As college football enters Week 4, the spotlight turns to the 12 FBS teams that have yet to secure a victory this season. While over 40 teams remain undefeated after three weeks of intense competition, these 12 teams find themselves in an exclusive club of winless programs.

While the attention often falls on perennial powerhouse Florida State, there are a few surprising additions to this list. Jacksonville State, initially picked as the third-ranked team in the preseason Conference USA poll, has struggled to find success. Miami-Ohio, ranked number one in the MAC, has also yet to notch a win. Another notable mention is Troy, a consistent competitor in the Sun Belt, who lost a heartbreaking game to Nevada in Week 1.

Going winless in college football is still considered rare. It requires a combination of an unfavorable schedule without any apparent guaranteed victories, a conference where other teams are significantly stronger, and a dash of misfortune. Since 2015, only two programs, UTEP in 2017 and Akron in 2018, have reached the dreaded mark of finishing the season without a win, excluding the pandemic-affected seasons.

However, hope is not lost for these struggling teams. Many of the 12 winless teams are expected to bounce back and secure victories in the remaining games of the season. Let's take a closer look at some potential opportunities for them to turn their fortunes around.

Florida State, the lone power conference team without a win, faces a tough road ahead. Their matchup against California this week is a must-win game. However, the Golden Bears have had an impressive start with a 3-0 record, including a victory over Auburn. Additionally, games against SMU and reigning champions Clemson pose additional challenges for the Seminoles.

Jacksonville State, despite the disappointments so far, still has a chance to fulfill preseason expectations. They were picked third in the preseason Conference USA poll and have four consecutive winnable games ahead of them.

The lone program transitioning from FCS to FBS, the Kansas State Owls, face their own set of challenges. Although they had a close game against UTSA in the opener, they have the opportunity to secure a win against an FCS opponent.

As the season progresses, these winless teams will look to overcome their early struggles and claim victories on the field. With every team on their schedule capable of an upset, they will need to bring their A-game to turn their luck around and avoid joining the infamous club of winless programs.

In the world of college football, the pursuit of that elusive first win continues, as the remaining 12 teams strive to rewrite their season narratives and make their mark on the gridiron.