 1950, WAC, 11/08/2008
112. UL Monroe War Hawks, 1994, Sun Belt, 11/15/2008
113. Washington State Cougars, 1937, Pac-10, 11/15/2008
114. Minnesota Golden Gophers, 1937, Big Ten, 11/22/2008
115. Northern Illinois Huskies, 1983, MAC, 11/25/2008
116. Mississippi State Bulldogs, 1937, SEC, 11/28/2008
117. Auburn Tigers, 1937, SEC, 11/29/2008
118. UCF Knights, 1996, C-USA, 11/29/2008
119. Army Black Knights, 1937, Independent, 12/06/2008
120. Pittsburgh Panthers, 1937, Big East, 12/31/2008
* Western Kentucky's streak dates back to 2002. However, WKU did not begin playing in the Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) until this season. Thus, for the purpose of this ranking, they were only given credit back to the beginning of the '08 season.
