Whereas Lane Kiffin held the eye of the faculty soccer world for a lot of Saturday, and the weekend as a complete, there was nonetheless a massively entertaining weekend of rivalries and postseason-clinching video games throughout the nation. Convention title races and the School Soccer Playoff have been high of thoughts as acquainted foes clashed within the last week of the common season, giving AP High 25 ballot voters one final full set of outcomes to type out the nationwide panorama as we put together for the postseason.
Among the many many changes that voters should handle on their ballots is the way to react to Texas’ 27-17 win towards rival Texas A&M on Friday night time in Austin. It was the primary lack of the season for an Aggies staff that had peaked at No. 3, and likewise the very best win of the season for a Longhorns staff that has been bouncing up and down the rankings all through a disjointed season that has in the end ended with a 9-3 file. Texas A&M has been eradicated from the SEC title race however stays a lock for the School Soccer Playoff, whereas Texas now turns into the largest thorn within the facet of different hopeful at-large groups. The School Soccer Playoff choice committee, not the AP ballot voters, will decide their last destiny on Dec. 7. However how shut the voters transfer Texas to the highest 10 will kickstart the controversy as to their worthiness for inclusion within the CFP as a three-loss staff.
Bowl projections: Miami shines as bubble staff in focus, Texas joins School Soccer Playoff dialogue
Brad Crawford
Elsewhere within the rankings, there have been top-15 groups who logged spectacular street wins, like Miami and Vanderbilt, and an adjustment for Michigan after the Wolverines misplaced at residence to rival Ohio State. The Buckeyes have been already a near-unanimous choice for No. 1 and would most likely be after Week 14 if not for Indiana, who likewise closed out the season with a double-digit win towards a rival however as an alternative it was by 53 factors and towards Purdue. When Ohio State and Indiana play subsequent Saturday night time within the Huge Ten Championship Sport, it won’t solely be for the convention crown but in addition for the No. 1 spot within the rankings heading into the School Soccer Playoff.
Here is how we predict the brand new AP High 25 ballot will take care of Week 14.
1. Ohio State (Final week — 1): A cathartic streak-snapping win for the Buckeyes at Michigan can have Ohio State within the Huge Ten Championship Sport and much more entrenched of their place because the No. 1 staff within the nation.
2. Indiana (2): The Hoosiers walloped rival Purdue 56-3 on Friday night time and cemented the 2025 staff as the one squad in class historical past to have a 12-0 common season. Indiana, like Ohio State, is now clinched for the Huge Ten Championship Sport and can have an opportunity to show their worthiness for 1-seed consideration on the sphere in Indianapolis towards the Buckeyes.
3. Georgia (4): This yr’s version of “Clear, Previous Customary Hate” was a little bit of a rock struggle, however Georgia bought sufficient offense to safe a win and clinch the eighth 11-win season of Kirby Good’s head teaching tenure. Wins towards Ole Miss, Texas and Tennessee are the core items of what voters have determined is the very best one-loss profile within the nation, and a lower-scoring rivalry win will not change these opinions.
4. Oregon (5): The Geese bought a superb struggle from Washington on the street of their rivalry recreation, however an early lead and a few explosive go performs from Dante Moore within the second half helped Oregon get the 26-14 win. Now at 11-1, with the one loss coming to Indiana, Oregon is poised to not solely transfer up within the rankings but in addition host a first-round recreation within the School Soccer Playoff.
5. Ole Miss (6): Whereas the faculty soccer world is clearly going to be involved with the way forward for the Ole Miss program and its coaches, the staff that’s being judged by AP voters simply completed among the best common seasons in class historical past with an 11-1 file. Having the ability to block out the noise and log a 38-19 win on the street towards Mississippi State within the Egg Bowl speaks to the standard of the squad, which is ready to for a slight bump up within the wake of Texas A&M’s loss.
6. Texas A&M (3): There’ll clearly be a drop for the Aggies after dropping at Texas on Friday night time, however the variety of spots within the adjustment may not be too dramatic. Texas A&M’s one-loss resume is not as sturdy as another top-10 groups, however street wins towards Notre Dame and Missouri will assist when voters are making last choices for the spots on this vary on their ballots.
7. Texas Tech (7): The Crimson Raiders wrapped up the common season with an emphatic assertion win at West Virginia. Although Texas Tech was already clinched for the Huge 12 title recreation, there was no signal of being distracted from the problem at hand. Texas Tech led by 21 by the top of the primary quarter and cruised to a 49-0 win, matching the 2008 faculty file for 11 wins within the common season.
8. Notre Dame (9): The Combating Irish cruised to a stable win at Stanford that closes out the 10-2 common season file that has been mentioned since mid-September. Notre Dame wanted to win 10 straight video games after beginning 0-2 and that is precisely what they did, so now with no convention title recreation left to play they await the ultimate information on their postseason future.
9. Oklahoma (8): We’re projecting that the Sooners might quit a spot within the wake of a 17-13 win towards LSU that was a lot nearer — and more durable — than anticipated heading into the matchup. John Mateer threw three interceptions and Oklahoma confronted second half deficits of 10-3 and 13-10 earlier than Isaiah Setagna broke free for a 58-yard landing reception to offer the Sooners the lead for good.
10. Alabama (10): The Crimson Tide will not see an excessive amount of motion after the Iron Bowl win however have an amazing alternative to maneuver up with an SEC Championship Sport showdown forward towards Georgia.
