Nine . . . eight . . . seven . . . six . . . That’s the NASA-like countdown of the dwindling roster of unbeaten FBS teams in college football, where the perfect records have been falling like British prime ministers. Only the Spotless Six remain. This time last season, there were nine. So maybe this can be like the Masters, where the previous year’s winner hangs around on Sunday to help the new champion into his green jacket. Stand by, Cincinnati. The final no-loss team in 2021 — the Bearcats’ perfection survived until they were Nick Sabaned in the playoffs — can be there to congratulate the last unbeaten standing in 2022.
But who, and when?
With November coming, when the thermometer drops and the stakes increase, Moments of Truth declares this to be Zero Weekend. Only those with zeroes on the right side of their hyphens need apply.
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 13 Penn State | Noon ET, Saturday | FOX
Really, is there any reason to believe the Ohio State train won’t keep rolling, faster and way more on schedule than Amtrak? The frighteningly complete Buckeyes are fourth in the nation in total offense and second in total defense. Penn State is 49th and 63rd. They have scored on all 36 trips into the red zone this season, 31 by a touchdown. They have mashed their first four Big Ten opponents by an average of 51-15. They have beaten the Nittany Lions nine of their past 10 meetings, though the average winning margin of the past six games of the series has been only six points.
Penn State’s potential to deal with the big dogs is uncertain. Its lone bout against a ranked heavyweight so far this season was a 41-17 knockout by Michigan in Ann Arbor, and the only unresolved issue left from that quashing has been both coaches arguing over what started a spat between the two teams in the stadium tunnel.
Still, this will be in State College, where it seems Sean Clifford has been quarterback since the Nittany Lion was a cub, starting 40 games. And on Ohio…
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