There have been no modifications inside the prime 5 of this week’s School Soccer Playoff Rankings, however there was nonetheless notable motion. Oregon climbed one spot to No. 5 after its assertion win in opposition to USC. That pushed Ole Miss all the way down to No. 6 regardless of the Rebels sustaining a powerful résumé.
Additional down the record, Miami rose to No. 12, retaining its postseason hopes alive. Nevertheless, that also leaves the Hurricanes on the skin wanting in for an at-large bid, which means their most sensible path to the playoff possible requires profitable the ACC Championship Sport, although the possibilities of attending to Charlotte are slim. In the meantime, Utah slipped to No. 13 following a slim escape in opposition to Kansas State — a recreation through which the Utes surrendered a staggering 472 speeding yards, elevating issues for the choice committee regardless of the victory.
On the prime, nothing has modified concerning the 4 applications at present projected to earn first-round byes within the new 12-team playoff format: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Indiana, No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 4 Georgia stay firmly in place.
This bracket is a projection heading into Week 14. Here’s a have a look at how the School Soccer Playoff bracket takes care of the fourth CFP Rankings launch.
CBS Sports activities design
There are nonetheless two extra units of CFP Rankings to return: subsequent Tuesday’s launch forward of convention championship week, adopted by the ultimate Prime 25 and official 12-team playoff bracket, which can be unveiled on Sunday, Dec. 7.
Who will signify the ACC?
Though Miami is the highest-ranked ACC crew within the eyes of the choice committee, loads should break the Hurricanes’ means for them to even attain the convention championship recreation. They might then should win it to assert the league’s computerized bid. Because it stands, each SMU and Virginia management their very own future coming into the ultimate week of the common season. In the event that they maintain serve, they will meet in Charlotte, with the winner anticipated to maneuver into the projected No. 11 seed.
For Miami to have an actual shot at reaching the title recreation, it wants outdoors assist. Within the ACC race, the Hurricanes are rooting for a minimum of two of the next three groups to take a loss earlier than the mud settles: Duke, SMU and Virginia. Solely then would a path open for Miami to assert the league’s computerized berth.
Nonetheless, by leaping forward of Utah within the newest rankings, Miami has moved nearer to at-large rivalry. However chaos elsewhere stays important — eventualities comparable to Alabama dropping to Auburn within the Iron Bowl, Ole Miss falling to Mississippi State within the Egg Bowl or an LSU upset of Oklahoma. Even a kind of might not be sufficient, particularly with BYU sitting at No. 11 and positioned to seize the ultimate at-large spot.
Ole Miss in peril of dropping first-round residence recreation
With Ole Miss slipping to No. 7 within the newest rankings, this system now sits uncomfortably near falling out of the No. 5-8 vary wanted to host a first-round School Soccer Playoff recreation. A loss within the Egg Bowl to Mississippi State — or motion round them within the rankings — might simply push Ole Miss into road-game territory for the opening spherical.
What complicates every thing is the uncertainty surrounding Lane Kiffin. His future has develop into probably the most talked-about storyline of the season, as he stays linked to each LSU and Florida in what has develop into a high-stakes teaching pursuit. Kiffin has dodged questions publicly, however the scenario has became a full-blown saga.
That instability issues. The choice committee has traditionally taken late-season uncertainty under consideration — simply ask Florida State in 2023. With the Egg Bowl looming, Ole Miss has little margin for error. A misstep on the sphere or additional off-field distractions couldn’t solely price this system a coveted first-round residence recreation however, in a worst-case state of affairs, even jeopardize its spot within the 12-team playoff altogether.
