Predicting first loss of every Top 25 college football team

Oregon, Sept. 21. Stanford has one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the nation in K.J. Costello, but it's also facing a brutal opening slate. The Cardinal host Northwestern and then visit USC and UCF before Oregon comes to town. Should Stanford start 3-0, which would be quite impressive, the Ducks might prove too hard to handle  in Week 4. 

Ohio State, Sept. 28. The Cornhuskers are a sexy pick for a revival in 2019, but it will be far from a slam dunk. Nebraska has a legitimate chance to start 4-0, but then comes Ohio State. Memorial Stadium will be rocking, and although the 'Huskers played the Buckeyes tough in 2018, the early good fortune for Scott Frost's bunch should end here. 

At Utah, Sept. 28. Mike Leach's Cougars will be hard-pressed to post another 11-win season, but the cupboard is not completely empty. A trip to Utah to face a Utes squad that is favored to win the Pac 12 South Division for a second straight season is a serious challenge. Plus, Utah has dropped four in a row in this series and should be hungry to end that slide.

At Maryland, Sept. 7. Coming off a 10-win season in 2018, the Orange face a pretty daunting two-game stretch after opening at Liberty, which presents an interesting matchup in itself. A much-anticipated home game vs. Clemson comes on Sept. 14, but we're looking at this contest at Maryland — and new coach Mike Locksley — where Syracuse stumbles for the first time.

Iowa, Sept. 14. Rivalry games can be tough to predict, but the Cyclones have lost four straight to the Hawkeyes. Perhaps more telling, Iowa State has dropped the last three meetings at home — dating to its last series win there in 2011. Both teams are poised for strong seasons in 2019, but history tells us this could again be an early setback for the Cyclones.

At Michigan, Oct. 5. Assuming the Hawkeyes can get past rival Iowa State a few weeks earlier, this should be another hurdle they'll have serious trouble clearing. Iowa has won the last two games against the Wolverines, but both came at home. 

Michigan, Sept. 21.The Badgers are poised to rebound from an eight-win season that in Madison is considered underachieving. Jonathan Taylor is the best running back in the country, and Wisconsin has won four in a row at home over Michigan. However, the Badgers still have questions on both sides of the ball, and the Wolverines should be primed for this road test.

At Northwestern, Sept. 21. The Spartans are a tough team to read entering the season, and it's a little surprising they are even ranked. They open with three straight home games, so that's a plus. Northwestern is Michigan State's first road test. 

Stanford, Sept. 14. Central Florida last lost a regular-season game on Nov. 26, 2016. The Knights won non-conference games at Maryland and over Pittsburgh since then, but this is a major test. The Cardinal aren't in the dominant category but are still a formidable opponent and one that will end UCF's 24-game regular-season winning streak.

At Texas A&M, Sept. 21. This seems like a make-or-break season for Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, but we think it can get by Oregon in what should be an entertaining season opener. Yes, the Tigers rallied to edge the Aggies last season at home and have won three straight at College Station, but Texas A&M is the better team now and should be on Sept. 21.

At Iowa, Oct. 12. Penn State has had teams with more proven talent entering the season than this one, but we like its chances of being 5-0 heading into this contest. The Nittany Lions have won five straight in this series and won at the buzzer in their last visit to Iowa City in 2017. The Hawkeyes surely have had this date circled on their calendar for some time now.

At USC, Sept. 20. The Utes might be the preseason choice to repeat as Pac-12 South champs, but it won't be an undefeated league run to the conference championship game. USC is a program at a crossroads, but this seems like an upset the Trojans are more than capable of pulling off. Utah is 0-4 at the Coliseum since joining the Pac-12 in 2011.

At Stanford, Oct. 5. The Huskies and Cardinal have played several tight games over the years, and 2019 should be no different. Washington lost a good chunk of talent from last season's league championship squad, but it often reloads instead of rebuilds. If Stanford wants to have a say in the North Division title, it likely needs to get it done here. 

At Clemson, Sept. 7. The Aggies and Tigers played a fun one last season at College Station, as Texas A&M made Clemson sweat. While Jimbo Fisher's team should make noise in the SEC, winning at Death Valley against the reigning national champions seems like too tall of an order to fill, at least this early in the season.

Auburn (at Arlington, Texas), Aug. 31. We're not saying Oregon won't be in for a special season that might even include a Pac-12 title. However, an early stumble against Auburn in the season opener seems to make sense in this rematch of the national championship game from the 2010 season. Regardless of the outcome, it should be entertaining.

Oklahoma (at Dallas, Texas), Oct. 12. If things follow suit like in 2018, we'll again get two installments of the Red River Showdown, the second for the Big 12 title for the second straight season. The Longhorns won an instant classic at the Cotton Bowl last year. We hope it's just as entertaining this season and think the Sooners will be poised to get their revenge.

At Georgia, Sept. 21. It was two years ago when Georgia went to South Bend and left with a 20-19 victory. While the Irish certainly have not forgotten that defeat and are seeking revenge, it won't happen here. The Bulldogs are too tough, and Notre Dame is not at the same level. Plus, Georgia has won 13 consecutive home games.

At LSU, Oct. 12. The Gators are on the radar for a potentially big season in 2019 and should survive tests against Miami (Fla.) and Auburn before this contest. Florida can make it here undefeated, but LSU will be ready after blowing a fourth-quarter lead to lose last year's meeting at Gainesville. It might be too tough for the Gators to make it two in a row.

Notre Dame, Oct. 26. It's strange to see these rivals meet this late in the season, but at least we should have a good read on both teams by this point. The Wolverines could again get off to a hot start and have won four straight and seven of eight at home against the Irish. Yet it just feels like the hype surrounding this contest will be too much for Michigan to handle, and it will disappoint once again. 

At Texas, Sept. 7. This might be the best matchup of the first two weeks of the season, especially with both teams bringing high expectations into 2019. There's a good chance the loser of this contest will be better for it. Considering it's at Austin, amid an atmosphere that will officially announce the resurgence of Longhorn football, LSU should taste an early defeat. 

College Football Playoff National Championship Game, Jan. 13, 2020 . We'll leave the suspense of whom the Buckeyes will lose to in the national title game for later in the list, but there's a feeling that this will be the year they again will play for the championship. Quarterback Justin Fields and an expected stellar defense will make for more than a smooth transition to new coach Ryan Day.

At Oklahoma State, Nov. 30. Oklahoma does not have many tough road games in 2019. However, late stops at Baylor and this Bedlam game at rival Oklahoma State should be the toughest. The Sooners were nearly upset at Oklahoma State last season, but this time the Cowboys will get the job done, which could throw a massive wrench into Oklahoma's College Football Playoff plans.

Florida (Jacksonville, Florida), Nov. 2. Georgia has topped the Gators in the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" each of the last two seasons, but three in a row will be hard to accomplish. We're going to predict a game for the ages — maybe even overtime to complete the drama. In the end, Florida pulls off the upset and delivers a major hit to the Bulldogs' College Football Playoff hopes.

Undefeated national champions.  After falling short last season, Nick Saban won't allow that to happen again. The Crimson Tide don't begin the season No. 1, but they will end it that way — with a resounding victory over Ohio State in New Orleans for the program's sixth national championship in 11 seasons. It won't always be easy, but Alabama will again prove it is the king of the college football world.

College Football Playoff semifinal, Dec. 28. Nobody is doubting Clemson has the talent to run the table and repeat as national champion. The Tigers should get close ... until they face an upstart Ohio State team that will also be undefeated come time for the semifinals.