On a university soccer weekend that introduced loads of losses for ranked groups, a number of the most impactful outcomes had been the shut calls that went the way in which of the favorites on a nervy Week 11 Saturday. Indiana and Oregon each confronted late deficits on the street however emerged victorious, preserving their top-10 standing and including to what needs to be a principally calm week-to-week adjustment for voters within the AP High 25 ballot.
However ought to that be the case?
Texas A&M went on the street as nicely, however not like Indiana and Oregon, the Aggies didn’t path late. In truth, they by no means tailed in any respect. Mike Elko’s group got here out of the off week with an 8-0 file and dealt with enterprise the way in which that title contenders do — by grabbing management of the sport early and by no means letting go. Each time Missouri discovered slightly little bit of spark, the Aggies had a response, and now as we head into the ultimate stretch of the common season, it is value contemplating whether or not Texas A&M is extra deserving of consideration for the No. 1 spot.
Final week’s voting had Ohio State because the rock-solid No. 1 crew within the AP High 25 ballot with 55 first-place votes and 1,633 voting factors. Indiana had the second-most first-place votes with 11, however the 1,591 voting factors was nearer to No. 1 than it was to No. 3, the place Texas A&M checked in with only one first-place vote and 1,523 voting factors.
The Buckeyes aren’t more likely to be displaced from No. 1, however on a weekend the place Indiana confronted getting knocked off by an interim coach, it is value contemplating whether or not Texas A&M has an argument for transferring up within the rankings. On the very least it appears sure that the Aggies will minimize into the hole with the 2 groups on the high, and that as an alternative of a debate for No. 1 the voting factors will entertain a debate for No. 2 heading into Week 12.
Bowl projections: Texas Tech replaces BYU in School Soccer Playoff bracket, Oregon avoids chaos
Brad Crawford
Additional down within the rankings, outdoors the highest 10, we’re projecting little bit of chaos with Virginia, Louisville and Washington all taking surprising losses. Additionally, with this being the primary set of AP rankings for the reason that School Soccer Playoff Choice Committee launched its high 25, we will probably be monitoring the cat-and-mouse recreation between the voters and the committee. The choice committee made some selections — like rating Pitt and Iowa or placing Texas forward of Oklahoma — that didn’t align with the AP voters, and now we are going to see if there is a response.
Here is how we challenge the brand new AP High 25 ballot to look on Sunday after the outcomes from Week 11 in faculty soccer:
1. Ohio State (Final week — 1): No change on the high of the rankings for the Buckeyes, who acquired an enormous day from Jeremiah Smith (10 catches, 137 yards, one landing) because the spotlight of a 24-point street win at Purdue. Subsequent step for Ohio State is a two-game house stand in opposition to UCLA and Rutgers earlier than the regular-season finale at rival Michigan in Ann Arbor.
2. Indiana (2): The Hoosiers could have seemed extra human with their near-upset on the street at Penn State, however the crew additionally seems to be heroic following the Heisman second from Fernando Mendoza with the game-winning landing to Omar Cooper, who himself has an argument for catch of the yr. A number of ballots might entertain swapping Indiana for Texas A&M, however we’re projecting it will not be sufficient of a consensus opinion to result in a change within the rankings.
3. Texas A&M (3): There will probably be some momentum and a respectable argument for Texas A&M because the No. 1 crew within the nation following a 21-point street win in opposition to ranked Missouri. The Aggies are actually 9-0 and have a win in opposition to Notre Dame to pair with six SEC victories, giving energy to the argument for some upward motion within the rankings. The problem is displacing both the No. 1 or No. 2 crew after a weekend of wins. The Aggies will minimize into the voting factors deficit, for certain, however we’re projecting it is not sufficient for a swap on the high.
4. Alabama (4): No main adjustments within the rankings for Alabama after a lower-scoring win in opposition to LSU. The Crimson Tide are 8-1 on the yr and 6-0 in SEC play, however the path to Atlanta contains some tough spots left that embody a showdown with Oklahoma subsequent week and the Iron Bowl on the finish of the season at Auburn.
5. Georgia (5): There are head-to-head outcomes which have Georgia pinned into a fairly particular spot within the rankings, but it surely’s onerous to not see this inventory value going up following a 20-point win on the street at Mississippi State. Kirby Good’s crew caught the upset-minded Bulldogs between taking part in Florida and Texas but confirmed up in Starkville with hammers able to impose their will.
6. Oregon (6): Beating Iowa at its personal recreation will stay a cornerstone in Oregon’s 2025 marketing campaign, because the Geese needed to rally with a handful of key offensive contributors out of the lineup and discover methods to win within the rain in Kinnick Stadium. Escaping Iowa Metropolis with a win is a victory that retains all of Oregon’s big-picture targets on monitor, but it surely will not transfer the needle by way of a shakeup within the rankings given outcomes elsewhere.
7. Ole Miss (7): Voters will not react an excessive amount of somehow after a 49-0 win in opposition to The Citadel. Up subsequent for the Rebels is the house finale in opposition to Florida subsequent Saturday evening, adopted by per week off after which the Egg Bowl on Nov. 28 to shut out the common season.
