When will each undefeated team in college basketball lose?

Three hundred and sixty-one teams exist in NCAA Division I college basketball. With the Nebraska Cornhuskers falling in a nail-biter to the Michigan Wolverines, 75-72, just two of these teams remain undefeated.

Only three teams in this century have completed an undefeated regular season; those being Wichita State in 2013-14, Kentucky in 2014-15 and Gonzaga in 2020-21.

No team has completed an undefeated regular season and won the National Championship since the Indiana Hoosiers in 1975-76.

Let’s look at both of the undefeated teams that remain and see when, if either of them, will lose their first game.

The Arizona Wildcats are the nation’s top-ranked team, hold a record of 21-0 and are 8-0 in conference play. They are led by NBA draft prospects Brayden Burries (15.2 PPG) and Koa Peat (14.5 PPG).

Their road to 31-0 will not be smooth, with half of their remaining ten games against ranked teams, all in the top 14.

Let’s go game-by-game.

Their next two opponents are unranked Arizona State and Oklahoma State. These should both be solid victories.

Following those games, it’s the No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks, led by potential NBA top pick Darryn Peterson. This game is also on the road in Lawrence, so it’ll be a test, but one I think Arizona can weather.

This will also spur them to home wins over No. 11 Texas Tech and No. 13 BYU, the latter of which Arizona just defeated on the road.

I predict their first loss will be on the road in Houston on Feb. 21 vs. the No. 10 Cougars. This would put their record at 26-1.

Let’s take a look now at the Miami RedHawks of Ohio, who are 21-0 and 9-0 in the Mid-American Conference. Despite their undefeated record, they are only ranked 24th nationally. While the team lacks NBA draft talent, they are led by guards Brant Byers (15.1 PPG) and Peter Suder (14.1 PPG).

This is likely because not a single ranked game exists on their schedule. But who can take them down?

It won’t be the 7-13 NIU Huskies, who have the task of squaring off against the RedHawks next.

I think it will be the next game against the Buffalo Bulls, who took this team to overtime a little over a week ago. Now, the two teams are set to square off again, this time on Buffalo’s home court.

It’s been a good run for the RedHawks, but it won’t end perfectly.

It’ll be a fight for 31-0 for both squads. Let’s see if they can get it done.

Jacob Petrarca is a fourth-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email jap6840@psu.edu