11. BYU (11): It took about quarter-hour and a few possessions for BYU to get up, however after recognizing UCF a 14-0 lead, the Cougars turned the tables and outscored the guests from Orlando 41-7 the remainder of the afternoon. BYU, like Texas Tech, had a spot within the Huge 12 title recreation clinched after they awakened on Saturday morning because of Arizona’s win at Arizona State however wanted a superb displaying for any likelihood of at-large consideration within the School Soccer Playoff.
12. Texas (16): The Longhorns have been already the highest-ranked three-loss staff within the nation on the backs of head-to-head wins towards Oklahoma and Vanderbilt. Now if you add in Friday night time’s win towards Texas A&M, it is easy to see how voters will increase Texas to some extent the place they’ll bounce a few of the two-loss groups that stood between the Longhorns and the highest 10.
13. Vanderbilt (12): Voters who have been on the low finish of Vanderbilt’s rating will certainly right that after the Commodores’ 21-point win on the street at Tennessee, nevertheless it may not be sufficient for an enormous transfer up within the last ballot. Vanderbilt’s place can be strengthened, and there’s doubtless no potential of getting jumped by Miami regardless of an in depth vote margin, however Texas’ rise — and the Longhorns’ head-to-head edge — might cap any upward motion.
14. Miami (13): After a number of journeys north in late November which have gone poorly for Miami, it needed to really feel good to easily handle enterprise within the lure spot. Beating Pitt, a staff the CFP Choice Committee moved into the rankings final week, by 31 factors goes to be about as sturdy of a last assertion as you would hope for relating to the Hurricanes’ at-large hopes.
15. Utah (14): The Utes closed up one other 10-win season with a stable 31-21 win at Kansas on Friday afternoon. Although the staff is shut out of the Huge 12 title image, and probably the CFP as effectively, it is nonetheless a powerful response for this system after a few disappointing and injury-riddled seasons in 2023 and 2024.
16. Virginia (17): The Wahoos left little question on the sphere and closed out a 10-2 common season marketing campaign with a 27-7 win towards rival Virginia Tech. Although the Hokies have been on interim coach standing since September and entered with simply three wins on the season, this was nonetheless a rivalry that had been dominated by Virginia Tech during the last 20 years and thus made for a nervy day main as much as kickoff. However now that the drama is settled, Virginia can flip its consideration to the ACC Championship Sport and getting ready for a shot on the School Soccer Playoff.
17. USC (19): The Trojans bought off to a tough begin towards UCLA however rallied within the second half for a 29-10 win to complete the yr 9-3 general and 7-2 in Huge Ten play.
18. Michigan (15): Shedding to the No. 1 staff within the nation is not going to come back with an enormous penalty within the rankings, nevertheless it does put the Wolverines in the identical place as a three-loss USC staff it misplaced to earlier this season. That may assist function an anchor for voters seeking to shuffle their ballots, the place Michigan is not punished for dropping to the very best staff within the nation however nonetheless will get sorted right into a spot extra in keeping with its file.
19. James Madison (20): The Dukes completely pounded Coastal Carolina, successful 59-10 to place an exclamation level on the primary unbeaten staff in Solar Belt play since Louisiana in 2021. Whether or not the crooked rating will garner the eye of the School Soccer Playoff Choice Committee is but to be decided, however the AP High 25 ballot voters who’ve been supportive of JMU for just a few weeks will use the end result to solidify the staff’s place.
20. North Texas (21): Eric Morris accepted the pinnacle teaching place at Oklahoma State earlier this week however his North Texas staff confirmed no indicators of being distracted, rolling Temple 52-25 on Friday. The Imply Inexperienced will now get an opportunity to play their approach into the School Soccer Playoff by means of the American Championship Sport subsequent Friday night time.
21. Tulane (22): With a sweat-free win towards Charlotte, Tulane punched its ticket to the American Championship Sport and now will look to make an impression on the School Soccer Playoff committee in hopes of being one of many highest-ranked convention champions.
22. Navy (NR): The Midshipmen have been twenty seventh in voting factors final week and proceeded to beat Memphis by double-digits to shut out a 9-2 common season. With North Texas and Tulane advancing to the title recreation within the American, Navy now turns its consideration to America’s Sport and beating Military in Baltimore on Dec. 13.
23. Arizona (NR): After a disastrous Yr 1, Brent Brennan not solely steadied the ship for Arizona soccer however led one of many higher convention campaigns within the Huge 12. The Wildcats beat rival Arizona to complete 9-3 general and 6-3 in convention play, closing out the common season with 5 straight wins.
24. Missouri (NR): The Tigers have been simply within the AP High 25 ballot two weeks in the past and checked in at twenty eighth in final week’s balloting, so it is a staff that is not far off the voters’ radar. Missouri’s rivalry week providing was a 14-point street win at Arkansas to cap off an 8-4 common season file.
25. Iowa (NR): The Hawkeyes completely thrashed Nebraska on Friday afternoon to spherical out an 8-4 season. Voters might find yourself shifting South Florida into this place because the Bulls are 9-3 after thrashing Rice, however Iowa’s resume has solely gotten stronger with the continued success of Indiana and Oregon.
Projected to drop out: No. 18 Tennessee, No. 23 Georgia Tech, No. 24 Pittsburgh, No. 25 SMU
