Faculty Soccer Playoff Rankings: Ohio State holds, Texas Tech jumps Ole Miss

The second version of the Faculty Soccer Playoff Rankings was launched Tuesday evening with undefeated Ohio State remaining No. 1 forward of Indiana and Texas A&M with the primary 5 groups unchanged from the preliminary prime 25. Lower than one month stays till the ultimate Faculty Soccer Playoff bracket is chosen, and there’s no telling what upsets could also be in retailer for the highest groups within the nation.

The reigning nationwide champion Buckeyes are in search of their seventh playoff look in 12 years of the postseason bracket’s existence (2014, 2016, 2019-20, 2022, 2024). OSU (8-0, 5-0 Huge Ten) is off to a dominant begin this season with wins over Texas and Illinois, and it completely took down Purdue on Saturday to maintain its resume intact. Its closing recreation in opposition to a ranked opponent is available in its regular-season finale in opposition to Michigan.

Eight of the 11 groups ranked No. 1 in a season’s preliminary CFP Rankings in the end reached the playoff, an effort now made simpler with the expanded 12-team subject, which is being contested for a second season.

At the moment projected to fulfill Ohio State within the Huge Ten Championship Recreation is Indiana (10-0, 7-0 SEC), which eked out a 27-24 win at Penn State to stay undefeated. IU’s closing two video games are in opposition to groups with mixed data of 5-14 total, 1-12 in Huge Ten play.

Alabama and Georgia spherical out the highest 5, which is completely comprised of Huge Ten and SEC groups for the second straight week.

The CFP Choice Committee’s key transfer this week was elevating Texas Tech two spots previous Ole Miss and Oregon after the Pink Raiders’ 29-7 win over BYU. Miami (FL), regardless of being ranked No. 15, takes the Eleventh bid because the highest-rated group from the ACC.

South Florida claims the final of the 12 playoff spots because the highest-ranked Group of 5 group in Tuesday’s launch at No. 24. With the 12-team playoff mannequin granting computerized bids to the 5 highest-ranked convention champions, USF is presently projected to win the American and seize the ultimate spot within the subject. Ought to a Group of 5 group not make the ultimate rankings, the CFP Choice Committee would select which champion deserved the final bid.

Faculty Soccer Playoff Rankings, Nov. 11

* First-round bye | ~ First-round host | ^ Highest-ranked Group of 5 group

1. Ohio State (9-0) *
2. Indiana (10-0) *
3. Texas A&M (9-0) *
4. Alabama (8-1) *
5. Georgia (8-1) ~
6. Texas Tech (9-1) ~
7. Ole Miss (9-1) ~
8. Oregon (8-1) ~
9. Notre Dame (7-2)
10. Texas (7-2)
11. Oklahoma (7-2)
12. BYU (8-1)
13. Utah (7-2)
14. Vanderbilt (8-2)
15. Miami (FL) (7-2) | No. 11 seed
16. Georgia Tech (8-1)
17. USC (7-2)
18. Michigan (7-2)
19. Virginia (8-2)
20. Louisville (7-2)
21. Iowa (6-3)
22. Pittsburgh (7-2)
23. Tennessee (6-3)
24. South Florida (7-2) ^ | No. 12 seed
25. Cincinnati (7-2)

SEC’s drive for 5 bids

No one outdoors of the SEC desires to listen to this, however this end-of-season stretch is developing roses for a convention that has lengthy been an advocate for additional growth. There’s an opportunity a minimum of 5 groups might end with 10 wins — and as many as seven — if Eleventh-ranked Oklahoma beats Alabama and No. 10 Texas upends Georgia this weekend. That will lead to a doable squeeze situation for numerous at-large choices from different conferences — and likewise Notre Dame — if the committee hammers residence its report energy and strength-of-schedule elements. What’s extra prone to occur is Texas A&M, Alabama, Ole Miss and Georgia every securing spots with wins this weekend, which would depart Vanderbilt as the one SEC group left with a 10-win alternative. Then, we might see a state of affairs unfold by which the SEC’s fifth entry — and fourth at-large — comes all the way down to the Commodores or a nine-win Texas if the Longhorns topple Texas A&M in two weeks. We’re contemplating Oklahoma’s journey to Tuscaloosa as a playoff elimination recreation for the Sooners, however Texas might slip up at Georgia and nonetheless have a path.

