Within the final month for the reason that confetti fell on Ohio State’s nationwide championship, the faculty soccer world has collectively turned its consideration to the season forward. The switch portal exercise has calmed, the teaching carousel is nearing its closing rotations, and the league schedules have put video games on the calendar to excite followers for upcoming season. 

The 2025 school soccer schedule would not have as a lot uncertainty has the earlier season, as a result of now we now have seen one yr with mega conferences and brought half within the 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff dialogue. Expectations have been set on how the upcoming yr will play out based mostly on what we noticed in 2024, which provides us the chance to determine the pivot factors within the playoff race in 2025. 

That is our activity at this time, trying on the entirety of the faculty soccer schedule because it has been introduced and deciding on one sport from every week that may play a task within the playoff race. As we discovered, the start of any CFP race begins with the convention title races and key nonconference video games that may play a task in seeding choices later within the season. There are additionally issues relating to the at-large alternatives out there to completely different conferences, and the way that availability would possibly affect the CFP stakes of every matchup. 

So let’s dive in, from Week 0 to Week 14, with one sport every week that may play a task within the CFP race.  

We do not have lots of competitors right here with simply 4 video games on the Week 0 slate, however this rivalry sport has performed a task within the Massive 12 title race earlier than and is predicted to be a key information level once more in 2025. When you have got a convention just like the Massive 12, the place it is attainable to see 4 groups find yourself tied for first place within the standings, each head-to-head outcome amongst potential contenders carries with it tiebreaker benefits that might repay on the finish of the yr.  

Week 1: Texas at Ohio State 

We do have a reasonably stellar Week 1 schedule by way of high-profile nonconference matchups, and what makes issues much more thrilling is seeing so a lot of these video games being performed in residence stadiums versus impartial websites. Alabama has to journey to Tallahassee for its opener in opposition to a Florida State staff seeking to rebound from final yr’s disappointments; Clemson is enjoying host to LSU in its model of Dying Valley; and Sunday evening’s showcase on Labor Day weekend options the most recent chapter within the Notre Dame-Miami matchup with a showdown in South Florida. 

However the headliner is the rematch of this yr’s Cotton Bowl semifinal. Ryan Day and Steve Sarkisian may very well be main the No. 1 and No. 2 groups within the nation into battle. This may not be a make-or-break sport for both staff’s playoff probabilities with a lot season left to play, however the winner could have arguably one of the best win of the season on their profile for the remainder of the yr.  

The Massive 12’s finest likelihood for an at-large staff appears to be Baylor, which opens the yr by internet hosting Auburn in Week 1 after which touring to Dallas to tackle final yr’s ACC runner-up in SMU. If the Bears, which we do mission to be among the many contenders for the Massive 12 in 2025 with quarterback Sawyer Robertson main the way in which, can sweep each video games, they are going to enter Massive 12 play with a good nationwide rating that may enhance the profile of the whole convention. Different nonconference video games of be aware right here embody Michigan touring to Oklahoma and a renewal of the Kansas-Missouri rivalry. Because the ACC and Massive 12 battle for at-large respect, nonetheless, this sport may find yourself enjoying a task in how groups are ranked on the finish of the yr. 

Beating Texas A&M in Faculty Station was one the of the keys to Notre Dame sustaining its place within the rankings because it rebuilt its profile week-by-week within the wake of the upset loss to Northern Illinois. That very same worth shall be hanging within the steadiness for each groups in South Bend because the Aggies look to select up the spectacular nonconference win they missed out on in 2024, whereas Notre Dame will both be surging out of a win at Miami in Week 1 or seeking to bounce again after falling to the Hurricanes. Notre Dame’s playoff outlook shall be influenced considerably by these Week 1 and Week 3 video games, and enjoying at residence will make the outcome a tone-setter heading into the remainder of their schedule.  

Whereas Florida-Miami and Michigan-Nebraska might pack extra punch within the eyes of some, it is onerous to discover a week that is extra vital for the AAC’s CFP probabilities. The AAC missed out on the CFP in Yr 1 of the 12-team format, which served as a disappointing improvement for a convention that repeatedly put groups within the New Yr’s Six and even despatched its champion to the four-team CFP again in 2021. Tulane and Memphis are anticipated to be among the many title contenders within the convention, and these two video games in opposition to SEC opponents present the chance to notch the sort of win that the CFP committee will pay attention to when stacking convention champions in opposition to one another on the finish of the yr.  

There are a few Saturdays that get circled early within the offseason, and Saturday, Sept. 27, is totally a type of days with six CFP hopefuls enjoying in convention video games that may set the stage for every race and award the winners with a victory that might bolster at-large profiles. And whereas the return journey of final yr’s Alabama-Georgia epic and the most recent version of the LSU-Ole Miss rivalry will get their deserved shine, our consideration is on the rematch of the electrifying 2024 Massive Ten Championship Sport. Oregon outlasted Penn State 45-37 to spherical out a 13-0 debut in Massive Ten play, however now the setting will get moved to Comfortable Valley, the place the Nittany Lions shall be searching for revenge. There are solely three video games between the “Massive 4” within the Massive Ten (Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Oregon), and this isn’t solely certainly one of them, however the one one Oregon will play in opposition to the opposite three. 

Week 6: Kansas State at Baylor 

We’re bringing Baylor again yet one more time into the highlight since this shall be one of the vital convention video games on the Bears’ schedule. Kansas State is without doubt one of the co-favorites to win the Massive 12 within the betting markets (with Arizona State), and relying on how Baylor carried out in these two nonconference video games at the start of the yr, we may see this Oct. 4 showdown show to be amongst one of many high matchups of the convention schedule. There are different nice convention video games on this week’s schedule like Miami at Florida State and Texas at Florida, however once more, the Massive 12 logjam makes this carry much more weight by way of the convention title race, and subsequently the Faculty Soccer Playoff race. 

