A Win for All

One of my favorite things to do every college football season around November is figure out what it would take for every team in Division I-A to win a game. Last year, we almost pulled it off. Too bad Tyrone Willingham and his hapless Washington Huskies went 0-12. They couldn't even beat an atrocious Washington State team in the final game to save face.

This season is tough, but do-able. A quick rundown:

Rice (0-8) actually won 10 games last year. Yes, 10!! What a difference a year makes. They're being beaten mercilessly by everyone they play. Good news -- they have at least one winable game on the schedule. I look for the Owls to win at home vs. Tulane:

Sat, Nov 7 at Southern Methodist
Sat, Nov 14 Tulane
Sat, Nov 21 UTEP
Sat, Nov 28 at (15) Houston


Miami of Ohio (0-8) is another surprisingly bad team. Big Ben Roethlisberger's alma mater is normally a mid-to-upper MAC team. Too bad they don't have the MAC's other winless team (Eastern Michigan) on the schedule. However, they do have some other winable games:

Sat, Oct 31 Toledo
Thu, Nov 5 at Temple
Thu, Nov 12 Bowling Green
Wed, Nov 18 Buffalo

Eastern Michigan (0-7) is always pretty bad. The season finale at Akron is their best shot at a winner.

Sat, Oct 31 at Arkansas
Thu, Nov 5 at Northern Illinois
Sat, Nov 14 Western Michigan
Fri, Nov 20 at Toledo
Fri, Nov 27 at Akron

New Mexico (0-7) is another head scratcher. The Lobos are normally pretty decent. San Diego State and Colorado State both very do-able. BYU, TCU and Utah -- forget about it.

Sat, Oct 31 at San Diego State
Sat, Nov 7 at Utah
Sat, Nov 14 Brigham Young
Sat, Nov 21 Colorado State
Sat, Nov 28 at TCU

Western Kentucky (0-7) used to be a I-AA power, but the transition to I-A (or am I supposed to say FBS?) has been a little rocky. The good news: they play in the Sun Belt. Lots of winable games are to be had:

Sat, Oct 31 at North Texas
Sat, Nov 7 Troy
Sat, Nov 14 at Louisiana-Monroe
Sat, Nov 28 at Florida Atlantic
Thu, Dec 3 Arkansas State