College Football's Rock Bottom: The 20 Teams Having the Worst Seasons
While many are examining the BCS Standings, some teams have already fallen out of the bowl picture completely.
Some of them have already fired their coaches and others are surely coming.
The reason this title says the "The 20 Teams Having the Worst Seasons" is to avoid debating whether a major conference team could win the Sun Belt or loading up on teams from the MAC, although some still remain. In addition, every conference except the Big East is represented.
If your favorite team is on here, don't take personally. Believe me, as a fellow fan, I've had my share of losing and feel your pain.
No. 16- No. 20
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20. Kansas (2-5)
Turner Gill’s first season at KU hasn’t gone as planned. The Jayhawks have been outscored 159-24 in their last three games at Baylor, versus Kansas State and versus Texas A&M. Not to pick on my alma mater’s in-state rival, but perhaps their opening season 6-3 loss to FCS North Dakota State set the tone for miserable season.
19. Tennessee (2-5)
Like Turner Gill, Derek Dooley has struggled in his first season. The Volunteers are the only SEC team without a conference win. Even when LSU handed the Vols a win, they ran 13 players on the field and gave the Tigers a second chance to run in the winning touchdown. Of Tennessee's two wins, one came against FCS Tennessee-Martin and the other came against UAB, a team that barely missed this list, in overtime.
18. Rice (2-6)
Despite a win over an injury-riddled Houston squad two weeks ago, the Owls don't avoid the list. The Owls have an awful defense ranked 101st in the country.
17. Colorado State (2-6)
Coming off their worst loss of the season, a 59-6 defeat at the hands of Utah, the Rams now give up 35.6 points a game and 442 yards on defense. Let's not forget they rank in the bottom ten in scoring offense.
16. Bowling Green (1-7)
Luck hasn't been on the Falcons side as they've lost three games by three points or less. Still they have the worst rushing offense in the FBS and give up 36.4 points a game.
No. 11- No. 15
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15. Wyoming (2-6)
A strong case could be made that the Cowboys deserve a higher (or lower) rating than this, but somehow they've managed to win two games. Wyoming averages just 225 yards of total offense, good for dead last in the FBS. Oh yeah, they also rank dead last in rushing defense.
14. Florida Atlantic (1-5)
After opening the season with a one-point win over UAB, a team previously noted that barely missed this list, FAU has lost five straight. They are the only team in the Sun Belt without a conference victory. However, one team is more disarray.
13. Marshall (1-6)
Up 21-6 in the fourth quarter against West Virginia in Week 2, the Thundering Herd appeared destined to get their first win over the Mountaineers ever. Instead WVU rallied and won the game in overtime and Marshall's season never recovered. Marshall ranks in the bottom 20 in total offense and defense. Their lone win was a one-point victory over Ohio. The Bobcats scored on the final play of the game, but elected to go for two and failed.
12. Duke (1-6)
Losers of six straight, the Blue Devils only win came against FCS Elon in Week 1.
11. Western Kentucky (1-6)
It’s not easy being new to the FBS which keeps Western Kentucky from being in the top ten. The Hilltoppers, in their second season in the FBS, finally tasted victory since becoming a full member this weekend with a blistering 54-21 win over La-Lafayette. Losers of their previous 26 straight overall, they broke the longest losing streak of any FBS team.
10. Memphis (1-6)
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A bye week saved the Tigers from further humility, but their previous three games were lost by a combined score of 145-26. They've also lost by more than 40 points three times this year and only one (Mississippi State) was against a team that is currently ranked. In their 56-0 loss to Louisville they gave up 380 yards in the first half alone.
Memphis ranks 114th in Total Offense and 111th in Total Defense. They've also lost 12 of their last 13 games dating back to last year.
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9. Minnesota (1-6)
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After a 1-6 start to this season and a 15-30 overall record, Minnesota finally cut ties with Tim Brewster. Since then the Gophers have dropped a 33-21 contest to Penn State.
The Gophers only win came in Week 1 against Middle Tennessee, a team that has the dubious distinction of giving lone victories to Minnesota and Memphis by the same score no doubt, and have since lost seven straight.
Word is that when Nebraska agreed to move to the Big Ten, they did it with an understanding they’d be placed in Minnesota's division. Maybe they were up to something…at least in the short-term.
8. UNLV (1-6)
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After a bye, things don't much easier for the Runnin' Rebels as they take on No. 4 TCU.
UNLV has given up at least 30 points in all but one game this season and rank in the bottom 20 in total offense and defense.
Two weeks ago Colorado State ended a ten-game skid against conference foes when they beat the Rebels 43-10.
7. Washington State (1-7)
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The previous two seasons, the Cougars won a total of three games. Things haven't gone much better this season as they stand at 1-7.
