School soccer at all times delivers, even within the weeks that really feel underwhelming. In a stunner, South Florida shocked No. 13 Florida after a spitting participant led to a game-winning subject objective from USF’s Nico Gramatica.
In different spots, No. 16 Iowa State pulled away from Iowa with a historic subject objective, whereas No. 20 Ole Miss wanted each second to keep away from Kentucky. No. 11 Illinois performed properly in a win over Duke and Texas QB Arch Manning discovered his footing.
Elsewhere, Oregon drove legendary Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy into the bottom. The stunning 69-3 victory marked all-time low for the Cowboys. Rivalry video games between Kansas/Missouri and Texas State/UTSA additionally introduced loads of hate.
There’s a lot extra to come back within the night slate. Arizona State travels to Mississippi State in a giant prove-it spot, whereas Michigan performs Oklahoma in Norman in maybe one of the best recreation of the day. BYU additionally hosts Stanford in a giant recreation for first-year quarterback Bear Bachmeier.
Listed here are the largest winners and losers of the primary few home windows of video games.
Winner: Mississippi State
The Bulldogs had a tough first season underneath coach Jeff Lebby, and a 34-17 win over Southern Miss did not encourage a lot confidence. After a come-from-behind victory in opposition to No. 12 Arizona State, although, Mississippi State has a critical second to have fun for the primary time within the Lebby period.
MSU blew a 17-0 lead and had been down 20-17 late within the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, ex-Oklahoma receiver Brenen Thompson in some way bought misplaced by the protection and blew by for a 58-yard landing from Blake Shapen with 30 seconds left. Bulldogs followers stormed the sector and ripped down the objective submit, the primary time they’ve had an opportunity to take action in years.
Mississippi State followers felt some disrespect on the a part of Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham in the direction of this system and Starkville coming in. Exorcising these demons with a win needed to really feel good.
Loser: Florida coach Billy Napier
The quantity of self-inflicted disasters that Florida wanted to impose in its 18-16 loss to South Florida was incalculable. Nevertheless, the ultimate drive actually set the tone. Florida bought the ball with 2:52 remaining within the fourth quarter and primarily simply wanted to run clock. As an alternative, Napier known as two passes in three performs to show the ball over on downs in solely 27 seconds.
Then, South Florida bought the ball again. After defensive finish Brenden Bett spit within the face of a Bulls participant, South Florida used it to drive 87 yards down the sector and kick a game-winning subject objective in a stunner.
Napier constructed up loads of goodwill with the way in which he completed the 2024 season, nevertheless it all went out the window in Recreation 2. The Bulls outgained them 391-355 and Florida proved unable to impose their will. With a brutal schedule forward — together with three straight video games in opposition to AP High 7 opponents, beginning subsequent week at LSU — issues may careen shortly.
Oklahoma paid high greenback to carry Washington State switch John Mateer to campus. In his first massive recreation, Mateer was greater than well worth the funding. The junior was accountable for 270 yards passing, 74 yards passing and three complete touchdowns within the 24-13 victory in opposition to No. 15 Michigan. He purchased time together with his legs and confused a proficient Michigan protection all day. His presence was the distinction within the defensive battle between two blue blood applications. Receiver Deion Burks, a former Purdue switch, regarded the a part of a favourite goal, ending together with his first profession 100-yard recreation.
What on earth is occurring with the Wildcats? Kansas State was a preferred choose to win the Huge 12 in 2025, however as a substitute are staring down the barrel of 1-2 after dropping to Military — which, one week in the past, misplaced to FCS Tarleton State. Kansas State’s star quarterback Avery Johnson has been inconsistent, ending with solely 186 complete yards. Nevertheless, the defensive and operating recreation are disastrous.
Kansas State rushed for less than 74 yards on 18 carries within the loss to Military, two weeks after ending at solely 4.0 yards per carry in opposition to Iowa State. Nevertheless, the protection has been the actual tragedy, giving up 237 yards and two touchdowns on the bottom to Military. The Black Knights held the ball for 40 minutes and transformed 6-of-7 fourth downs.
For the primary time within the Chris Klieman period, Kansas State is simply… unhealthy.
Solely within the Iowa-Iowa State rivalry would a coach play for a game-winning 54-yard subject objective … and get completely rewarded for it. However that was the story for Iowa State, which turned in a game-winner from Kyle Konrardy to place away Iowa for its first win over its rival at residence since 2011, snapping a six-game dropping streak.
