2024 school soccer rankings: Joel Klatt's high 10 groups after Week 8

by Anthony S. Hansen
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This school soccer season continues to ship.

Saturday gave us one other week of thrilling motion with loads of nice video games. We additionally had one other top-five matchup as beforehand fifth-ranked Georgia took down beforehand No. 1-ranked Texas in Austin, 30-15. 

Once we get matchups like Georgia-Texas rather more ceaselessly, it is exhausting to argue in opposition to the superconferences and an expanded School Soccer Playoff, proper? What’s even higher is that there are nonetheless a ton of significant matchups left this season due to the expanded conferences and playoff.

With that, listed here are my high 10 groups in school soccer following Week 8 of the season:

1. Oregon (Final week: 2)
File: 7-0
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Purdue, 35-0

Simply 2.5 years into his tenure at Oregon, Dan Lanning has the Geese at No. 1 in my ballot. I am not stunned, both. I’ve stated for some time that if there’s one younger coach I might purchase inventory in, it is Lanning. Oregon was clicking on all cylinders in opposition to Purdue on Friday and no matter early-season woes it had appear to be a factor of the previous. 

No. 2 Oregon Geese vs. Purdue Boilermakers Highlights

No. 2 Oregon Ducks vs. Purdue Boilermakers Highlights

2. Georgia (Final week: 4)
File: 6-1
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Texas, 30-15

When watching Georgia’s win over Texas reside, it felt just like the Bulldogs mauled the Longhorns. It did not look like Texas had a lot of an opportunity in that sport, even after its comeback try. If you activate the movie, although, it is by no means as dangerous as you assume, and it is by no means nearly as good as you assume it is perhaps from if you watched the sport reside. 

That was the case with Saturday’s sport. The movie confirmed that Georgia was higher, however not drastically higher. The movie confirmed two elite defenses taking part in extremely whereas each offenses principally struggled. Texas struggled somewhat extra, however that was primarily on the line of scrimmage. Georgia was actually good on the line of scrimmage, and it appeared very comfy within the uncomfortable setting. It jogged my memory why Georgia has received 51 straight video games in opposition to non-Alabama groups. Georgia was a machine, and it performs that approach defensively. The Bulldogs’ line of defense had a fantastic evening in opposition to Texas, making no errors. That was the distinction in that sport. Georgia is absolutely good on protection, people.

I wasn’t all that impressed with Georgia’s offense, although. It’s kind of of an issue on the high finish as a result of it would not have many threats on the surface which might be constant and create a whole lot of separation. Georgia’s offensive line performed fairly properly and it will get extra wholesome quickly, permitting them to run the ball higher than they did on Saturday. However Georgia solely had 283 yards to go along with three turnovers, whereas solely one in every of its scoring drives was longer than 35 yards. Carson Beck has additionally thrown eight picks in his final 4 video games. So, it is not all gravy for Georgia. 

Georgia DB Daylen Everette (6) had an interception and a compelled fumble in its win over Texas, creating two of the 4 turnovers the Bulldogs’ win. (Picture by David Buono/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)

3. Ohio State (Final week: 3)
File: 5-1
Week 8 consequence: Idle

Ohio State bought leapfrogged by Georgia as a result of the Bulldogs went into the No. 1 workforce within the nation’s home and beat them. Nonetheless, Ohio State’s solely blemish this season is a one-point loss at Oregon. That workforce remains to be arguably probably the most gifted within the nation. 

4. Penn State (Final week: 4)
File: 5-1
Week 8 consequence: Idle

The Nittany Lions stay at No. 4 following their bye week. I used to be actually impressed with Penn State in its final sport, an time beyond regulation win over USC. James Franklin and Drew Allar appeared to show lots in that sport. 

5. Texas (Final week: 1)
File: 6-1
Week 8 consequence: Loss to Georgia, 30-15

Texas’ errors in Saturday’s sport had been magnified as a result of they passed off the place the opponent might take benefit. Texas’ offense put its protection in dangerous conditions on just a few events in that sport. There was a three-possession stretch the place the sport unraveled for Texas within the first half the place Quinn Ewers misplaced a fumble on one drive and threw an interception on one other. It regarded just like the stage was too brilliant for Texas’ offense. They had been making little errors that you could’t make.

As for the quarterback scenario, what occurred on Saturday between Steve Sarkisian, Arch Manning and Ewers was a case examine in a coach who understood that his workforce and quarterback (to a point) had been shell-shocked over 4 sequence of soccer, and he needed to change what was occurring. To me, it wasn’t essentially that he changed Ewers with Manning greater than it was him needing his beginning quarterback to calm down for a second. He wanted a spark. But when Manning performed properly after getting into the sport, Ewers knew that Manning would’ve remained within the sport. Sarkisian was OK with that final result happening as he tried to bounce alongside a advantageous line. 

