The primary spherical of the School Soccer Playoff featured 4 shedding groups, however every of the 4 leaves the yr on agency floor. It was practically unthinkable that SMU or Indiana may play for a nationwide championship coming into the yr. Clemson and Tennessee additionally cemented themselves as applications on the rise.
Now, the arduous half begins. After reaching the School Soccer Playoff, applications need to capitalize. For some, it can imply full-scale rebuilds and revamps of the roster. For others, this expertise will carry them by to the long run. Actually, three of the 4 groups will return their quarterbacks in 2025.
With that in thoughts, here is what’s subsequent for every of the School Soccer Playoff first-round losers as they set their sights on the offseason.
Tennessee: Get receiver assist
Whereas the Vols had been underdogs heading into the matchup with Ohio State, nobody anticipated them to get steamrolled by the Buckeyes worse than Northwestern did. For all of the blame going round in direction of quarterback Nico Iamaleava or the offense line or the protection, extensive receiver was the place group that separated this recreation.
Whereas Iamaleava’s inexperience did not assist, Tennessee solely had one participant with greater than 500 yards receiving on the yr. There are 249 gamers nationally with no less than 50 targets this season, three of whom performed at Tennessee. None ranked increased than 173rd in yards per route run.
On the opposite facet, Ohio State obliterated a proficient Tennessee protection with their receivers. Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka mixed for 11 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns within the win as Ryan Day actually solely wanted to name primary crossing patterns to interrupt them free. Smith is No. 11 in yards per route run. Egbuka is thirty first. That is what a title caliber receiving corps appears to be like like.
Benching incumbent starter Preston Stone and handing the keys to Kevin Jennings was a daring transfer by coach Rhett Lashlee. Stone was the prize recruit, a former top-150 participant who led this system to an AAC title in his first yr because the starter. However with Jennings, SMU made all of it the way in which to the School Soccer Playoff.
For sure, his efficiency in a 38-10 loss to Penn State left a lot to be desired. Jennings threw two choose sixes within the first half and had one other interception that later changed into a landing. He saved preventing, nevertheless it was clear that Jennings was overwhelmed, each by Penn State’s elite protection and the second within the School Soccer Playoff. After the sport, Lashlee took blame for the interceptions to attempt to shield his quarterback.
Jennings is without doubt one of the most underrated gamers within the nation, regardless of the disappointing efficiency in opposition to Penn State. He cleared 3,200 yards passing, 350 yards speeding and scored 28 whole touchdowns regardless of not taking up full time till the fourth recreation. If Jennings can be taught from this recreation, these are the sorts of performances that form future stars.
Clemson: Repair the frenzy protection
The Tigers had been maybe the largest winner of the losers of the primary spherical of CFP video games after quarterback Cade Klunbik and a handful of underclassman receivers helped lead a aggressive efficiency. For the primary time in years, the offense will not be a lot of a query mark heading into the 2025 season.
However for the way a lot the offense flashed, the protection equally regarded shockingly un-Clemson. The Tigers posted their worst speeding protection in additional than a decade, and the unit was at its absolute worst in opposition to Texas. Longhorns operating backs Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner every cleared 100 yards and two touchdowns because the Longhorns posted 292 yards on the bottom. Actually, the one factor that stopped the Texas speeding offense was Steve Sarkisian forgetting to name it.
Thrillingly, Clemson has truly began committing to the switch portal after touchdown two gamers. One particularly, Purdue edge Will Heldt, is tasked with fixing precisely the issues that value Clemson an opportunity on the recreation. With linebacker Barrett Carter and defensive lineman Peter Woods off to the NFL, Clemson has to seek out their new stars.
Indiana: Construct on the second
The Hoosiers had been a veteran-led group full of transfers from Curt Cignetti’s earlier cease of James Madison. Whereas eligibility guidelines are complicated at finest, 15 Indiana starters are listed as seniors, together with quarterback Kurtis Rourke and defensive finish Mikail Kamara. Merely put, a era of Indiana soccer is about to age out of this system. It is time to transfer onto one thing new.
Cignetti got here to Bloomington with large plans to revamp this system, and it is off to a roaring begin. Along with the on-field success, Cignetti has locked in a long-term extension and has some severe funding on the NIL entrance. Ex-Maryland operating again switch Roman Hemby helps kick off a powerful begin to the switch portal interval, however Cignetti must rapidly choose up some wins to get the Hoosiers again into the Large Ten dialog.