Week 7: Texas vs. Oklahoma   

Steve Sarkisian holds a 2-1 edge on Brent Venables within the Crimson River Rivalry file books and a mixed 113-37 edge on the three scoreboards thanks to 2 lopsided wins. However that’s not going to cease this sport from being a possible land mine for a Longhorns staff chasing the SEC and nationwide title. Whereas the Sooners are usually not anticipated to be an at-large candidate for the CFP, there shall be vital stakes for a training employees that enters 2025 beneath strain to win huge. One different spot to notice right here is that each Ohio State (at Illinois) and Michigan (at USC) are enjoying street video games in opposition to high quality opponents in what may very well be a shake-up week within the Massive Ten title race.     

Week 8: SMU at Clemson  

That is one other tough week to make one decide with convention title and CFP stakes throughout the nation. Georgia (vs. Ole Miss) and Alabama (vs. Tennessee) have an opportunity to actual revenge from regular-season street losses in 2024, and Notre Dame will play host to a USC staff that was extraordinarily aggressive when the 2 rivals squared off in final yr’s regular-season finale. However our focus returns to the ACC, the place the title race shall be impacted first by a Louisville-Miami sport on Friday evening after which by the rematch of final yr’s ACC Championship Sport as SMU makes its first-ever journey to Dying Valley to play Clemson.   

Week 9: BYU at Iowa State  

BYU has an opportunity to be an element within the Massive 12 race as soon as once more, not solely due to the staff returning beneath coach Kalani Sitake, however due to a convention draw that sees the Cougars keep away from a number of the groups anticipated to compete for the league title in 2025. However schedule luck fades as we get deeper into the yr, and a visit to Ames to face QB Rocco Becht and the reigning Massive 12 runner-up will take a look at BYU’s bonafides in opposition to the league’s contenders. We have additionally go our eyes on Texas A&M at LSU on this week, however given the shortage of bids doubtlessly out there to the Massive 12, this showdown may carry extra CFP weight. 

Week 10: Penn State at Ohio State 

By the tip of final season, the CFP choice committee rewarded each Ohio State for its win in opposition to Penn State and gave credit score to the Nittany Lions for his or her competitiveness in opposition to the Buckeyes. That is the sort of energy that the Ohio State-Penn State rivalry holds within the trendy period. No matter outcome, these two packages will see an affect in how they’re considered in opposition to the opposite nationwide title contenders. This week may even characteristic Georgia-Florida, Miami at SMU and a pair of Massive 12 video games of be aware with Arizona State at Iowa State and Texas Tech at Kansas State. 

Week 11: LSU at Alabama 

Whereas the winner of Alabama-LSU not has a easy path paved to the SEC Championship Sport, it nonetheless has been an element within the convention title race practically each season final decade. Since 2014, both Alabama or LSU has been a participant in 9 of the 11 SEC Championship Video games. The Crimson Tide’s victory on this rivalry final yr gave them an inroad to Atlanta earlier than stumbling in opposition to Oklahoma late within the season. This week may even characteristic a key ACC matchup with Florida State at Clemson and one of many harder new-age street journeys for Oregon because the Geese go to Kinnick Stadium to tackle Iowa.   

Week 12: Texas at Georgia 

After enjoying an intense back-and-forth within the common season after which going to time beyond regulation within the SEC Championship Sport, the most recent version of this rivalry will clearly play an enormous function within the CFP image. We’re not projecting that the loser of this sport is out of the CFP by any means, however the implications for the convention title race and playoff seeding shall be big for 2 groups that that might each begin the yr inside the highest 5 of the nationwide rankings. Whereas Clemson at Louisville and Florida at Ole Miss carry potential worth from a convention title or at-large perspective, the shuffling inside the highest 10 popping out of the Texas-Georgia outcome may affect excess of the 2 groups concerned. 

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Week 13: Tennessee at Florida 

After a one-and-done exhibiting in this system’s first-ever CFP look, search for Tennessee to return again with a robust response in 2025. The Volunteers are at present tied for third with Alabama within the SEC championship odds, trailing solely Texas and Georgia on the board, and with QB Nico Iamaleava poised for a step ahead, it is a staff that must be within the thick of the CFP race once more. Will the Vols be sturdy sufficient of a candidate to have a transparent edge in Gainesville in November? That is but to be decided, however whether or not it is SEC title implications or constructing the case for a CFP at-large bid for both staff, there’s undoubtedly lots on the road on this new spot on the calendar for 2 long-time rivals. 

Week 14: Ohio State at Michigan 

The task or immediate issues, as a result of any preview of the 2025 school soccer schedule should record Ohio State at Michigan as the sport of the week. It doesn’t matter whether or not you are predicting CFP implications or video games that followers are most anticipating, the reply to all of it’s “sure.” 

It doesn’t even matter that Ohio State misplaced this sport and went on to win the nationwide championship, as a result of the implications stemming for a win or loss for each groups exceeds the bounds of any postseason format. Ohio State has to beat Michigan, and Michigan needs nothing greater than to beat Ohio State for a fifth straight season. Sure, there’s lots extra to maintain in consideration for CFP causes like Texas A&M at Texas, Clemson at South Carolina and the Iron Bowl, however the strain packed into the Massive Home when the 2 most up-to-date nationwide champions sq. off is the place the Week 14 highlight should begin in any dialog.