Texas Longhorns: Was the overturned PI name a nasty name?

Texas Longhorns: Was the overturned PI call a bad call?

Sarkisian knew that Ewers wasn’t taking part in proper within the first half of Saturday’s sport, and his resolution to present him a break labored as a result of he performed a lot better within the second half. Going ahead, Ewers is the starter so long as Sarkisian is saying it as adamantly as he is been saying it. Ewers ought to be higher from this sport and Texas will likely be higher transferring ahead because of this. 

Texas and Georgia are the 2 finest groups within the SEC. I hope we get to see them play once more.

6. LSU (Final week: 8)
File: 6-1
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Arkansas, 34-10

After that Week 1 loss to USC, LSU has solely gotten higher and higher. LSU decisively received at Arkansas, who beat Tennessee simply two weeks prior. I beforehand stated I’ve preferred what quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has carried out this season for the Tigers. LSU has an necessary tilt in opposition to Texas A&M on Saturday that might decide one of many spots within the SEC Championship Sport.

LSU RB Caden Durham rushed for 3 touchdowns in its win over Arkansas. (Picture by Wesley Hitt/Getty Photos)

7. Clemson (Final week: 6)
File: 6-1
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Virginia, 49-31

Clemson’s offense continued its dominant streak following its Week 1 loss to Georgia. It is averaging practically 50 factors per sport since that loss as quarterback Cade Klubnik and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley have actually figured issues out. Clemson solely dropped a spot due to how impressed I used to be with LSU. 

8. Tennessee (Final week: Unranked)
File: 6-1
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Alabama, 24-17

Regardless that Tennessee picked up an enormous win in opposition to Alabama, my ideas on the Volunteers have not actually modified a lot. Tennessee is elite on protection, can run the ball properly, and actually struggles within the passing sport. Nico Iamaleava made just a few performs in Saturday’s sport that I preferred. I believed the performs along with his legs had been a few of his finest moments. If Josh Heupel and his workers can get Iamaleava on the run extra, that might assist the quarterback, as a result of I believe he is at his finest when he runs out of the pocket to create explosive performs. I am nonetheless frightened, although, due to the dearth of a constant passing sport. 

Alabama Crimson Tide: Will the Tide make the 12-team playoff?

Alabama Crimson Tide: Will the Tide make the 12-team playoff?

If you see what Georgia did to Texas, it is exhausting to think about Tennessee beating Georgia on Nov. 16 until issues change. But when that is Tennessee’s solely different loss this season, it ought to be a playoff spot. 

9. Indiana (Final week: Unranked)
File: 7-0
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Nebraska, 56-7

In the event you had any questions on whether or not Indiana is for actual, this workforce answered them on Saturday. 

Indiana picked up its largest Large Ten win since 1945 in opposition to a 5-1 Nebraska workforce that I believed extremely of. The Hoosiers have the No. 1 scoring offense within the nation, and we’re close to the tip of October. 

I like what Curt Cignetti has carried out in Bloomington. Indiana is an extremely well-coached workforce, and he may need set a blueprint for different groups within the nation to comply with when he prioritized manufacturing over potential within the switch portal. Lots of the gamers he introduced in had performed dozens of video games already, together with many coming from Cignetti’s final cease at James Madison.

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. No. 16 Indiana Hoosiers Highlights

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. No. 16 Indiana Hoosiers Highlights

Quarterback Kurtis Rourke has performed some unbelievable soccer this season. At this level of the season, he’d be my Offensive Participant of the Yr within the Large Ten. He will not play subsequent week in opposition to Washington after struggling a finger harm in opposition to Nebraska, so hopefully that ailment will not sideline him for lengthy. 

Indiana’s offense is so enjoyable to look at, and its offensive line is doing a fantastic job. It dominated Nebraska’s entrance in Saturday’s sport, scoring 5 dashing touchdowns in opposition to a protection that had but to permit one this season.

Indiana’s schedule, the Hoosiers might realistically might go 11-1 and make the primary 12-team playoff. I am actually impressed with Cignetti, particularly after assembly with him and calling one in every of his video games.

10. Miami (Fla.) (Final week: 10)
File: 7-0
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Louisville, 52-45

Miami’s offense is nice. Cam Ward is clearly going to be a Heisman finalist and will probably win the award. However the protection scares me. I proceed to drop Miami as a result of you possibly can’t hold taking part in with fireplace like this. In some unspecified time in the future, Ward’s going to have a sport the place he cannot be Superman. 

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

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