All eyes are on the SEC in Week 5 as Georgia’s journey to Alabama is the primary occasion headlining an expansive weekend of motion throughout school soccer. At the moment penned as unanimous selections to achieve the Faculty Soccer Playoff, the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide are comfy on the large stage with six of the earlier eight matchups on this rivalry coming within the convention championship or nationwide title recreation.
Unbeatens Illinois and Penn State spotlight the Large Ten’s group of marquee video games whereas Louisville-Notre Dame is a attainable playoff-eliminator of types for the Preventing Irish in the event that they fall for a second time in South Bend.
Clemson is again on this week’s up to date playoff projection after throttling one other opponent at dwelling. Quarterback Cade Klubnik is taking part in the most effective soccer of his profession and it appears like offensive coordiantor Garrett Riley has lastly figured issues out offensively in his second-year as offensive coordinator for the Tigers.
Projected CFP Rankings
1. Texas
SEC champion
Arch Manning wasn’t superman in opposition to ULM, however did not should be for the Longhorns after Jaydon Blue scored three touchdowns on the bottom and the Texas protection pummeled a talent-deprived opponent. Quinn Ewers could return this week at quarterback in opposition to Mississippi State, but when not, the Longhorns should not have any issues corralling the Bulldogs, who’ve misplaced three straight. In the meantime, Texas’ win over Michigan appears even higher after the Wolverines beat USC, who was ranked No. 13 within the AP Prime 25. The query is whether or not Texas will preserve its No. 1 spot right here in opposition to the winner of Georgia vs. Alabama.
2. Ohio State
Large Ten champion
Lastly, the Buckeyes will play an opponent of substance this week after they journey to East Lansing to sort out first-year coach Jonathan Smith and Michigan State within the Large Ten opener for each groups. Nothing in opposition to Akron, Western Michigan and Marshall, however the Spartans ought to present a greater problem for this talent-stacked elite.
3. Miami
ACC champion
With a 404-yard efficiency at USF final week, Cam Ward strengthened his lead atop the Heisman image nearing the midseason mark and continues to assault opposing secondaries along with his arm. Miami might be examined Friday night time in its ACC opener in opposition to Virginia Tech, however the Hokies have did not stay as much as preseason billing up so far.
4. BYU
Large 12 champion
For the primary time, BYU is the projected Large 12 champion after making an emphatic assertion at dwelling in opposition to previously-unbeaten Kansas State. Over a six-minute stretch of recreation time from the tip of the primary half and early within the third quarter, the Cougars turned a 6-point deficit right into a 25-point lead. Unbelievable. BYU takes its unblemished begin to Baylor on Saturday. The Large 12 is huge open and we have had a enjoyable time spotlighting completely different groups on this slot via the previous few weeks — Iowa State, Utah and Kansas State most not too long ago. Lengthy technique to go on the market.
5. Georgia
Now not the projected SEC champion given the brutality of the remaining schedule — which incorporates journeys to Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss — Kirby Sensible’s group is definitely geared up to endure what the following few months will deliver and if the Bulldogs make it to Atlanta and win the SECCG, then they will seize the No. 1 spot no matter what any projections say. A win over the Crimson Tide this weekend can be an enormous step in getting again to the playoff and in addition places the Bulldogs again at No. 1 in varied SEC energy rankings going into October.
6. Ole Miss
Like many perceived title contenders, the Rebels and their switch portal-enhanced roster haven’t confronted a major menace this season. Complacency is the most important opposition for Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin has been happy with the outcomes. The primary crack in convention comes Saturday in opposition to offensively-challenged Kentucky.
7. Oregon
Following an encouraging beatdown of Oregon State, the Geese tackle UCLA in Week 5 in hopes of continuous their march towards changing into the Large Ten’s greatest amongst league newcomers. It is vital for Dan Lanning’s group to deal with the Bruins and Michigan State over the following two weeks earlier than worrying concerning the mammoth dwelling recreation with Ohio State on Oct. 12.
8. Tennessee
No group in school soccer picked up a extra notable win than the Vols in Week 4 after Josh Heupel went dwelling to Oklahoma and left little doubt. It was the Tennessee protection that opened quite a lot of eyes nationally and solidified this group’s spot among the many SEC’s better-respected elites. The Vols jumped 5 spots within the new AP Ballot, too.
9. Penn State
Penn State’s 56-point whooping of Kent State was all the time going to be in comparison with how badly Tennessee beat the Golden Flashes the earlier week — and the Nittany Lions didn’t disappoint. Large boy soccer begins Saturday night time in Completely satisfied Valley in opposition to Illinois, a shock unbeaten and the primary of three nationally-ranked opponents left for Penn State.
10. Alabama
Kalen DeBoer’s arrival second within the SEC might occur inside Bryant-Denny Stadium in opposition to Georgia, which marks the primary time since 2007 that Alabama is a house underdog. The Crimson Tide drew blood in final season’s matchup in opposition to Georgia within the SEC Championship after Jalen Milroe spearheaded a momentous victory. If Alabama beats Georgia once more, this projected spot because the playoff’s 10-seed considerably improves.
