The second version of the School Soccer Playoff Rankings was launched Tuesday evening with undefeated Ohio State remaining No. 1 forward of Indiana and Texas A&M with the primary 5 groups unchanged from the preliminary high 25. Lower than one month stays till the ultimate School Soccer Playoff bracket is chosen, and there’s no telling what upsets could also be in retailer for the highest groups within the nation.
The reigning nationwide champion Buckeyes are searching for their seventh playoff look in 12 years of the postseason bracket’s existence (2014, 2016, 2019-20, 2022, 2024). OSU (8-0, 5-0 Huge Ten) is off to a dominant begin this season with wins over Texas and Illinois, and it completely took down Purdue on Saturday to maintain its resume intact. Its closing sport in opposition to a ranked opponent is available in its regular-season finale in opposition to Michigan.
Eight of the 11 groups ranked No. 1 in a season’s preliminary CFP Rankings finally reached the playoff, an effort now made simpler with the expanded 12-team discipline, which is being contested for a second season.
At the moment projected to satisfy Ohio State within the Huge Ten Championship Sport is Indiana (10-0, 7-0 SEC), which eked out a 27-24 win at Penn State to stay undefeated. IU’s closing two video games are in opposition to groups with mixed information of 5-14 total, 1-12 in Huge Ten play.
Alabama and Georgia spherical out the highest 5, which is solely comprised of Huge Ten and SEC groups for the second straight week.
The CFP Choice Committee’s key transfer this week was elevating Texas Tech two spots previous Ole Miss and Oregon after the Pink Raiders’ 29-7 win over BYU. Miami (FL), regardless of being ranked No. 15, takes the Eleventh bid because the highest-rated crew from the ACC.
South Florida claims the final of the 12 playoff spots because the highest-ranked Group of 5 crew in Tuesday’s launch at No. 24. With the 12-team playoff mannequin granting computerized bids to the 5 highest-ranked convention champions, USF is presently projected to win the American and seize the ultimate spot within the discipline. Ought to a Group of 5 crew not make the ultimate rankings, the CFP Choice Committee would select which champion deserved the final bid.
School Soccer Playoff Rankings, Nov. 11
* First-round bye | ~ First-round host | ^ Highest-ranked Group of 5 crew
- Ohio State (9-0) *
- Indiana (10-0) *
- Texas A&M (9-0) *
- Alabama (8-1) *
- Georgia (8-1) ~
- Texas Tech (9-1) ~
- Ole Miss (9-1) ~
- Oregon (8-1) ~
- Notre Dame (7-2)
- Texas (7-2)
- Oklahoma (7-2)
- BYU (8-1)
- Utah (7-2)
- Vanderbilt (8-2)
- Miami (FL) (7-2) | No. 11 seed
- Georgia Tech (8-1)
- USC (7-2)
- Michigan (7-2)
- Virginia (8-2)
- Louisville (7-2)
- Iowa (6-3)
- Pittsburgh (7-2)
- Tennessee (6-3)
- South Florida (7-2) ^ | No. 12 seed
- Cincinnati (7-2)
SEC’s drive for 5 bids
No person exterior of the SEC desires to listen to this, however this end-of-season stretch is developing roses for a convention that has lengthy been an advocate for additional enlargement. There’s an opportunity not less than 5 groups may end with 10 wins — and as many as seven — if Eleventh-ranked Oklahoma beats Alabama and No. 10 Texas upends Georgia this weekend. That may lead to a attainable squeeze state of affairs for varied at-large choices from different conferences — and likewise Notre Dame — if the committee hammers house its document energy and strength-of-schedule elements. What’s extra prone to occur is Texas A&M, Alabama, Ole Miss and Georgia every securing spots with wins this weekend, which would depart Vanderbilt as the one SEC crew left with a 10-win alternative. Then, we may see a scenario unfold through which the SEC’s fifth entry — and fourth at-large — comes right down to the Commodores or a nine-win Texas if the Longhorns topple Texas A&M in two weeks. We’re contemplating Oklahoma’s journey to Tuscaloosa as a playoff elimination sport for the Sooners, however Texas may slip up at Georgia and nonetheless have a path.