Slotted No. 5 within the committee’s second rankings, Georgia remains to be able to getting a prime 4 seed and opening-round bye by successful out, however the Bulldogs will need assistance. The clearest trek is that this: If Oklahoma beats Alabama this weekend and the Crimson Tide handle enterprise in opposition to Auburn through the regular-season finale, Alabama will get to the SEC Championship Recreation. Then, a loss to doable unbeaten Texas A&M places the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide at 10-3 total on choice day with Georgia proper behind. Would the committee swap Alabama for the Bulldogs receiving the final first-round bye regardless of the Crimson Tide’s head-to-head in September win resulting from total report? It is doable. Georgia could be driving an eight-game successful streak into the postseason with closing month victories over nationally ranked Texas and Georgia Tech.

Faculty Soccer Playoff Rankings response: Why Miami — ACC’s highest-rated group — will not make the sphere

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Excessive stakes for Oregon, USC

The Geese and Trojans will not meet till Nov. 15, however that showdown is arguably a very powerful recreation left within the Huge Ten’s playoff image so long as eighth-ranked Oregon beats Minnesota and No. 17 USC handles Iowa this weekend. By successful out, Lincoln Riley’s group would rise within the rankings and get one of many closing at-large spots given their earlier victory over a doable 10-win Michigan — ought to the now 18th-ranked Wolverines stun Ohio State for a fifth consecutive season — and what could be high quality wins over the Hawkeyes and Geese. 

We have projected the Huge Ten to be a three-bid convention all through the season and it seems to be like that third and closing entry will come all the way down to the Geese and Trojans except hell breaks unfastened in Week 12 previous to the 2 groups’ anticipated showdown. Take note of rivalry video games that come after USC-Oregon, too. The Trojans shut with UCLA, whereas the Geese go to Washington. Huge Ten followers might wish to protect their eyes from the ultimate bracket reveal ought to the Bruins and Huskies upset these two ranked groups. In brief, a 9-3 end is just not going to be ok to get in for Oregon or USC. 

Route for *two* Huge 12 groups

Regardless of Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire’s rally cry for the Huge 12’s multi-bid wants following his group’s 29-7 win over the Cougars final weekend, the committee spoke loud and clear with the way it energy ranks the convention in opposition to the SEC and Huge Ten. Shifting BYU again from No. 7 to No. 12 behind Texas and Oklahoma reveals the league has main work to do if it expects two entries within the bracket. Greatest-case situation for the Cougars is successful their subsequent three video games in opposition to TCU, Cincinnati and UCF to succeed in the Huge 12 Championship. There, BYU would have a rematch alternative in opposition to the Pink Raiders and would make the playoff with a win. 

The committee must resolve what to do with an 11-2 Texas Tech thereafter. Final season, SMU was designated because the final group in after ending 11-1 earlier than dropping to Clemson within the ACC title recreation, giving that convention two bids. Whereas this committee is completely different and you may’t actually choose yr over yr, historical past might repeat itself and the Huge 12 would have two entries if the broadly accepted narrative that convention championship would not broadly skew seeding rings true.

Group of 5 situations

USF debuted within the rankings at No. 24, the primary Group of 5 to obtain any designation this season from the committee. And with guidelines concerning the Group of 5’s highest-ranked convention receiving considered one of 5 auto-bids, the Bulls are in fine condition by successful out. Our up to date projection this week previous to the committee’s second reveal was North Texas getting the Group of 5 bid underneath the notion the Imply Inexperienced win out and get to the American Championship Recreation — after which win a rematch with USF after dropping to the Bulls, 63-36, earlier this season. 

For that to come back to fruition, North Texas wants Tulane to lose to FAU, Temple or Charlotte over the ultimate three weeks. We will take a mulligan there and as of proper now, the frontrunner is now USF from the Group of 5. JMU, Tulane and North Texas are additionally within the combine, with Navy and Memphis on the perimeter. San Diego State’s blowout loss at Hawaii in Week 11 means this season’s projected Mountain West champion is out of the image.