2024 faculty soccer rankings: Joel Klatt’s prime 10 groups after Week 6

Once we recorded our preview episode for Week 6 on the “Joel Klatt Present,” I reminded listeners that each time we do not really feel like there’s an awesome slate of video games, there are upsets and one thing drastic occurs.

Lo and behold, 5 groups within the prime 11 went right down to unranked or lesser-ranked opponents this week. It is nearly like somebody knew one thing about it. It made for fairly an unimaginable Saturday.Â

All 5 upsets have been convention street video games, however there are extra causes than that for why days like Saturday occur. It’s extremely troublesome for groups that we discuss glowingly to get again to the drafting board in the beginning of every week after they’re working to develop in the event that they have not handled failure. It is human nature as our greatest driver of development is failure. As for the groups that pulled off the upsets, they’ve possible gone by way of straining moments in observe after shedding earlier within the season.

Each workforce in faculty soccer has a bell curve. You not often get to see a workforce’s greatest or worst attainable efficiency. Groups who’ve handled failure already usually tend to be on the plus aspect of the bell curve after straining to get higher, whereas groups who’ve had success usually tend to change into extra complacent and be on the destructive aspect of the bell curve. Immediately, you get two groups we do not assume are very even with bell curves that match with each other.

Most groups are additionally simply starting convention play. Saturday marked the primary convention street sport for 3 of the groups within the prime 11 that misplaced Saturday, that means it was the primary event that groups went on the street to go up towards a workforce with related expertise.

That stated, let’s get to my prime 10.

1.Texas (Final week: 2)
File:5-0
Week 6 outcome:Idle

Welcome again to No. 1, Texas! The Longhorns loved watching chaos ensue round them throughout their bye week. Texas takes on Oklahoma Saturday within the Crimson River Rivalry and is trying to get revenge for the one loss it had within the common season final 12 months. Texas is anticipated to get quarterback Quinn Ewers again for that matchup.Â

2.Ohio State (Final week: 2)
File: 5-0
Week 6 outcome:Defeated Iowa, 35-7

Some individuals may level out that Ohio State was solely up 7-0 at halftime towards Iowa. Ohio State had a few sloppy turnovers within the second quarter, and it saved the sport shut on the scoreboard.

However Ohio State owned the road of scrimmage in that sport. The Buckeyes rushed for over 5 yards per carry, which typically would not occur towards Iowa. Actually, it solely occurred one time final 12 months. Groups simply do not win the road of scrimmage towards Iowa.

Defensively, Ohio State had 4.0 sacks and 9 tackles for a loss. Iowa solely had a sack and two tackles for loss.Â

Ohio State already has the perfect ability place gamers within the nation. Jeremiah Smith made one other landing seize that was Randy Moss-esque. Emeka Egbuka reminded everybody why he is a top-five receiver within the nation with three touchdowns.Â

I needed to level out the Buckeyes’ play within the trenches as a result of that was considered one of our few questions on them getting into the season, notably the offensive line. Once you match the best way they performed on Saturday with their ability place gamers, it makes them powerful to beat.

The largest query, although, stays quarterback Will Howard. He would not need to be nice and may game-manage this group to a nationwide title. We’ll learn how nicely he can play over the subsequent three video games. Ohio State goes to Oregon on Saturday earlier than internet hosting Nebraska and touring to Penn State. We’ll discover out loads about Ohio State quickly, however this workforce will probably be at No. 1 if it wins at Oregon.Â

3.Georgia (Final week: 5)
File:4-1
Week 6 outcome:Defeated Auburn, 31-13

As 5 top-11 groups misplaced convention street video games this weekend, you may come out of Week 6 extra impressed with Georgia’s efficiency in its loss to Alabama. Georgia performed nice within the second half of that sport, and this weekend, it was evident that it is powerful to win your first convention street sport of the season. It was proper there with Alabama in that sport. Now that the guide is totally out on Alabama’s protection, QB Carson Beck shouldbe scratching to play the Tide once more.

4.Oregon (Final week: 7)
File:5-0
Week 6 outcome:Defeated Michigan State, 31-10

Oregon continues to get higher after a sluggish first two weeks of the season. Operating again Jordan James has been dominant on the bottom, speeding for a season-high 166 yards in a double-digit win over Michigan State. Oregon did not enable a sack, marking the third straight sport the O-line saved Dillon Gabriel upright.Â

5.Penn State (Final week: 6)
File:5-0
Week 6 outcome:Defeated UCLA, 27-11

I like Penn State loads, notably its run sport. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen are super working backs. Singleton did not even play in Saturday’s win over UCLA on account of damage, and it wasn’t a difficulty with Allen speeding for 78 yards and a landing. Penn State is anticipating Singleton again for its massive tilt towards USC this weekend.Â

6.Alabama (Final week: 1)
File:4-1
Week 6 outcome:Misplaced to Vanderbilt, 40-35

This workforce jogs my memory of Lincoln Riley’s squads at Oklahoma. Alabama is elite offensively, however the protection is not superb. It is simply not good, and we’re beginning to see that come to fruition after I rang the alarm bells for weeks.Â

