Afrigather Halloween brings us the official begin of School Soccer Playoff season.
The primary set of CFP rankings are set to be launched on Tuesday night time as we’re about to get a glimpse of how the committee sees the faculty soccer panorama by means of the primary 9 weeks of the season. There’ll undoubtedly be a couple of surprises; the committee usually has some variance from the AP Prime 25.
With the preliminary rankings looming, we figured the conclusion of Week 9 was a great alternative to attempt to predict what the committee’s high 12 will seem like.
12. Notre Dame (7-2)
The Irish are the one two-loss crew to crack this record but it surely’s deserved after the gauntlet they’ve run within the first two months of the season. With powerful losses to Ohio State and Louisville offset by wins over Duke and USC, Notre Dame has a greater resume than two-loss LSU or any of the lesser one-loss groups (Missouri could make its case subsequent week at No. 1 Georgia). The Irish are on the highway subsequent week at Clemson earlier than internet hosting Wake Forest after which ending the common season at Stanford on Nov. 25. A ten-2 common season will probably have Notre Dame in a New Yr’s Six bowl.
11. Penn State (7-1)
The Nittany Lions are going to search out themselves outdoors the highest 10 because of an offense that’s having a tough time not too long ago. Penn State got a couple of late gifts from Indiana in a 33-24 win as Drew Allar averaged lower than seven yards a cross try as soon as once more. The Penn State protection wasn’t nice on Saturday, however we’re giving them a cross. The offense wants to choose it up if Penn State goes to remain in rivalry for a New Yr’s Six bowl sport.
10. Ole Miss (7-1)
The Rebels made easy work of Vanderbilt on Saturday and are forward of Penn State due to their win over LSU. However we’re nonetheless undecided what to make of Ole Miss. Is that this crew merely good or is it actually good? A ten-2 season is trying extraordinarily probably even when we don’t get a solution to that query. The remaining groups on Ole Miss’ schedule are Texas A&M, Georgia, Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State.
9. Oklahoma (7-1)
The Sooners could be chasing a spot within the high 5 with a win at Kansas however the Jayhawks pulled the upset on Saturday. That drops Oklahoma to the underside of the highest 10 and we expect the Sooners keep forward of each Penn State and Ole Miss because of their win over Texas. Oklahoma was among the finest groups within the nation over the primary half of the season. The final two video games haven’t been nice. If that could be a development, the Sooners are in hassle at Oklahoma State in Week 10.
8. Alabama (7-1)
The Crimson Tide had been off on Saturday and ought to be comfortably inside the highest 10 though it hasn’t been a easy season to this point. The offense continues to be discovering its means, however the protection has picked up the slack. We’ll know much more about Alabama’s offense subsequent week if the protection meets its match towards LSU’s high-powered offense. Can Alabama sustain in a observe meet? We should be satisfied the reply is sure.
7. Texas (7-1)
We’d be shocked if the Longhorns had been behind the Crimson Tide given their head-to-head win in Week 2. Texas didn’t want Quinn Ewers in Week 9 with an easy win over BYU. Maalik Murphy made a freshman mistake with an interception however threw two TDs to AD Mitchell and the Longhorns rushed for over 5 yards a carry. Subsequent week, Texas faces a Kansas State crew that has gained its final two video games by a mixed rating of 82-3.
6. Oregon (7-1)
The Geese confirmed they need to nonetheless be within the thick of the playoff dialog with their dominating win over Utah on Saturday. Bo Nix threw for 2 TDs and rushed for one more as Oregon held the Utes to simply 241 yards of complete offense. After the best way Oregon rebounded from its loss to Washington with a win over Washington State and Saturday’s straightforward victory, it’s onerous to make an argument for some other one-loss crew to be forward of the Geese.
5. Washington (8-0)
The Huskies haven’t been essentially the most convincing bunch since beating Oregon. Washington wanted a defensive TD to beat Arizona State every week in the past and Stanford kept it close on Saturday in a 42-33 win. We might simply see Washington being above Ohio State on Tuesday night time, however we expect the committee will pay attention to the final two weeks and go together with the Buckeyes in what could possibly be an extremely shut resolution.
4. Ohio State (8-0)
Splitting hairs between Ohio State and Washington proper now’s pointless. Washington has loads of alternatives to maneuver up within the rankings in November and Ohio State nonetheless has to play Michigan. There’s going to be little distinction between No. 5 and No. 4 at this level. Ohio State took down Wisconsin on Saturday night and Marvin Harrison is the very best offensive participant in faculty soccer who isn’t a QB.
