It’s by no means too early to start out fascinated by the School Soccer Playoff area.
With this season’s playoff increasing to 12 groups, we’ll be laying out the projected playoff area every week because the season goes on. Yeah, the official playoff rankings gained’t be launched till Nov. 5, however that gained’t cease us from making our personal guesses.
With out CFP rankings as our information, we’ll principally depend on the AP Prime 25 as our barometer to challenge the sector. The CFP rankings and AP ballot sometimes have many extra similarities than variations on the finish of the season. Right here’s what the provisional playoff area seems like after Week 2.
First-round byes
After dominating Clemson in Week 1, Georgia took a breather in Week 2 and had a walkover in opposition to Tennessee Tech. The Bulldogs go to Kentucky in Week 3 after the reeling Wildcats have been run over by South Carolina at house in Week 2. It might get ugly in Lexington on Saturday evening.
The Buckeyes bought off to a sluggish begin in opposition to Akron in Week 1, however it’s been all techniques go for the previous seven quarters. Ohio State beat Western Michigan 56-0 in Week 2 and five-star freshman WR Jeremiah Smith has been the crew’s greatest receiver. The Buckeyes finish non-conference play on Saturday with a house sport vs. Marshall.
Miami is likely one of the few groups projected on the high of the ACC that doesn’t have already got a loss this season. The Hurricanes beat Florida in Week 1 and cruised in opposition to Florida A&M in Week 2. In the meantime, SMU, Clemson, NC State, Virginia Tech and Florida State every have not less than one loss and the Seminoles are sitting at 0-2 in convention play.
The Utes have been very spectacular within the first half of a straightforward win in opposition to Baylor in Week 2. The second half was a formality because the Utah protection took over in QB Cam Rising’s absence. However Rising’s absence could possibly be very, very regarding. The seventh-year QB injured his proper hand late within the first half when he bought pushed into the coolers in Baylor’s sideline drink station. If Rising is out for an prolonged time period, Utah could possibly be in hassle.
First-round video games
The Huskies are the discuss of faculty soccer after taking down Notre Dame in South Bend on Saturday. The upset wasn’t a fluke. Northern Illinois was the higher crew. Can NIU run the desk the remainder of the way in which? It’s a troublesome ask. However the huge win over the Preventing Irish implies that NIU can have a really sturdy playoff case with a 13-0 season and a MAC title.
Texas is at No. 2 within the AP Prime 25 however drops to No. 5 within the playoff area as a result of the highest 4 seeds go to convention champions. The reward for being the highest at-large crew is a house sport within the first spherical after which a quarterfinal sport in opposition to the No. 4 seed, so it’s not a horrible comfort prize. The Longhorns host Georgia on Oct. 19 in what could possibly be an SEC title sport preview.
The Geese are right down to No. 9 within the AP Prime 25 after beginning the season at No. 3. The six-spot drop comes after Oregon struggled in opposition to Idaho in Week 1 and wanted a late area aim in opposition to Boise State in Week 2. Boise State is absolutely, actually good. However this Oregon crew needs to be too. If Oregon goes to make the playoff, its remade offensive line must get higher.
Alabama additionally appeared removed from flawless in Week 2. Turnovers (3) and penalties (13) haunted the Crimson Tide in opposition to South Florida earlier than Alabama scored 28 within the fourth quarter to tug away for the win. This week’s journey to Wisconsin shall be a very good highway take a look at for Kalen DeBoer’s crew.
This sport could be a rematch of final 12 months’s Peach Bowl gained by the Rebels. Penn State appeared nice in Week 1 in opposition to West Virginia and wasn’t so nice in opposition to Bowling Inexperienced in Week 2. The Falcons picked aside the Penn State protection early, earlier than PSU pressured two late interceptions to seal the win.
The Ole Miss offense has appeared phenomenal up to now, however the opponents have been Furman and Center Tennessee State. QB Jaxson Dart is finishing 87% of his passes and has thrown six TDs with out an interception.
Sure, this could be an all-SEC first-round matchup. It’s potential this might occur too, particularly if the post-Week 2 AP rankings are a information for the rankings on the finish of the season. SEC groups occupy six of the highest seven spots within the ballot this week and an SEC crew could be internet hosting every of the 4 first-round video games.
This sport would even be believable as a result of Tennessee and Missouri don’t meet one another within the common season now that the SEC has ditched its divisions. Each of those groups are recognized for his or her offenses, however their defenses have been very, superb this season. Tennessee didn’t let NC State do something in a 51-10 Week 2 win and Missouri is the primary crew since Wisconsin in 2019 to open the season with back-to-back shutouts.
