College Football's Bottom Tier: Winless Minutemen Lead Struggle as Regular Season Nears Conclusion

As the college football regular season draws to a close, marking the traditional period of rivalry games and pre-Thanksgiving reflections, a distinct hierarchy of struggle has emerged across the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). While playoff contenders and bowl-bound programs dominate headlines, SportsBreakNews.com examines the teams occupying the lower echelons of the standings, identifying those who have endured the most challenging campaigns. This analysis, based on win-loss records following Week 13, highlights the programs facing significant rebuilding efforts as the calendar turns towards postseason play.

1. Massachusetts Minutemen (0-12)
The University of Massachusetts Minutemen have solidified their position as the nation’s sole winless FBS program, concluding their regular season with a decisive 0-12 record. Their final opportunity to avoid a winless campaign came in a Tuesday afternoon #MACtion matchup against Bowling Green, where they suffered a 45-14 defeat. This result ensures UMass will not participate in any postseason play and concludes a season marked by persistent offensive struggles and defensive vulnerabilities. Since their transition to FBS in 2012, the Minutemen have consistently faced challenges in establishing competitiveness within the top tier of college football, often struggling to recruit and develop talent against more established programs. Head Coach Don Brown, in his second stint with the program, faces an arduous task to elevate UMass’s standing, with the team averaging just 16.7 points per game while surrendering over 38 points per contest throughout the season. Their early finish to the schedule allows the team to begin offseason preparations ahead of their FBS counterparts, a cold comfort after a season devoid of victories.

2. Charlotte 49ers (1-10)
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The Charlotte 49ers concluded their regular season with a 1-10 record, a challenging outcome in their inaugural year in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). The 49ers’ schedule included a high-profile, financially lucrative road game against the No. 1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs, which resulted in a 35-3 loss. While such matchups provide significant revenue for Group of Five programs, they often underscore the competitive gap. Charlotte’s transition to the AAC, a more competitive conference than their previous CUSA affiliation, proved difficult. The team struggled to find consistency on both sides of the ball, particularly in offensive production, which ranked among the lowest in FBS. First-year head coach Biff Poggi has emphasized a culture-building approach, but the on-field results in 2025 highlight the extensive work required to compete effectively in their new league. Their lone victory came early in the season, providing little momentum for the remainder of their arduous campaign.

3. Georgia State Panthers (1-10)
The Georgia State Panthers extended their losing streak to eight games, finishing their season at 1-10 after a road loss to Sun Belt rival Troy. The Panthers, under Head Coach Shawn Elliott, began the season with higher aspirations but quickly found themselves mired in a slump following an initial win. The team’s offensive efficiency plummeted, and their defense, while showing flashes, struggled to contain opponents consistently over four quarters. Key statistics reveal a significant drop in third-down conversion rates and a high turnover margin contributing to their struggles. Their season concludes with a road trip to face Old Dominion, a game that, despite their record, presents an opportunity to snap their lengthy losing skid and end the year on a slightly more positive note. However, the overall performance underscores a need for significant adjustments entering the 2026 season for a program that has seen intermittent success in the Sun Belt.

4. Oklahoma State Cowboys (1-10)
The inclusion of a Power Five program among the nation’s struggling teams is always notable, and this season, the Oklahoma State Cowboys find themselves in an uncharacteristic position with a 1-10 record. Expectations were modest for Oklahoma State entering 2025, but a single victory is a significant underperformance for a program historically competitive in the Big 12 Conference under veteran Head Coach Mike Gundy. The Cowboys have been plagued by inconsistent quarterback play, a ground game that has failed to establish dominance, and a defense that has struggled to get off the field in critical situations. Their season’s sole win came against an FCS opponent, a stark contrast to their usual competitive standing. Their final regular season game is a rivalry week matchup against Iowa State. While a victory would offer a measure of redemption, it would do little to salvage what has been a deeply disappointing season for the Stillwater faithful, who have grown accustomed to bowl appearances and Big 12 contention.

5. Ole Miss Rebels (4-7)
The Ole Miss Rebels, led by high-profile Head Coach Lane Kiffin, find themselves in an unexpectedly challenging position with a 4-7 record, a stark departure from the program’s recent trajectory. Billed as a potential SEC dark horse entering the season, the "Lane Train" appears to have veered significantly off course. After a promising start, the Rebels encountered a brutal stretch of conference play, marked by several narrow losses where late-game execution proved to be their undoing. The team’s offense, known for its explosiveness under Kiffin, struggled with turnovers and red-zone efficiency in crucial moments. Defensively, Ole Miss has shown flashes but has also been susceptible to big plays, particularly against strong SEC opponents. The narrative surrounding the program earlier in the year, which highlighted Kiffin’s comfort and long-term commitment to Oxford, now contrasts sharply with the on-field struggles. As they approach their final regular season game, likely against arch-rival Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl, the Rebels aim to secure a fifth win, salvaging some pride in what has become a frustrating and underperforming season by their own elevated standards.

