Miami of Ohio Snaps MAC Streak of 67 Years in Row Without Unbeaten Team
Indiana, the last NCAA Division I school to go undefeated (32-0 in 1975-76 50 years ago), is also the last team to go unbeaten in Big Ten Conference competition. The Mid-American (67 straight years since 1957-58) was the only league posting a longer streak than the Big Ten without an undefeated team in conference play until Miami of Ohio achieved the feat this year. 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 and Northeast Conference remain as leagues never having an undefeated club since their alliances were formed in the early 1980s. Upon the Pac-12 bowing out with no undefeated league team during its final 46 seasons of existence, following are the five longest current streaks of more than 40 campaigns without a member going unbeaten in league competition:
| Conference (Years) | Last Unbeaten Team in League Play | Coach (Overall Record) |
|---|---|---|
| Big Ten (50) | Indiana in 1975-76 | Bob Knight (32-0) |
| Big East (47) | None since inaugural season (1979-80) | never achieved in league |
| Pac-12 (47) | UCLA in 1977-78 | Gary Cunningham (25-3) |
| Northeast (45) | None since inaugural season (1981-82) | never achieved in league |
| Coastal Athletic Association (43) | William & Mary in 1982-83 | Bruce Parkhill (20-9) |