Iowa State is off to an amazing 3-0 begin, however Konrardy has been distinctive. Since uncharacteristically lacking a 49-yard subject objective within the first half in opposition to Kansas State, Konrardy has hit six straight subject targets. Along with the 54-yard recreation winner, Konrardy nailed a college report 63-yard subject objective in opposition to South Dakota.
The Cyclones determine to be within the thick of the Huge 12 championship race, and Konrardy has emerged as maybe their best benefit.
Loser: Oklahoma State
There’s dropping to a high 10 opponent, after which there’s regardless of the heck simply occurred in Eugene, Oregon. The Cowboys performed No. 6 Oregon and gave up touchdowns on two of the Geese’ first three performs. They surrendered almost 500 yards and 41 factors within the first half. One way or the other, the second half was even worse as quarterback Zane Flores threw pick-sixes on back-to-back performs.
Mike Gundy formed Oklahoma State’s trendy identification — now it is time for a brand new one
Chip Patterson
The loss was the worst at Oklahoma State for the reason that state of Oklahoma was fashioned in 1907, and represented a historic catastrophe for coach Mike Gundy. Previous to 2024, Gundy had by no means misplaced a recreation by greater than 50 factors. Now, he has misplaced his final two matchups by 52 and 66 and been outscored 121-3. This system has bottomed out in each approach.
The Battle of I-35 is a significantly good Group of Six matchup between Texas State and UTSA. These faculties are solely an hour aside. Texas State coach G.J. Kinne even performed for UTSA coach Jeff Traylor in highschool. The connections run deep.
This time, the coed beat the grasp as Texas State escaped with a 43-36 victory on the Alamodome, the primary victory on the venue in 4 appearances since 2012. First-year starter Brad Jackson threw for 286 yards in his second profession begin. The win is a giant one for the Bobcats as they hope to make their case as a premiere Group of Six program and CFP contender.
Winner: The Manning-Livingstone connection at Texas
Probably the most well-known man in school soccer regarded tentative in his first drive in opposition to San Jose State, however Arch Manning lastly bought an opportunity to empty the clip because of his roommate, Parker Livingstone. Late within the first half, Livingstone broke away and caught a move from Manning for an 83-yard reception. Lower than three minutes later, Livingstone caught a good ball for a three-yard landing.
Livingstone solely entered the lineup due to accidents to switch receiver Emmett Mosley V, however proved he deserves extra alternatives. In two video games, he has three touchdowns. He helped Manning take a significant step ahead in a 295-yard, four-touchdown efficiency to beat the Spartans 38-7 in Austin.
Loser: SMU
The No. 17 Mustangs had Baylor useless to rights, up by 14 factors greater than midway via the fourth quarter. SMU had moved the ball at will, scoring a pair of 75-yard passing touchdowns and including a 40-yard dashing rating from T.J. Harden. As an alternative of placing the reeling Bears away, SMU surrendered landing drives of 72 and 82 yards to ship the sport to additional time. A missed subject objective by Caleb Rogers in double additional time did SMU in and gave Baylor its 14th straight win over the Mustangs.
The one solace? SMU misplaced a three-point recreation in opposition to a Huge 12 opponent at residence final yr as properly when BYU topped them in Dallas. It did not preserve them from the School Soccer Playoff. The schedule, although, is rather more troublesome in 2025 with No. 5 Miami and No. 8 Clemson nonetheless forward.
We have waited 14 lengthy years for the Border Struggle to return. In each approach, it lived as much as the hype. Kansas used a scoop-and-score and robust begin from Jalon Daniels to leap out to a 21-6 lead within the first quarter. Nevertheless, Missouri was exceedingly spectacular in the way in which it dealt with the second.
Regardless of dealing with a deficit within the fourth quarter, quarterback Beau Pribula stepped up and delivered a move to a leaked Brett Norfleet to take a lead it could not give up. Jamal Roberts added a 63-yard dashing TD on the finish to push the rating to 42-31. Kansas/Missouri is likely one of the most hateful rivalries within the nation, and coach Eli Drinkwitz will definitely get just a few extra excessive fives on the grocery retailer after pulling away.
Properly, the joy about Wealthy Rodriguez coming residence lasted about 5 minutes. In his first FBS recreation, West Virginia bought outgained by almost 200 yards and misplaced 17-10 in opposition to … Ohio. The Mountaineers rushed for less than 2.6 yards per carry in opposition to a MAC defensive position and let Timothee Chalamet’s favourite quarterback, Parker Narvarro, stunt throughout them to the tune of 247 yards passing and 87 touchdowns. Oklahoma State and West Virginia may have a good battle with UCF for worst staff within the Huge 12!
Winner: Turnover Taters
Idaho is just too good at this.
