I recently realized that Les Miles may have set the record for most consecutive regular season non-conference wins before dropping one by a head coach at one school (according to LSU websites it is the overall regular season non conference win record in NCAA history). I could not find a coach in the past 20 years that came anywhere close to going 11 seasons before losing a regular season non conference game (or "exhibition games" as Dennis Franchione called them). Bear Bryant went 12 seasons at Alabama (14 going back to his time at A&M), but with only 2 or 3 non conference games per season, he fell short of the consecutive game record. There was also a tie during Bear Bryant’s streak. I decided to see if any current coaches have a similar streak. Right now only 6 current coaches have a streak of at least 1 season since taking over their current job. All 6 coaches play games that could end their streak week 1 this year (see below). *This excludes first year head coaches. 1. Les Miles - LSU - 11 seasons, 42 wins. Victories over 8 ranked teams, 12 BCS conference teams and 7 teams from Division 1AA. *TCU in 2013 was the only Big 12 team faced. Les Miles’s personal streak is 13 seasons, 50 games going back to 2002 at Oklahoma State (lost to UCLA). LSU’s streak is 13 seasons, 52 games going back to 2002 (lost to Virginia Tech). 2. Kevin Sumlin - Texas A&M - 4 seasons, 16 wins Victories over 2 ranked teams, 1 BCS conference team and 5 teams from Division 1AA. Kevin Sumlin’s personal streak is 5 seasons, 20 games going back to 2010 at Houston (lost to Mississippi State). A&M’s streak is the same as Sumlin’s at Texas A&M (lost to Arkansas in 2011). 3. Jim Mora - UCLA - 4 seasons, 12 wins Victories over 3 ranked teams, 5 BCS conference teams and 0 teams from Division 1AA. Jim Mora’s first college coaching job is UCLA so his streak is the same. UCLA’s streak is the same as Mora’s at UCLA (lost to Texas in 2011). 3. Rich Rodriguez - Arizona - 4 seasons, 12 wins Victories over 1 ranked team, 1 BCS conference team and 3 Division 1AA teams. Rich Rodriguez’s personal streak is 6 seasons, 20 games going back to 2008 at Michigan (lost to Toledo). Arizona’s streak is 4 seasons, 13 games going back to 2011 (lost to Oklahoma State). 3. Gus Malzahn - Auburn - 3 seasons, 12 wins Victories over 1 ranked team, 3 BCS conference teams and 3 Division 1AA teams. Gus Malzhan’s streak is 3 seasons, 13 games going back to 2012 at Arkansas State (lost to Nebraska). Auburn’s streak is 3 seasons, 15 games going back to 2012 (lost to Clemson). 6. Tom Herman - Houston - 1 season, 4 wins Victories over 0 ranked teams, 2 BCS conference teams and 1 Division 1AA team. Herman has only been a head coach one season. *Herman is a perfect 5-0 in all non conference games including the win over #9 Florida State in the Peach Bowl. Houston’s streak is 1 season, 5 wins going back to 2014 (lost to BYU). Week 1 Oklahoma @ Houston UCLA @ Texas A&M LSU @ Wisconsin Clemson @ Auburn BYU @ Arizona In conclusion, a very random win streak is on the line week 1. At least one coach will keep his streak going and one will lose it in College Station.
Very interesting stuff. I know the scheduling gods have a lot to do with this and we don't get to witness much of it behind the scenes, but my guess is that a lot of coaches put huge stock in early victories with little risk. My picks: OU beats UH by about 2-3 scores. I know everyone is choosing UH because of the way they were rolling at the end of 2015, but they don't have the interior line to compete with OU's. Herman's short-lived streak comes to a demise. I think the Aggies probably pull it off against UCLA. They'll have a serviceable QB and lots of good skill players. Mora's streak comes to an end. LSU all over Wisconsin. I bet Fournette gets 200+ yards. Miles stays in the doghouse because LSU won't win the national championship. Clemson over Auburn. Malzahn's streak comes to an end, but he doesn't seem like the kind of guy that would freak out over that. Not sure about BYU/Zona until we watch BYU's QB situation. Have to lean towards Arizona then. Rich Rod's streak stays alive!
Horns11, Solid post. Going to have to agree with all of your picks. I feel like if U of H was not coming off the 13-1 season, they may have a better shot to upset. Bob Stoops has overlooked good week 1 foes before. He lost to TCU week 1 in 2005 and BYU week 1 in 2009. However, he will be ready for U of H this time and I do not think U of H has the defensive talent to put the necessary pressure on Mayfield to win. Aggy absolutely should win their game on paper. The problem with predicting that game is the same problem with predicting any game involving aggy. In any game, aggy could fall spectacularly on their face and blow it. Sumlin tends not to blow it until 4 or 5 games into the season, so A&M should prevail. Also, I watched Rosen lose to Washington State last year and was not impressed. Rosen seems overhyped and overrated going into this season. LSU should take Wisconsin. The badgers only shot is to find some sort of Lambeau magic... probably not. Les Miles seems like he has one his better teams that will beat Alabama in the regular season then somehow not win a national championship. Clemson should outscore Auburn. Arizona/BYU looks like an even matchup. Both teams return a lot of players this season and should be good. BYU has that Taysom Hill guy for another year and I think I would predict a win if they still had Bronco Mendenhall. I do not know how good BYU's new coach is (he could be the next Bear Bryant for all I know), but I am going to have to also go with Rich Rodriguez against a BYU coach who is coaching his first ever game as a head coach at any level.
Looks like Horns11 and I both underestimated Herman and Applewhite. Herman's streak is now 5 regular season non conference wins and 6 overall with back to back wins over #9 Florida State and #3 OU with both wins coming by 10 points or more.
I also **** the bed on the LSU call. Miles is gonna get fired. That's more likely than me being right about a game prognostication.
LSU and Les Miles lose a non conference game for the first time since 2002!!!!!! The streak is over!!!!! Sumlin prevails over Mora in overtime meaning Sumlin currently has the longest streak, though I doubt he ever catches Les Miles's record, weak schedule or not.
Rich Rodriguez and Gus Malzahn also lost. Excluding the 20 first year coaches that have yet to lose a non conference game, only Kevin Sumlin (17 wins) and Tom Herman (5 wins, 6 overall) have active streaks. It is pretty crazy that 4 of the 6 coaches with win streaks went down on one Saturday. As conferences make schools play at least one Power 5 team in non-conference play annually, it seems very unlikely that Les Miles's 42 win streak will ever be caught. Sumlin has @UCLA next year and a home and home with the Clemson the following years, so he will almost certainly lose one of those. Herman still has to play Louisville this year. He should win, but this year's Louisville team appears to be a top 25 team and will challenge U of H.