Slotted No. 5 within the committee’s second rankings, Georgia remains to be able to getting a high 4 seed and opening-round bye by successful out, however the Bulldogs will need assistance. The clearest trek is that this: If Oklahoma beats Alabama this weekend and the Crimson Tide care for enterprise in opposition to Auburn through the regular-season finale, Alabama will get to the SEC Championship Sport. Then, a loss to attainable unbeaten Texas A&M places the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide at 10-3 total on choice day with Georgia proper behind. Would the committee swap Alabama for the Bulldogs receiving the final first-round bye regardless of the Crimson Tide’s head-to-head in September win resulting from total document? It is attainable. Georgia can be using an eight-game successful streak into the postseason with closing month victories over nationally ranked Texas and Georgia Tech.
School Soccer Playoff Rankings response: Why Miami — ACC’s highest-rated crew — will not make the sector
Shehan Jeyarajah
Excessive stakes for Oregon, USC
The Geese and Trojans will not meet till Nov. 15, however that showdown is arguably crucial sport left within the Huge Ten’s playoff image so long as eighth-ranked Oregon beats Minnesota and No. 17 USC handles Iowa this weekend. By successful out, Lincoln Riley’s crew would rise within the rankings and get one of many closing at-large spots given their earlier victory over a attainable 10-win Michigan — ought to the now 18th-ranked Wolverines stun Ohio State for a fifth consecutive season — and what can be high quality wins over the Hawkeyes and Geese.
We have projected the Huge Ten to be a three-bid convention all through the season and it seems to be like that third and closing entry will come right down to the Geese and Trojans except hell breaks unfastened in Week 12 previous to the 2 groups’ anticipated showdown. Take note of rivalry video games that come after USC-Oregon, too. The Trojans shut with UCLA, whereas the Geese go to Washington. Huge Ten followers might need to defend their eyes from the ultimate bracket reveal ought to the Bruins and Huskies upset these two ranked groups. In brief, a 9-3 end just isn’t going to be ok to get in for Oregon or USC.
Route for *two* Huge 12 groups
Regardless of Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire’s rally cry for the Huge 12’s multi-bid wants following his crew’s 29-7 win over the Cougars final weekend, the committee spoke loud and clear with the way it energy ranks the convention in opposition to the SEC and Huge Ten. Transferring BYU again from No. 7 to No. 12 behind Texas and Oklahoma reveals the league has main work to do if it expects two entries within the bracket. Finest-case state of affairs for the Cougars is successful their subsequent three video games in opposition to TCU, Cincinnati and UCF to achieve the Huge 12 Championship. There, BYU would have a rematch alternative in opposition to the Pink Raiders and would make the playoff with a win.
The committee must determine what to do with an 11-2 Texas Tech thereafter. Final season, SMU was designated because the final crew in after ending 11-1 earlier than shedding to Clemson within the ACC title sport, giving that convention two bids. Whereas this committee is totally different and you may’t actually choose 12 months over 12 months, historical past may repeat itself and the Huge 12 would have two entries if the extensively accepted narrative that convention championship would not extensively skew seeding rings true.
Group of 5 situations
USF debuted within the rankings at No. 24, the primary Group of 5 to obtain any designation this season from the committee. And with guidelines concerning the Group of 5’s highest-ranked convention receiving considered one of 5 auto-bids, the Bulls are in good condition by successful out. Our up to date projection this week previous to the committee’s second reveal was North Texas getting the Group of 5 bid beneath the notion the Imply Inexperienced win out and get to the American Championship Sport — after which win a rematch with USF after shedding to the Bulls, 63-36, earlier this season.
For that to come back to fruition, North Texas wants Tulane to lose to FAU, Temple or Charlotte over the ultimate three weeks. We’ll take a mulligan there and as of proper now, the frontrunner is now USF from the Group of 5. JMU, Tulane and North Texas are additionally within the combine, with Navy and Memphis on the perimeter. San Diego State’s blowout loss at Hawaii in Week 11 means this season’s projected Mountain West champion is out of the image.