6. Oregon State Beavers (2-9)
The Oregon State Beavers concluded their regular season with a 2-9 record, marked by a perplexing pattern of inconsistency that saw them alternate between winning and losing streaks. After securing two consecutive victories mid-season, the Beavers reverted to their early-season form, dropping their final two contests. This includes a surprising defeat at the hands of then-winless Sam Houston, a result that further complicated their season narrative. The Beavers, under Head Coach Jonathan Smith, have often been known for their resilience, but the 2025 campaign saw a decline in both offensive and defensive metrics. Quarterback play struggled to maintain consistency, and the team’s typically stout run defense showed vulnerabilities. The final two losses underscored a program grappling with competitive identity and execution as they navigate a challenging period in their conference’s landscape.

7. Sam Houston Bearkats (2-9)
The Sam Houston Bearkats, in their second year of transition to the FBS level, posted a 2-9 record, a testament to the inherent difficulties of stepping up in collegiate football. After an initial winless stretch, the Bearkats showed signs of adaptation, securing back-to-back victories against Oregon State and Delaware. These wins provided a glimmer of hope and demonstrated the team’s potential to compete. However, their momentum was short-lived, as they succumbed to Middle Tennessee State in their subsequent outing. Head Coach K.C. Keeler continues to guide the program through its challenging FBS integration, focusing on building depth and experience. While the overall record is indicative of a struggling team, the mid-season victories offer a foundation for growth as Sam Houston continues to develop its roster and establish itself within Conference USA.

8. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (2-9)
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders finished their regular season with a 2-9 record, concluding a campaign that saw them grapple with offensive stagnation and defensive lapses. Their most recent victory, a 31-17 win over fellow struggling program Sam Houston, was a notable moment in an otherwise difficult season. This matchup, often characterized by analysts as a "low-stakes encounter," highlighted the challenges both teams faced in securing wins. The Blue Raiders, under veteran Head Coach Rick Stockstill, have historically been a competitive program in Conference USA, but 2025 presented an array of hurdles, including injuries to key players and an inability to convert scoring opportunities. Their final regular season game is a road trip to face New Mexico State, a team that, contrary to Middle Tennessee’s struggles, has shown significant improvement this season, making the matchup a formidable challenge for the Blue Raiders.

9. UTEP Miners (2-9)
The UTEP Miners concluded their regular season with a 2-9 record, consistently finding themselves among the nation’s struggling teams. Despite their persistent presence in the lower tiers of the standings, the Miners often play competitive games, as evidenced by their recent 34-31 loss to New Mexico State in the 102nd edition of the "Battle of I-10." This rivalry, predating the actual construction of the interstate itself, saw UTEP fall in the closing seconds, reiterating a season-long theme of near misses and inability to close out contests. Head Coach Dana Dimel’s squad demonstrated flashes of potential, particularly on offense, but struggled with defensive consistency and costly penalties throughout the year. The Miners will need to address these issues to improve their standing in Conference USA in future seasons.

10. Boston College Eagles (1-10)
The Boston College Eagles concluded their regular season with a 1-10 record, a deeply disappointing outcome for an ACC program with historical significance. The Eagles endured a challenging schedule and struggled to find a consistent offensive rhythm or defensive tenacity. While they nearly upset Georgia Tech two weekends prior, they ultimately fell short, watching as fellow former Big East member Pitt instead delivered the blow to the Yellow Jackets’ season. Boston College’s struggles have been multifaceted, including difficulties in protecting the quarterback and a lack of explosive plays. Their final game of the year is against Syracuse, another program that has experienced its own share of difficulties this season, having recently suffered a significant loss to Notre Dame. This matchup presents a final opportunity for Boston College to secure a second victory and carry some positive momentum into what will undoubtedly be a crucial offseason for Head Coach Jeff Hafley and his staff.

Teams on the Brink:
Several other programs have also endured challenging seasons and remain on the periphery of the nation’s bottom tier. These include Nevada, San José State, Purdue, Arkansas, ULM (University of Louisiana Monroe), and Colorado State. Each faces their own unique set of challenges, from conference realignments to coaching transitions and roster rebuilding, reflecting the inherent competitive fluctuations within college football.