NCAA Football - What is required for an 'undefeated' season?

[ChiangMaiThai]

Hi All. Hoping that the TV community can help to settle a friendly wager between friends. FSU is currently 11 and 0. They play Florida next week. Then there is the ACC Championship game against GT Dec 6.

Now, if FSU beats Florida next week, do we declare that they had an 'undefeated' season? OR, must they also win the ACC Championship game for their season to be considered undefeated?

At least everyone in this bar agrees that bowl games and playoffs/national championship games can be lost and the team can still be credited with an undefeated season (recent examples are Notre Dame and Oregon). The confusion seems to be the conference championship game.

Looking forward to your thoughts!

[NeverSure]

Easy. An undefeated season is a "perfect season." To do that a team has to win its conference championship, go to the eligible bowl game or (in the case of the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the nation the national championship,) and win every game, all the way.

If a team makes it to the assigned bowl game or the national championship and loses, it isn't undefeated.

[up-country_sinclair]

In my opinion they would have to win the ACC Championship game and then the CFP to have an undefeated season.

Edited November 23, 2014 by up-country_sinclair

[ChiangMaiThai]

That's what I though - have to win out. But, then you can see official shirts online for Notre Dame in 2012 proclaiming their undefeated season when in the end they lost the national championship game to Alabama:

http://collegespun.com/national/notre-dame-12-0-t-shirts-unveiled-immediately

What do you think? Can you have an undefeated 'season' and then lose in the bowl game / play off game(s) this year?

I think undefeated means you don't lose. Full stop. Or technically did you have an undefeated season regardless of what happens in the bowl game / playoff game(s)???

[dukeandduke]

That's pitiful, Notre Dame. Anyone wearing that shirt should feel embarrassed, unless you're making fun of Notre Dame. If you're defeated at any point, you're not undefeated.

[ChiangMaiThai]

That's pitiful, Notre Dame. Anyone wearing that shirt should feel embarrassed, unless you're making fun of Notre Dame. If you're defeated at any point, you're not undefeated.

dukeandduke I think I have to agree with your logic here! Not undefeated unless you win out!

[sendbaht]

The USC/ND game is on TV at 3:30am Sunday...just saying....Fight-On!

[wayned]

I've always heard it referred to either "perfect season" or "perfect regular season". Perfect season meaning that you win all games including any post season bowl games. "Perfect regular season" meaning that you win all games up to and including your division championship, but not post season games.