8. Texas Tech (9): We’re projecting a slight bump up for the Purple Raiders following a formidable win in opposition to a top-10 opponent, handing BYU its first lack of the season by a 22-point margin. The Purple Raiders might soar Ole Miss as nicely, however final week’s balloting had a major sufficient hole between these two groups to suppose a swap is so as after a pair of wins.
9. Notre Dame (10): No main adjustments after Notre Dame stunned Navy. The Preventing Irish have now received seven straight video games and proceed to indicate little by way of wavering type because the strain mounts with every week to win or face falling out of the playoff image.
10. Texas (13): The Longhorns had been off in Week 11 and will probably be again in motion subsequent week at Georgia. As we talked about earlier, our projection for a transfer up is among the few spots the place the AP voters might tail the committee’s actions. Texas and Oklahoma had been separated by simply 15 voting factors final week, and since each are 7-2 and the CFP committee put the Longhorns forward, we’re projecting the AP voters to observe swimsuit.
11. Oklahoma (11): The Sooners had been off in Week 11 and will probably be again in motion at Alabama subsequent Saturday.
12. Vanderbilt (15): Trailing by double digits at house, Vanderbilt turned to Diego Pavia to assist hold the Commodores’ postseason hopes alive and he delivered. Pavia completed with 377 yards passing, 112 yards speeding and 4 whole touchdowns within the 45-38 additional time win in opposition to Auburn to assist Vanderbilt enhance to 8-2 on the season.
13. Georgia Tech (16): The Yellow Jackets had been off in Week 11 and will probably be again in motion subsequent week at Boston School.
14. BYU (8): There may be a simple spot to challenge for BYU’s drop after the loss, as a result of whereas the Cougars had been arguably undervalued as an undefeated crew outdoors the highest 5, they do have a key head-to-head win in opposition to one other top-20 crew in Utah. It is potential the respect for Texas Tech and the standard loss leaves BYU as excessive as No. 12, however for now, we’ll challenge it is a simple slide into the slot above the Utes for many voters.
15. Utah (17): The Utes had been off in Week 11 and will probably be again in motion subsequent week at Baylor.
16. Miami (18): A gradual begin in opposition to Syracuse appeared to spell doom for a Hurricanes squad that wanted a spark, and possibly they discovered it with Carson Beck’s landing reception. Miami poured it on late and in the end received by 28 factors to maintain their spot within the high 25.
17. USC (20): Friday evening noticed the Trojans deal with enterprise in opposition to Northwestern, tightening up after a free begin and pulling away for a 38-17 win. Now at 7-2 with a win over Michigan, the Trojans have a path to extra upward motion with video games in opposition to Iowa and Oregon within the coming weeks.
18. Michigan (21): The Wolverines had been off in Week 11 and will probably be again in motion subsequent week at Northwestern.
19. Tennessee (23): The Vols had been off in Week 11 and will probably be again in motion subsequent week in opposition to New Mexico State.
20. Cincinnati (25): The Bearcats had been off in Week 11 and will probably be again in motion subsequent week in opposition to Arizona.
21. Tulane (NR): The Inexperienced Wave bounced again from a shocking double-digit loss at UTSA with a robust efficiency taking down Memphis on the street. Now at 7-2 total, Tulane has a fancy resume with a 2-1 file in opposition to energy convention opponents, a ranked win (at Memphis) and one dangerous loss. Making the American title recreation, which is the important thing to creating the School Soccer Playoff, is more likely after the win in opposition to the Tigers. Now will the AP voters observe that and make a G5 swap on their ballots? It is definitely potential.
22. James Madison (NR): Search for the School Soccer Playoff race to get one other contender in relation to potential convention champions, as a result of JMU is now 8-1 total and 6-0 in convention play after a 12-point street win in opposition to Marshall. If the Dukes win out and declare the Solar Belt title, they will be a 12-1 crew with the one loss coming to Louisville. What’s left are house dates in opposition to App State and Washington State adopted the regular-season finale at Coastal Carolina.
23. Pittsburgh (NR): The Panthers had been off in Week 11 however had been twenty eighth in final week’s balloting and confirmed up within the School Soccer Playoff Rankings as one of many high 25 groups within the nation, in keeping with the choice committee. That might carry a highlight that would not in any other case be on Pitt throughout an off week, and when searching for two-loss groups to think about, the Panthers have a strong argument.
24. Houston (NR): The Cougars had been simply inside the highest 25 two weeks in the past earlier than a shocking loss to West Virginia, so it is not going to be a far attain to see voters seize a crew when searching for choices within the 20s. Houston does not have many nice wins, it’s 8-2 after successful in Week 11 at UCF and a type of losses got here to a Texas Tech crew who will probably be transferring up on voters’ ballots.
25. South Florida (NR): Does USF have a loss to a Memphis crew that we’re projecting to fall out of the rankings? Sure. However the Bulls are additionally 8-2 and coming off a 55-23 runaway win in opposition to the identical UTSA crew that simply beat Tulane. The American continues to offer a seize bag of choices for one-loss and two-loss groups value consideration, however right here the Bulls have a formidable rating on a Thursday evening stage to maintain the crew high of thoughts for voters.
Projected to drop out: No. 12 Virginia, No. 14 Louisville, No. 19 Missouri, No. 22 Memphis, No. 24 Washington
