Streak, noun [streek] – an uninterrupted series; a spell or run
“We’re going streaking!” – Frank the Tank, Old School (2003)
College Football Streaks: The Good, the Bad, and the Woeful
Rakeem Cato Touchdown Pass Streak
Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato eclipsed Russell Wilson for the most consecutive games with a touchdown pass. He has thrown for a touchdown in 39 consecutive games.
With 39 down, this streak might continue for the rest of the season; if not through a bowl game. The Thundering Herd have five games left, all of which they will be favored, and against opponents who will likely give up a few touchdowns.
Marshall has the easiest route in the country to an undefeated season, with Florida State visiting Louisville, and the Egg Bowl guaranteeing a one-loss team from Mississippi. The Herd aren’t lighting up any strength of schedule fanatics, with no one on the slate left in conference that will slow down Cato.
If Marshall continues its ways, and East Carolina drops off, the Herd could find itself in a New Year’s Six Bowl, as the Group of Five representative. It could be a Boise State over Oklahoma type situation, or it could go the way of the Hawaii/Georgia Sugar Bowl.
It all depends on whom the committee sees fit for the matchup; be it an SEC team in the Peach Bowl, that touchdown mark could come to an end.
Oregon Beating Washington
A “Decade of Dominance” has been cemented in this bordering state war. Oregon has been flat out whipping the Huskies in Eugene, Seattle, wherever they meet. The Ducks had the edge in the BCS era, and it continued into College Football Playoff land, with the streak now at 11.
The margin of victory in these games hasn’t given Washington fans hope that their guys can even compete. Oregon follows its usual script in this game annually, jumping out in front, maybe tacking on a two-point conversion somewhere in the first quarter, and coasting in the second half.
With Marcus Mariota under center (in shotgun) in Eugene during the Ducks run, Washington doesn’t seem poised to get in the win column with this incarnation. If the talent keeps rolling into Oregon, and Chris Peterson doesn’t work some Boise magic in the Emerald City, this streak could stretch into “decades” of dominance.
I don’t realistically see Oregon stretching this out that far. Every Husky has its day, and surely one fall day in Seattle, the University of Washington will start its own streak versus their rival woodland critters.
Gators Chomping Wildcats
Florida owns an astounding 28-game winning streak over Kentucky. The Gators have been equally as dominant as the Ducks over the Huskies, but just last month Kentucky gave the Gators all they could handle in a three overtime 36-30 game in The Swamp. Given that fans are now chanting for Will Muschamp to be fired, during the game, a football winning streak over a basketball school hardly seems a consolation prize. The Wildcats are ahead of Florida in the SEC East and appear closer to breaking through the wall of Gainesville before Washington cracks the Duck code.
Florida State 23-Game Winning Streak
If Florida State keeps its record unblemished for eight more games, the Seminoles will have back-to-back national championships along with a 31-game winning streak. FSU hasn’t lost since November 24, 2012 (Florida 37-26). They have a Thursday night date with Louisville that will test their offense. If Jameis Winston stays in the picture, they have an outstanding shot to defend their ACC title against the Coastal Champs (Duke, you there?). Whoever comes out of the Coastal might not have the defense to stop the ‘Noles.
If they do make the College Football Playoff, here’s where this reign really comes under fire. If an SEC team gets the one seed, they would get the Sugar Bowl, for geographic preference. As a two or three seed, Florida State would head out west again to Pasadena. They won there last season, but it’s a two-parter this year. FSU would have to earn their way into the sequel, a spot in the CFP Final in Arlington. The Seminoles began the year in Cowboys Stadium, knocking off Oklahoma State. If they make it back to Jerry’s World, they’ll put a 30-game win streak on the line, and a chance to repeat.
Florida State and VA Tech Bowl Streaks
Another Florida State streak that’s guaranteed to extend is their 32 straight bowl game appearances. At 7-0, FSU is going bowling; the only drama is where the ‘Noles will wind up.
Frank Beamer’s Virginia Tech Hokies have been to a bowl for 21 straight years. Both of these college football blueblood programs have been so ingrained in the bowl scene for decades that these streaks get taken for granted. Some schools long for a bowl appearance, while the ‘Noles and Hokies make it look easy.
After taking a beating at the hands of the Miami (FL) Hurricanes, the 4-4 Hokies need a split in their final four games to extend this streak to 22 years.
Stanford 30 Under 30
Despite being 4-3, .500 in conference, and unranked for the first time since Andrew Luck graced The Farm, the Stanford defense has gone 30 straight games without allowing more than 30 points. The last crack in the foundation of the Cardinal defense was a 54-48 OT shootout against Arizona on October 6th, 2012. While Oregon State might not put up 30 on Stanford, the trip up to Eugene smells like trouble for the Cardinal. If Oregon’s offensive line woes are solved, they might hang a few on Nerd Nation.
Arkansas SEC Losing Streak
The Razorbacks have dropped 16 straight conference games dating back to October 27, 2012. They last won 49-7 over Kentucky. They won’t extend (and don’t want to) this for a week, as the Hogs welcome the Alabama-Birmingham Blazers to Razorback Stadium.
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