Whereas many groups have been off or confronted lower-tier nonconference competitors in Week 13, those who did log high quality wins benefited from extra consideration and may see constructive impacts when the AP Prime 25 ballot updates on Sunday. We aren’t anticipating to see the highest of the school soccer rankings have too many dramatic adjustments, however even throughout the prime 10 there are alternatives for motion popping out of the weekend’s outcomes.
Oregon is a group that might see a constructive profit from being on the middle of the school soccer world in Week 13, outlasting USC for a 42-27 win that each bolsters the Geese’ resume and maintains their standing as one of many prime one-loss groups within the nation. The curiosity by way of the voters is whether or not the victory will probably be sufficient to first break the tie with Texas Tech for No. 6 after which problem Ole Miss for No. 5 because the highest-ranked group behind Georgia. Since each the Rebels and the Pink Raiders have been off in Week 13 whereas Oregon logged one among its greatest wins of the season, the potential for some shuffling gives intrigue going into Sunday.
Oklahoma, equally, performed in one of many greatest video games of the day and will see some upward motion after the house win in opposition to Missouri, although it is attainable the Sooners are already tapped out as the highest two-loss group within the rankings in accordance with the AP ballot.
Bowl projections: Notre Dame, Oregon flex for School Soccer Playoff committee, Miami stays on bubble
Brad Crawford
After all, the highlight of Week 13 can minimize the opposite manner for groups as properly. Voters should wrestle with the place to put Georgia Tech; a group that began 8-0 is now 9-2 after shedding two of its final three behind woeful defensive performances. There’s additionally consideration for the way voters will tackle the remainder of the top of the poll, the place decisions between two-loss and three-loss energy convention groups go head-to-head with a number of the brightest stars from the Group of 5.
Here is how we venture the brand new AP Prime 25 ballot to take care of Week 13:
1. Ohio State (Final week — 1): The Buckeyes protection held an opponent to 10 factors or much less for the ninth time this season, and the offense relied on its depth down two stars in a 42-9 win. Even with main receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate out of the lineup, Ohio State nonetheless out-gained Rutgers 430-to-147 and relied on a balanced assault that included 110 dashing yards and two scores from freshman working again Bo Jackson.
2. Indiana (2): The Hoosiers have been off in Week 13 and will probably be again in motion subsequent week to shut the common season in opposition to Purdue.
3. Texas A&M (3): We aren’t projecting any change in votes for Texas A&M after cruising to a 48-0 win in opposition to FCS Samford, which fell to 1-11 on the season with the defeat.
4. Georgia (4): The Bulldogs improved to 25-1 in dwelling nonconference video games underneath Kirby Sensible with a 35-3 win in opposition to Charlotte. It was a day for the group’s youth motion, with backups getting loads of reps after Georgia established an early edge within the closing dwelling sport of the common season.
5. Oregon (6): Saturday was an vital day for Oregon’s resume, as beating USC offers the Geese a brand new “greatest win” whereas they enhance to 10-1 on the season. Given their expertise and pedigree, it is not arduous to argue for Oregon as among the finest groups within the nation, however the 2025 schedule has supplied only some alternatives to log wins that will sway voters making robust selections inside the highest 10. Now they’ve one other one with USC, and that ought to shut the slender hole with Ole Miss to crash the highest 5.
6. Ole Miss (5): The Rebels have been off in Week 13, however we’re projecting {that a} surge of help for the Geese bumps Ole Miss out of the highest 5. Solely 32 voting factors separated the 2 groups final week (1,331-to-1,299), so it should not take a lot shuffling to see Oregon slide forward.
7. Texas Tech (6): The Pink Raiders have been off in Week 13 and will probably be again in motion subsequent week to shut the common season at West Virginia.
8. Oklahoma (8): It is full Al Davis “simply win, child” mode in Norman, the place the scorecard does not have footage and victories by any margin rely in direction of Oklahoma’s purpose of reaching the School Soccer Playoff. Voters, nonetheless, may need been on the lookout for extra aesthetics from a hard-fought win in opposition to Missouri, and the 17-6 victory ought to strengthen the Sooners’ standing as a top-10 group greater than propel a leap up within the rankings.
9. Notre Dame (9): It is attainable that Notre Dame will get a bump from the sticker shock of hanging 70 factors on the board in opposition to an influence convention opponent. However our projection is that voters will not be trying to knock Oklahoma or Texas Tech right down to make room for a Combating Irish group that met expectations by successful huge as a 33-point favourite.
10. Alabama (10): No main rankings adjustments are anticipated after the Crimson Tide beat FCS Jap Illinois 56-0 to enhance to 9-2 on the 12 months.
11. BYU (11): We’re projecting the Cougars will maintain their place simply outdoors the highest 10 after rising 10-1 following a tricky street win at Cincinnati.