Once I ready to name Alabama’s matchup with Wisconsin in Week 3, I observed its secondary wasn’t nice, and it might presumably discover itself in some shocking shootouts. Now, I did not anticipate it to occur towards Vanderbilt, however it has occurred in every of the final two weeks. In its final six quarters, Alabama has given up 67 factors and 784 yards.Â

Alabama’s protection isn’t getting higher. The identical issues that I noticed on tape in its wins over USF and Wisconsin are nonetheless taking place. It is not a one-off. Crimson Tide followers, put together your self for a number of extra of those high-scoring video games. It is a good factor you may have Jalen Milroe and Ryan Williams (who was spectacular once more Saturday), since you’ve misplaced the one sport the place you have not scored at the very least 41 factors.Â

I simply proceed to be reminded of these Riley squads at Oklahoma once I analyze this workforce. Irrespective of who was the quarterback for these Sooners groups, they needed to will their offense to outscore the opponent. That is the course this workforce is heading in. These Oklahoma groups would make the School Soccer Playoff, however as soon as they bought there, all of us stated the identical factor: They do not have a adequate protection to win a nationwide championship.

At this level, that is the reality about Alabama. That is why I stated I believed extra in Georgia following final week’s thrilling sport. There are such a lot of little issues Alabama would not do nicely in move protection (cannot play picks nicely, poor communication), however it could not cease Vanderbilt from working the soccer, both. Alabama was continuously out of place and never hole sound. It seemed like little youngsters’ soccer at factors when it was chasing Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia.Â

This offense goes to need to be among the best and most explosive offenses within the nation, which it’s, to keep away from a pair extra losses.

7.Clemson (Final week: 10)
File:4-1
Week 6 outcome:Defeated Florida State, 29-13

Clemson is the brand new top-ranked workforce within the ACC, at the very least in my ballot. I get that the Tigers aren’t undefeated, however they’ve proven continued enchancment since their Week 1 loss to Georgia. In case you have a look at what they’ve completed offensively since that loss, Clemson’s been spectacular. Quarterback Cade Klubnik and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley are meshing nicely. Dabo Swinney is revving up that Clemson tradition once more. Be careful for little ol’ Clemson.Â

8.Miami (Fla.) (Final week: 8)
File:6-0
Week 6 outcome:Defeated Cal, 39-38

Miami’s win over Cal bolstered the whole lot I believed in regards to the ACC title race getting into the weekend. Cam Ward is unimaginable and is on his option to changing into a Heisman finalist. He’d be in my prime three of Heisman voting if I needed to vote in the present day. He threw for 437 yards and had three whole touchdowns.Â

I do not belief Miami, although. It is the second straight week that this workforce was bailed out by some late-game officiating. I worry that Miami goes to play video games like this. It is type of Mario Cristobal’s M.O. as a head coach. Miami’s protection is giving up far too many yards and factors.

9.Tennessee (Final week: 4)
File:4-1
Week 6 outcome:Misplaced to Arkansas, 19-14

Tennessee’s loss was far much less regarding than, say, Missouri‘s 41-7 loss to Texas A&M. Coming into the season, I had a sense that Missouri’s comparatively excessive rating was extra of a projection primarily based on what it did final season with gamers and coaches not with the workforce together with a schedule that is simpler than what different prime SEC groups must take care of this season.

Tennessee, alternatively, has issues that we will level to indicate that Saturday’s loss was an anomaly. QB Nico Iamaleava did not play nicely towards Arkansas, two weeks after an unspectacular efficiency towards Oklahoma. Though he has two subpar convention street sport performances below his belt, Tennessee decisively gained its sport at Oklahoma in Week 4, and it nonetheless had an awesome likelihood to win Saturday as a result of the supporting forged round its quarterback is so good. The protection remains to be excellent. Tennessee can run the soccer, which permits Iamaleava to develop by way of this because the season progresses.

Now, Iamaleava seemed spooked once I watched the movie of Saturday’s sport. He held the ball far too lengthy; his footwork wasn’t nice and there have been performs to be made that he did not make. He is bought to discover ways to anticipate. It is a powerful factor to discover ways to be an anticipatory thrower as a younger quarterback, particularly once you aren’t enjoying your greatest. It takes guts to make sure throws. He could make these throws (he had one on Tennessee’s ultimate drive, the truth is) and I’ve confidence that he can study these throws.Â

The issues Iamaleava has struggled with are issues he can study and enhance on. That, together with Tennessee’s supporting forged, are why I am nonetheless excessive on the Volunteers.

10.Iowa State
File:5-0
Week 6 outcome:Defeated Baylor, 43-21

If you have not watched Iowa State, you need to. Matt Campbell’s bought a hell of a workforce once more. The Cyclones rank sixth nationally in scoring protection, permitting simply 10 factors per sport to date this season.Â

Joel Klatt is FOX Sports activities’ lead faculty soccer sport analyst and the host of the podcast “The Joel Klatt Present.” Comply with him at@joelklatt andsubscribe to the “Joel Klatt Present” on YouTube.

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