MAC Attacks Streak: No Member in 63 Years Compiled Unbeaten League Mark
April 20th, 2021 - 9:19
A pair of SWAC members (13-0 Prairie View and 11-0 Jackson State) joined Gonzaga (15-0 in WCC) as the only teams to compile unblemished conference records last season. Indiana, the last NCAA Division I school to go undefeated (32-0 in 1975-76), is also the last team to go unbeaten in Big Ten Conference play. The Mid-American (63 straight years) is the only league posting a longer active streak than the Big Ten without an undefeated team in conference competition.
Analyst Dick Vitale, rather than chronically currying favor with the big boys energizing ESPN elitism, should always be promoting the MAC. After all, he has firsthand experience dealing with league rigors, losing his first six games against MAC members when coaching independent Detroit.
The Big East Conference, Northeast Conference and Summit League never have had an undefeated club since their alliances were formed in the early 1980s. Following are the seven longest current streaks of more than 35 campaigns without a member going unbeaten in league competition:
| Conference (Years) | Last Unbeaten Team in League Play | Coach (Overall Record) |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-American (63) | Miami (Ohio) in 1957-58 | Dick Shrider (18-9) |
| Big Ten (45) | Indiana in 1975-76 | Bob Knight (32-0) |
| Pac-12 (43) | UCLA in 1977-78 | Gary Cunningham (25-3) |
| Big East (42) | None since inaugural season (1979-80) | never achieved in league |
| Northeast (40) | None since inaugural season (1981-82) | never achieved in league |
| Summit League (39) | None since inaugural season (1982-83) | never achieved in league |
| Colonial (38) | William & Mary in 1982-83 | Bruce Parkhill (20-9) |