11. Clemson
Clemson moved again into the playoff image with its thumping of NC State, the second straight recreation the Tigers have flexed noticeable muscle offensively. The Wolfpack could not get to bowl eligibility after beginning the season inside the highest 25, but it surely’s a powerful win for Dabo Swinney’s group, nonetheless. Clemson shall be a betting favourite in each contest the remainder of the season.
12. James Madison
Very similar to the projected Large 12 champion in these weekly playoff projections, the Group of 5 selection continues to fluctuate. After Northern Illinois stubbed its toe in opposition to Buffalo, James Madison is that this week’s greatest riser after dropping 70 factors on North Carolina. The unbeaten Dukes are battling UNLV, Liberty, Boise State and others for this coveted auto-bid that is given to the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion at season’s finish.
Projected CFP first-round video games
- (12) James Madison at (5) Georgia — Winner performs (4) BYU
- (9) Penn State at (8) Tennessee — Winner performs (1) Texas
- (11) Clemson at (6) Ole Miss — Winner performs (3) Miami
- (10) Alabama at (7) Oregon — Winner performs (2) Ohio State
Opening-round matchups at campus websites based mostly on this Week 5 projection options James Madison at Georgia, Clemson at Ole Miss, Alabama at Oregon and Penn State at Tennessee. The Tigers and Rebels have solely met twice, the final matchup between the pair coming in 1933.
Winners of these 4 video games would transfer on to the Faculty Soccer Playoff quarterfinals at bowl websites together with the Fiesta (Dec. 31), Rose (Jan. 1), Sugar (Jan. 1) and Peach (Jan. 1). Amongst notable tie-ins within the expanded playoff, the Sugar Bowl robotically will get the highest-ranked SEC or Large 12 group within the quarters, so top-seeded Texas can be taking part in in New Orleans.
Statements made, different alternatives squandered
Utah’s win at Oklahoma State in Week 4 pushed the Utes to the entrance of the Large 12’s early-season pack alongside BYU, however there’s nonetheless damage considerations at quarterback. Isaac Wilson carried out admirably in an emergency begin scenario after Cameron Rising couldn’t go for Utah, but it surely was Micah Bernard’s career-best 182 yards speeding that carried the day. With out Rising out of the lineup, Utah’s now not a projected favourite to win the convention regardless of being ranked No. 12 on this week’s AP Ballot. BYU, UCF and Iowa State will all have an opportunity in an unpredictable league at this junction. You work Rising will return quickly, however you by no means know …
Convention USA favourite Liberty, who went unbeaten throughout the common season final fall below Jamey Chadwell, trailed 17-0 to East Carolina in Week 4, however managed to erase that deficit and keep unbeaten. The identical couldn’t be mentioned for Memphis, who was eyeing a prime 25 berth previous to falling at Navy. Unbeaten UNLV would be the Group of 5 champion if Barry Odom’s squad is ready to end 13-0 because the Mountain West winner. UNLV nonetheless has matchups with Fresno State, Oregon State and Boise State on the docket, nevertheless.
Michigan’s momentum-builder
The Wolverines’ late-game heroics in opposition to USC places Michigan again within the playoff image after its Large Ten opener, a much-needed bounce-back for Sherrone Moore and employees. There are nonetheless points to handle offensively within the passing recreation, however Michigan’s skill to manage the road of scrimmage late and lean on its backfield doomed the Trojans, who fell out of this week’s playoff projection replace. The Wolverines battle nationally-ranked Illinois and Oregon down the stretch this season earlier than dealing with off with Ohio State within the finale.
Missouri averted disaster in extra time in opposition to Vanderbilt and heads into its open week unbeaten previous to a street recreation at Texas A&M. That is the primary of three remaining matchups with prime 25 groups throughout SEC play for the Tigers, who reloaded within the switch portal and have all of their 2024 season-long targets up for grabs after posting 11 wins final fall.
Regulate Louisville-Notre Dame this weekend. For Jeff Brohm’s group, it is a show-me alternative on a nationwide stage in opposition to the one-loss Preventing Irish. On the opposite sideline, one other setback for Notre Dame doubtless takes the Preventing Irish exterior of future playoff projections and reignites chatter pertaining to this system’s future below third-year coach Marcus Freeman.
Dropped out of final week’s projections
Kansas State was the No. 4 group and the projected Large 12 Champion however was splattered by BYU on the street. The No. 23 Wildcats host No. 20 Oklahoma State this weekend. The loser is in a big early gap to make it to the convention championship recreation.
No. 11 USC misplaced a heartbreaker on the street to Michigan, however the Trojans regarded fairly good. They’ve a show-me alternative this weekend in opposition to Wisconsin on CBS (3:30 p.m. ET) and have a handful of alternatives to make their case as an at-large group (Penn State and Notre Dame come to Los Angeles this season). We’ll be speaking about USC once more earlier than the season ends.
As talked about, Northern Illinois’ extra time loss to Buffalo knocked it out of the CFP image. The MAC in all probability doesn’t have a official playoff contender going ahead given the groups are inclined to chew via one another as soon as convention play begins — as we noticed Saturday!
