Who had the most elite losses over the last five years? Here are the 1-130 rankings of the teams and their losses to the best of the best – the defeats to the powerhouses on the slate.
Contact @PeteFiutak
Sometimes, a team should get a bit of a pass for losing a game.
While some schools and coaches – (cough) Michigan and Jim Harbaugh (cough) – aren’t allowed to lose to the elite of the elite teams, there should be a little bit of forgiveness if you just so happen to have the misfortune of facing to one of a season’s superstars.
Who had the most losses to the best teams over the last five seasons?
Elite Losses: defeats to FBS teams that finished a season with two losses or fewer.
– CFN Preview 2020: All 130 Team Previews
130 UTSA
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 0
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: 130
T121 Arizona State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 1
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T118
T121 Boise State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 1
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T118
T121 Liberty
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 1
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T118
T121 Louisiana Tech
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 1
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T121 Rice
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 1
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T121 San Diego State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 1
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T121 UAB
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 1
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T118
T121 UTEP
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 1
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T118
– CFN 2020 ACC Preseason Rankings
T121 WKU
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 1
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T118
T109 Appalachian State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 2
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T109 Ball State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 2
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T109 Bowling Green
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 2
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T109 BYU
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 2
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T109 FIU
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 2
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T109 Marshall
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 2
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T118
T109 Nevada
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 2
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T109 Old Dominion
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 2
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T109 Southern Miss
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 2
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
– CFN 2020 All-American Athletic Team
T109 Toledo
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 2
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T109 UMass
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 2
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T109 Western Michigan
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 2
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
NEXT: Top 87 Elite Loss Rankings
2020 CFN Five-Year Program Analysis: Elite Loss Rankings Top 87
Losses to FBS teams that finished a season with two losses or fewer.
T87 Alabama
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T87 Arizona
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T87 Buffalo
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T87 California
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T87 Central Michigan
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
– CFN 2020 Big 12 Preseason Rankings
T87 Charlotte
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T118
T87 Clemson
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T87 Coastal Carolina
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T87 Colorado
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T87 Colorado State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T87 Duke
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T118
T87 Eastern Michigan
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
– CFN 2020 All-Conference USA Team
T87 Florida Atlantic
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T87 Fresno State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T87 Middle Tennessee
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T87 New Mexico State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T87 North Carolina
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T118
T87 Northern Illinois
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T87 Ohio
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T87 UCF
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
– CFN 2020 All-Independent Team
T87 UNLV
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T87 Virginia
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 3
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T118
T66 Akron
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
T66 Arkansas
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T66 Army
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T66 Georgia
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T66 Georgia State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T66 Houston
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T118
T66 Kent State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
T66 Kentucky
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T66 LSU
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
T66 Miami
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T66 Miami Univ.
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T66 Missouri
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T66 North Texas
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T66 Ohio State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T66 Oregon
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
T66 South Alabama
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T66 Texas State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T66 Troy
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T66 Utah
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T66 Utah State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T101
T66 Washington State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 4
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
NEXT: Top 49 Elite Loss Rankings
2020 CFN Five-Year Program Analysis: Elite Loss Rankings Top 49
Losses to FBS teams that finished a season with two losses or fewer.
T49 Air Force
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T49 Arkansas State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T49 Florida
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
T49 Georgia Southern
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T49 Iowa
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T49 Minnesota
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
T49 NC State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
– CFN 2020 All-Mountain West Team
T49 New Mexico
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T49 Oklahoma
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
T49 Oklahoma State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
T49 Oregon State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
T49 Purdue
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T49 Stanford
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T49 Temple
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
T49 UCLA
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
– CFN 2020 Pac-12 Preseason Rankings
T49 ULM
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T77
T49 Washington
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 5
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
NEXT: Top 39 Elite Loss Rankings
2020 CFN Five-Year Program Analysis: Elite Loss Rankings Top 39
Losses to FBS teams that finished a season with two losses or fewer.