3. Florida State (8-0)
The Seminoles made easy work of Wake Forest on Saturday and have been buzzing since scares towards Boston School and Clemson in September. WR Keon Coleman has been among the finest switch portal additions of the offseason and Jordan Travis goes to search out himself within the Heisman dialogue if he retains taking part in mistake-free soccer and Florida State retains profitable. FSU has no ranked groups remaining, however that gained’t matter so long as the Seminoles go undefeated.
2. Michigan (8-0)
We are able to make a powerful case for the Wolverines to have the No. 1 spot on Tuesday night time however finally suppose they’ll be No. 2. Why? We predict the committee will cite power of schedule. UNLV, Minnesota and Nebraska are the three finest groups Michigan has performed to this point this season and a 2-6 Purdue crew looms earlier than a visit to Penn State on Nov. 11. And earlier than you ask, no, we don’t suppose the sign-stealing scandal ought to have any sway with the committee.
1. Georgia (8-0)
If Georgia hadn’t convincingly beat Florida on Saturday we’d strongly take into account having Michigan at No. 1 in our prediction. However Georgia has gained its final three video games by a mixed 78 factors after a seven-point win at Auburn. The Bulldogs didn’t miss a beat on offense with out Brock Bowers towards the Gators and can have an opportunity to solidify their standing as the very best crew within the nation over the subsequent three weeks towards groups who might be within the committee’s rankings on Tuesday night time.
Listed here are Week 9’s winners and losers:
Winners
Kansas: Kansas clinched bowl eligibility on Saturday and did so in model, upsetting No. 6 Oklahoma 38-33. It was a back-and-forth sport and the Jayhawks took the lead with 55 seconds to play earlier than getting the cease they wanted handy OU its first lack of the season. It marked Kansas’ first win over Oklahoma since 1997 and the Jayhawks’ first dwelling win over a top-10 opponent since 1984. Kansas, now 6-2 on the 12 months, is bowl eligible for the second straight season. The final time KU made back-to-back bowl journeys was 2007 and 2008. And within the 11 seasons earlier than Lance Leipold’s arrival in 2021, the Jayhawks hadn’t had a season with greater than three wins. Leipold is doing an unbelievable job.
Georgia: The 2-time defending nationwide champion Bulldogs put up 486 yards in a 43-20 win over Florida and acquired one other robust efficiency from Carson Beck. Beck threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns with Ladd McConkey (six catches, 135 yards, TD) rising as his high goal. Now 8-0, this was the primary check in a difficult stretch for the Bulldogs that features three consecutive video games vs. ranked groups (Missouri, Ole Miss and Tennessee) within the subsequent three weeks. After the sport, Kirby Sensible was feeling assured and levied a shot at former Florida coach Dan Mullen, now an analyst for ESPN.
Oregon: Oregon saved its CFP hopes alive with a dominant 35-6 highway win over Utah to enhance to 7-1. Utah had gained 18 straight dwelling video games earlier than operating into the Geese on Saturday. Oregon scored on its first offensive possession and by no means let up, totally outplaying the two-time defending Pac-12 champions. This was a giant win for Oregon in its quest for a rematch with Washington. UW beat the Geese two weeks in the past, and the 2 could possibly be on a crash course for a showdown within the Pac-12 title sport.
Louisville: Louisville has a really viable path to the ACC title sport after posting a 23-0 win over Duke. Within the win, Jawhar Jordan rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns whereas Brock Travelstead booted three subject objectives. The protection, in the meantime, restricted Duke to solely 202 yards of offense and a mixed 2-of-14 on third and fourth down. Now 7-1 general and 4-1 in ACC play, Louisville is certainly one of three ACC groups with only one loss in league play vying to face undefeated Florida State for the convention crown. That may be a significant accomplishment in Yr 1 below Jeff Brohm.
Iowa State: Iowa State is presently tied for first place within the Large 12. Sure, you learn that appropriately. The Cyclones went 1-2 in non-conference play however have since gained 4 of 5 towards Large 12 competitors. The one loss got here at Oklahoma a couple of weeks in the past. Since then, Iowa State has gained three straight, together with Saturday’s 30-18 highway win over Baylor. Iowa State misplaced a number of key gamers within the offseason amid a playing investigation, together with its beginning QB. However that hasn’t stopped this Cyclones crew from coming collectively and being one of many greater surprises within the nation. ISU can clinch a bowl berth subsequent week.