In their only win, Wazzu was losing 22-7 in the 4th quarter before rallying for a 23-22 victory. The only problem: The win was against FCS Montana State. They were also outgained 407-316 in total yards.
Playing in the Pac-10 Conference with a bundle of high-flying offenses doesn't help, but, as the Cougars hold out hope for a win over an FBS opponent, they're giving up 487 yards a game. Yikes!
6. North Texas (1-6)
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Having already fired their head coach Todd Dodge, who had the lowest winning percentage in school history, the Mean Green may be hard-pressed to win another game this season.
The Mean Green have suffered through injuries this season, have lost two one-point games in which one came on a blocked extra point with 31 seconds left and have not surrendered more than 35 points in a game this season. But UNT ranks 109th in scoring offense.
With a coaching search underway the Mean Green are just playing to get through the season at this point.
5. New Mexico State (1-6)
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Two weeks ago when the Aggies faced Fresno State, they achieved a rare feat when they lost yards on each of their first three offensive possessions.
New Mexico State ranks second to last in scoring offense and third to last in total defense. They've also lost thirteen of the last fourteen games with their only win coming against a team that is still coming on this list.
Lucky for the Aggies, they get our next team next week. Even if they don't win, hey, it should be interesting.
4. San Jose State (1-7)
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In all fairness, the Spartans have played the toughest schedule in the FBS.
Opening at Alabama and Wisconsin didn't provide much help in the confidence scheme of things. Not to mention games at Utah and Nevada, and versus Boise State.
However, the Spartans only win came against Southern Utah in a sloppy game they were losing until the 1:10 mark in the fourth quarter. They also lost to UC Davis, another FCS opponent, 14-13.
San Jose State has the worst scoring offense in the nation, averaging a mere 10 points a game.
In their loss to Boise State they garnered just six first downs and 80 yards of offense, including -12 yards rushing.
3. Eastern Michigan (1-7)
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EMU head coach Ron English waited patiently for his first head coaching job, but, unfortunately, he also had to wait halfway through his second season for his first victory. After finishing 0-12 last season, the Eagles got off to an 0-6 start before knocking off Ball State 41-38 in overtime for their first win since Nov. 28, 2008 against Central Michigan.
However, the Eagles followed that up with a 48-21 loss to Virginia this weekend despite a 155-yard and two-touchdown effort from freshman Javonti Greene on just eight carries.
EMU is giving up an average of 44 points a game, good for second to last in the country.
2. Akron (0-8)
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When the Zips loss to Ohio 38-10 two weeks ago they became the first team to officially become ineligible for bowl consideration.
That achievement may have been accelerated the previous week when the Zips gave up two defensive touchdowns to Kent State in a 28-17 loss. One was an interception returned for a touchdown and another was a fumble recovered in the end zone.
Akron currently ranks in the bottom 10 in scoring offense and defense.
After the Zips lost to FCS Gardner-Webb in Week 2 they may be hard-pressed to win a game this season. Especially since previously mentioned Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green don’t appear on their conference schedule.
Akron suffered a 56-10 loss to 3-4 Western Michigan last weekend.
1. New Mexico (0-7)
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Perhaps, with all these other teams on the list, it was leading to a team like this. The Lobos are so shockingly awful it’s hard to imagine just three seasons ago they won nine games.
In the late 1920’s it was said that some filmmakers making experimental films packed their pockets with rocks and stones in case the audience attacked them when making appearances at initial screenings.
Mike Locksley, coach and director of the Lobo Horror Show, may be advised to use the same precautions.
Fans in Albuquerque didn’t think things could get much worse when acts one through three saw the Lobos lose by scores of 72-0, 52-17, and 56-14.
They were wrong.
With a trip to in-state rival New Mexico State in the cards two weeks ago, presenting the Lobos best hope to taste victory this season, the Lobos lost when the Aggies booted a field goal with a less than two minutes to go for a 16-14 edge. Of course the Aggies where aided when New Mexico quarterback Stump Godfrey fumbled at his own 44-yard line allowing the winning drive.
The Aggies previous score occurred in the second quarter, when after getting stuffed, they punted. New Mexico promptly muffed the punt and the Aggies recovered the ball in the end zone to bring the score to 14-13.
The Lobos have since added a loss to San Diego State, a 30-20 margin that may be considered progress. Their previous coach, Rocky Long who left the University on rocky terms, now serves as the Aztecs Defensive Coordinator.
The Lobos currently rank fourth to last in the FBS in scoring offense (on a per game average) and dead last in scoring defense. Locksley finished 1-11 last year and may be lucky to avoid posting a donut in the win column this year.
“2010 Lobo Horror Show: Part Eight at Colorado State” takes place next weekend, but don’t rush to Fort Collins…unless you have a strong stomach.
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