12. Vanderbilt (12): The Commodores let Diego Pavia free and he answered the decision in opposition to Kentucky, setting a brand new college report with 484 passing yards and scoring six whole touchdowns (5 passing, one dashing) in a 45-17 win in opposition to Kentucky. The win closed out the primary undefeated dwelling schedule (7-0) since 1982 and units up a shot on the first-ever 10-win season going into subsequent week’s finale at Tennessee.
13. Miami (14): You possibly can name it “type factors” if you would like, however Mario Cristobal is asking it an “aggressive” mindset as Miami was throwing landing passes on fourth down late in a 34-17 win in opposition to Virginia Tech. Carson Beck actually confirmed his greatest type, throwing for 320 yards and 4 touchdowns on 27-of-32 passing, and the Hurricanes performed properly sufficient to have voters reconsidering their order of two-loss groups outdoors the highest 10.
14. Utah (13): Whereas a Utah fan emerges from Week 13 enthused that the Utes overcame a number of double-digit deficits to beat Kansas State 51-47, an AP voter would possibly pause to guage why the afternoon was so troublesome for a group that entered because the afternoon closely favored at dwelling. Utah’s protection had few solutions for Kansas State, so we’re projecting the shut name produces a slight shuffle within the mid-teens.
15. Texas (17): Arch Manning having a six-touchdown day in a 52-37 win in opposition to Arkansas units the proper stage for Texas heading into rivalry week in opposition to Texas A&M. The Longhorns will stay the highest-ranked three-loss group within the rankings, however this week they’re counting on different group’s losses to maneuver up. Subsequent week, in opposition to the Aggies, comes the chance for a giant leap nearer to the highest 10.
16. Michigan (18): Prime working backs Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall have been out, however Bryson Kuzdzal was prepared for the chance to supply and assist Michigan roll to a 45-20 win at Maryland. Michigan didn’t punt as soon as and transformed 12 of 14 third downs in a formidable displaying in opposition to the Terps’ protection.
17. Virginia (19): The Wahoos have been off in Week 13 and will probably be again in motion to shut the common season in opposition to rival Virginia Tech subsequent Saturday.
18. USC (16): We aren’t projecting USC to fall too far within the rankings even after shedding by 15 factors at Oregon. The Trojans at the moment are 8-3 however nonetheless have the win in opposition to Michigan and no actual unhealthy losses on the resume (Oregon, Notre Dame, Illinois). That is a really related profile to Tennessee, which is the goal for the place we expect USC will wind up.
19. Tennessee (20): The lengthy shedding streak to Florida in The Swamp has been snapped, and Tennessee has now set itself as much as end ranked for the fourth straight season underneath Josh Heupel. The Vols end the common season at Vanderbilt after which may have the bowl sport, and sitting right here now at 8-3 it appears doubtless not less than a kind of wins must be ok for AP voters to have Tennessee on their end-of-season ballots.
20. James Madison (21): Issues obtained extraordinarily dicey for the Dukes with Washington State on the town, however some clutch performs, together with Wayne Knight’s 58-yard go-ahead landing run within the fourth quarter, helped JMU stay a one-loss group because the School Soccer Playoff highlight continues to warmth up. The Dukes are 10-1 and have already clinched a spot within the Solar Belt title sport, however they continue to be in a race to complete as one of many 5 highest-ranked convention champions within the eyes of the choice committee.
21. North Texas (22): The Imply Inexperienced dealt with their enterprise on the street, rolling up 56 factors in a 32-point win at Rice to enhance to 10-1 general and preserve their inside monitor on making the American title sport.
22. Georgia Tech (15): Although Georgia Tech continues to be only a two-loss group, the truth that each losses have come within the final three video games actually drives dwelling the spiraling nature of this season. AP voters who’re vulnerable to recency bias might drop Georgia Tech off their ballots totally, whereas others who purchased inventory into the group that began 8-0 will probably be much less prone to be so dramatic. As a result of one of the best win on the resume is Wake Forest, the location for this 9-2 group is wildly unpredictable.
23. Tulane (24): Having to accept discipline objectives 5 occasions meant that the 37-13 closing in opposition to Temple may need been much more lopsided than the rating suggests. The Inexperienced Wave bottled up Temple’s offense and Jake Retzlaff had three whole touchdowns (two passing, one dashing) to maneuver Tulane to 9-2 general and one win away from clinching a spot within the American Athletic Convention title sport.
24. SMU (NR): The Mustangs have been twenty eighth final week in voting factors earlier than dominating Louisville on Saturday afternoon, and now sit at 8-3 general following the 38-6 win. Whereas we’re projecting a return to the AP Prime 25 ballot, what’s most vital for SMU was how this victory moved the Mustangs one step nearer to the ACC Championship Sport and a attainable return to the School Soccer Playoff
25. Pitt (NR): The Panthers have been No. 23 within the AP Prime 25 ballot previous to shedding to Notre Dame final week, so regardless that they have been additional down in “Others receiving votes” it shouldn’t be arduous to see them return to voters’ ballots after beating Georgia Tech.
Projected to drop out: No. 23 Missouri, No. 25 Houston