T34 Boston College
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
T34 Kansas
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
T34 Kansas State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
T34 Louisiana
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
– CFN 2020 SEC Preseason Rankings
T34 Michigan State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
T34 Notre Dame
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
T34 Ole Miss
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T34 Penn State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
T34 Syracuse
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
T34 Texas
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
T34 UConn
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
T34 Virginia Tech
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
T34 Wake Forest
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
T34 West Virginia
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
T34 Wyoming
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 6
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
T20 Baylor
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 7
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
T20 East Carolina
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 7
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
T20 Georgia Tech
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 7
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
T20 Hawaii
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 7
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T60
T20 Illinois
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 7
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
T20 Mississippi State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 7
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
T20 Pitt
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 7
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
T20 San Jose State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 7
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
– CFN Preview 2020: Team Previews, Rankings, Features
T20 TCU
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 7
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
T20 Texas Tech
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 7
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T8
T20 Tulsa
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 7
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
T20 USC
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 7
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
T20 USF
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 7
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
T20 Wisconsin
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 7
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
T14 Cincinnati
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 8
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
T14 Louisville
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 8
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
T14 Memphis
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 8
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
T14 Nebraska
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 8
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
T14 Tulane
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 8
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
T14 Vanderbilt
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 8
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T40
NEXT: Top 14 Elite Loss Rankings
2020 CFN Five-Year Program Analysis: Elite Loss Rankings
Losses to FBS teams that finished a season with two losses or fewer.
T7 Florida State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 9
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
2019: Boise State, at Clemson, at Florida
2018: Clemson, at Notre Dame
2017: Alabama, at Clemson
2016: Clemson
2015: Houston (Chick-fil-A Peach)
T7 Iowa State
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 9
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T4
2019: at Oklahoma, Notre Dame (Camping World)
2018: Oklahoma, Washington State (Alamo)
2017: None
2016: Oklahoma
2015: Iowa, at Toledo, TCU, at Oklahoma
T7 Navy
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 9
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T8
2019: at Memphis, at Notre Dame
2018: Notre Dame, at Cincinnati, at UCF, Army
2017: UCF
2016: at USF
2015: at Houuston
T7 Northwestern
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 9
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
2019: Ohio State, Minnesota
2018: Notre Dame, Ohio State (Big Ten Championship)
2017: at Wisconsin, Penn State
2016: Western Michigan, at Ohio State
2015: Iowa
T7 SMU
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 9
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T4
2019: at Memphis, at Navy
2018: at UCF, Cincinnati
2017: UCF
2016: USF
2015: at TCU, at Houston, at Navy
T7 Tennessee
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 9
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T11
2019: at Florida, Georgia, at Alabama
2018: Alabama
2017: Georgia, at Alabama
2016: Alabama
2015: Oklahoma, at Alabama
T7 Texas A&M
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 9
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
2019: at Clemson, Alabama, at Georgia, at LSU
2018: Clemson, at Alabama
2017:Alabama
2016: at Alabama
2015:Alabama
T4 Indiana
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 10
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T2
2019: Ohio State, at Penn State
2018: at Ohio State
2017: Ohio State, at Penn State, Wisconsin
2016: at Ohio State
2015: Ohio State, at Michigan State, Iowa
T4 Rutgers
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 10
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T4
2019: Minnesota, Ohio State, at Penn State
2018: at Ohio State
2017: Ohio State, at Penn State
2016: at Washington, at Ohio State
2015: Michigan State, Ohio State
T4 South Carolina
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 10
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T26
2019: Alabama, Florida, Appalachian State, Clemson
2018: at Clemson
2017: at Georgia, Clemson
2016: at Clemson, USF (Birmingham)
2015: Clemson
3 Michigan
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 11
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T2
2019: at Penn State, Ohio State, Alabama (Florida Citrus)
2018: Notre Dame, at Ohio State
2017: at Penn State, at Wisconsin, Ohio State
2016: at Ohio State
2015: Michigan State, Ohio State
T1 Auburn
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 12
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: T4
2019: at Florida, at LSU, Minnesota (Outback)
2018: at Alabama
2017: at Clemson, Georgia (SEC Championship), UCF (Peach)
2016: Clemson, at Alabama, Oklahoma (Sugar)
2015: Alabama
T1 Maryland
5-Year Elite Loss Total: 12
2019 Elite Loss Total Ranking: 1
2019: Penn State, at Minnesota, at Ohio State
2018: Ohio State
2017: UCF, at Ohio State, at Wisconsin, Penn State
2016: Ohio State
2015: at Ohio State, at Iowa, at Michigan State