Nebraska: Nebraska has quietly rebounded since an unsightly 0-2 begin. The Huskers have gained three straight and 5 of their final six after a 31-14 dwelling win over Purdue on Saturday. The Huskers, now in a four-way tie atop the Large Ten West, seem like a way more disciplined crew with Matt Rhule in cost and have been taking good care of enterprise towards groups with comparable expertise. The Huskers can finish their seven-year bowl drought with a highway win over Michigan State subsequent weekend.
Virginia Tech: Virginia Tech went 3-8 in its first season below Brent Pry after which misplaced three of 4 to begin the 2023 season. After that 1-3 begin, nevertheless, the Hokies have began to show issues round. The Hokies blasted Syracuse 38-10 on Thursday night time to enhance to 4-4 on the 12 months. The Hokies jumped out to a 30-3 halftime lead and out-gained Syracuse 528 yards to 137 within the win. It was Virginia Tech’s third win within the final 4 video games and now the Hokies have a sensible shot at a bowl sport.
Losers
North Carolina: UNC’s School Soccer Playoff hopes evaporated within the span of two weeks. The Tar Heels began the season 6-0 and jumped as much as No. 10 within the Related Press Prime 25. However now North Carolina is 6-2 following back-to-back losses as vital favorites. Final week, UNC misplaced 31-27 to Virginia at dwelling as 24-point favorites. This week, UNC went to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech as a 12-point favourite and promptly acquired upset, 46-42. UNC had a 42-32 fourth-quarter lead however allowed the Yellow Jackets to attain the sport’s closing 14 factors to drag out the win. UNC began final 12 months 9-1 earlier than collapsing down the stretch. The collapse began early this season, it seems.
Clemson: Clemson is on tempo for its worst season since 2010. The Tigers misplaced 24-17 at NC State on Saturday to fall to 4-4 on the 12 months. Clemson misplaced to Miami in additional time final week and has not misplaced back-to-back common season video games for the primary time since 2011. Moreover, Clemson has 4 common season losses for the primary time since 2010. That was Dabo Swinney’s second season as Clemson’s full-time head coach. Because the Tigers’ 8-0 begin to final season, they’re 7-7 and are going to need to battle simply to succeed in a bowl sport.
Kentucky: Kentucky’s season has gone sideways after such a promising begin. The Wildcats had been 5-0 and as much as No. 20 within the nation however have since misplaced three straight, together with the final two in Lexington. Saturday’s loss was a 33-27 resolution by the hands of Tennessee, and it was a winnable sport for UK. The Wildcats’ offense appeared significantly better however the often dependable protection acquired gashed for almost 500 yards and missed means too many tackles at vital instances. The Vols rushed for 254 yards and Joe Milton was means too comfy within the pocket as he accomplished 17 of his 20 makes an attempt.
UCF: UCF continues to be in search of its first Large 12 win. The Knights almost upset Oklahoma on the highway final week and adopted that up with a 41-28 dwelling loss to West Virginia. The transition to the Large 12 was by no means going to be straightforward, however UCF is now 0-5 in Large 12 play and is permitting a mean of 40.6 factors per sport in these 5 losses. And never solely did the protection wrestle vs. WVU, however the Knights had been doomed by 4 turnovers, together with three interceptions thrown by John Rhys Plumlee.
Maryland: After a 5-0 begin, Maryland has dropped three straight. The Terps blew a lead of their loss to Ohio State after which acquired upset at dwelling by Illinois. After a bye week, a visit to Evanston to play Northwestern appeared like a great alternative to get again within the win column. As an alternative, the Terps misplaced one other one, falling 33-27 in one other ugly effort. The Wildcats entered the weekend ranked No. 126 nationally in complete offense (299.3 yards per sport), however they had been in a position to put up 364 yards on the Terps with their backup quarterback.
Pittsburgh: Pat Narduzzi has been a constant winner at Pitt, however this season has been ugly. The Panthers acquired destroyed 58-7 at Notre Dame on Saturday to drop to 2-6 on the season. It was essentially the most lopsided lack of Narduzzi’s tenure and the coach’s postgame feedback didn’t appear to sit well with some of his players. The Panthers have only one season with a dropping document (2017) in Narduzzi’s tenure. A second dropping season is coming.
Houston: Houston emptied the tank final week and nearly upset Texas at dwelling. This week, UH needed to depart the state of Texas for the primary time all season to face Kansas State. It was a chilly day in Manhattan and the Cougars didn’t deal with it properly, falling 41-0. Houston by no means reached the purple zone, went a mixed 3-of-18 on third and fourth down and managed to realize solely 208 yards within the loss. UH is now 3-5 general and 1-4 in Large 12 play. Might Dana Holgorsen’s time be operating out?
