Week 8 has wrapped up as we formally attain the midseason level of the common season. 5 of the 17 video games together with High 25 groups had been received by no multiple rating, together with the matchup between then-No. 7 Alabama and No. 11 Tennessee.
The result of the Crimson Tide’s journey to Neyland Stadium this previous weekend wasn’t what they’d hoped for. Tennessee’s protection shined whereas Alabama’s offense suffered, because the Tide misplaced two convention video games earlier than November for the primary time since 2006. With this loss, what does Alabama have to do to get again into the playoff dialog?
In the meantime, No. 5 Georgia upset No. 1 Texas on the highway, because the Bulldogs’ protection shut down the Longhorns’ passing assault. As convention play continues, what does Texas’ offense want to enhance on going ahead?
Following Week 8, each Military and Navy stay in our high 25 listing as they gained huge wins Saturday. As playoff conversations heighten as we head into the second half of the common season, may we see one among these groups within the School Soccer Playoff?
This is the most recent high 25 from our faculty soccer consultants, who present their perception on every crew’s Week 8 efficiency.
Earlier rating: 2
After shortly coming off the excessive of beating Ohio State at dwelling, the Geese needed to journey to Purdue for a Friday night time recreation that would have been a entice. As an alternative, what transpired was a clear 35-0 drubbing of the Boilermakers. There’s quite a bit to wax poetic about in the case of Oregon, however maybe the most important shock is that it has been in a position to get off to this begin with out operating the ball that nicely.
Final yr, the Geese ranked thirtieth within the nation in dashing yards per recreation; this yr, they’re seventieth and averaging 30 yards per recreation fewer than they did final season. Junior Jordan James does have over 700 dashing yards and eight touchdowns, so the manufacturing has been passable. Perhaps we’re nitpicking a bit, however for Oregon to proceed this undefeated season and proceed to excel towards more durable opponents (particularly if it makes the playoff), there is definitely room for enchancment. — Paolo Uggetti
Earlier rating: 6
For a program that has been completely dominant over the previous three seasons, this yr’s theme has been a irritating lack of such dominance, one thing Kirby Sensible might need foreshadowed in August when he mentioned the Dawgs might need the least depth since he arrived. There was a 13-12 grind of a win over Kentucky. A 41-31 scuffle with 1-6 Mississippi State. The Bulldogs’ 41-34 loss to Alabama snapped a school-record 42-game regular-season successful streak (together with 28 straight in SEC play) and encapsulated Georgia’s season.
The Bulldogs had been down 28-0 early within the second quarter, then stormed again and did not permit a Bama landing once more till there was 2:18 left within the fourth quarter — a 75-yard highlight-reel catch for Ryan Williams — solely to drive with an opportunity to attain once more till Carson Beck threw an interception ultimately zone.
The Dawgs put collectively a stellar displaying in Austin on Saturday night time, permitting simply 29 dashing yards on 27 carries and racking up seven sacks in a 30-15 upset of the No. 1 crew on the highway. However Beck threw for 175 yards with three interceptions, leaving the likelihood that Georgia’s most full recreation would possibly nonetheless be in entrance of them. That is a scary thought for the remainder of the SEC. — Dave Wilson
Earlier rating: 3
The Buckeyes’ second bye week arrived at a superb time, giving Ryan Day and his squad loads of time to regroup from their 32-31 highway loss at Oregon and prepare for the checks forward. Nebraska (5-2) is coming to Columbus this week however is at present reeling from a 56-7 loss at Indiana that uncovered its weaknesses. After struggling to decelerate Dillon Gabriel and the Geese, Jim Knowles’ protection can be trying to ship a message towards a real freshman QB. The week off additionally offered loads of time to work forward on learning No. 3 Penn State and all of the challenges it’s going to current on each side of the ball. We’re now per week away from a battle at Beaver Stadium that may outline the remainder of the Massive Ten race. — Max Olson
Earlier rating: 4
It is unattainable to counsel Miami is a well-oiled machine proper now. The go protection struggled in three straight video games, together with permitting 342 yards and 4 touchdowns to Louisville’s Tyler Shough. The particular groups was a catastrophe towards Louisville, too, permitting a 100-yard kick return and failing to cowl a pretend punt. However the offense — nicely, that is particular, and it has been sufficient to flee even essentially the most difficult of circumstances, together with in Saturday’s 52-45 shootout in Louisville. Cam Ward stays essentially the most electrical QB within the nation, including 319 yards and 4 touchdowns within the win over the Cardinals. — David Hale
Earlier rating: 5
The development of Penn State’s offense beneath new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has been exceptional. Not solely are the Nittany Lions one of many high 10 models within the nation (471 yards per recreation, 7.21 yards per play) however the best way they’ve performed it has been spectacular. Using gamers like quarterback Drew Allar, operating backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton and a flexible tight finish like Tyler Warren, Kotelnicki has injected the offense with some much-needed creativity and power that has catapulted them to new heights.
Between utilizing Warren as a runner, receiver, thrower and even snapper within the plethora of formations he throws at opposing defenses, Penn State has grow to be must-watch TV on that aspect of the ball. It helps, too, that Kotelnicki’s work has resulted in six wins, together with 4 by greater than two scores. Penn State was on a bye this week, however because it turns towards the season’s most vital stretch, its new-look offense will proceed to have even greater levels to showcase its talents. — Uggetti
Earlier rating: 1
A yr in the past, Steve Sarkisian made it some extent to say the Longhorns had been dedicated to bettering their passing assault, and so they did, rolling by their ultimate season within the Massive 12 and incomes a School Soccer Playoff berth behind the environment friendly arm of Quinn Ewers, who threw for 3,479 yards and 22 TDs to 6 interceptions. The Longhorns misplaced receivers Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell and Jordan Whittington and tight finish Ja’Tavion Sanders to the NFL draft, and with that went 76% of their receptions and 80% of their receiving yardage. Ewers has at all times been a distributor, making an attempt to get the ball to his playmakers, however the area has shortened for him significantly this yr.
The Longhorns are nonetheless stacked with star energy at receiver with Isaiah Bond, Ryan Wingo, DeAndre Moore and Silas Bolden and at tight finish with Gunnar Helm, however Ewers is averaging 2.6 air yards per completion this season, down from 5.1 a season in the past. He ranks 128th nationally in air yards per try (5.65), down from 7.49 a yr in the past, and a hundred and fifteenth in share of throws 20 or extra yards downfield (9.3%). The shortage of explosiveness in a Texas passing assault, regardless of the expertise of Ewers and the creativity of Sarkisian’s calls, has been essentially the most stunning problem dealing with the Longhorns this yr. — Wilson
Earlier rating: 8
Contemplating the best way the Clemson offense carried out in a 34-3 season-opening loss to Georgia, the most important shock up to now has been the best way Cade Klubnik and his teammates have responded. Following a 48-31 win over Virginia, Clemson now has 5 500-yard video games within the first seven video games of a season for the primary time in class historical past. Additionally they have 5 40-point video games, marking the third time in class historical past they’ve reached that mark over the primary seven video games (5 in each 2019 and 2020).
Klubnik, in the meantime, has proven progress and a capability to restrict his errors — one thing that had plagued him main into the season. Klubnik has thrown for 1,836 yards with 20 touchdowns and simply three interceptions. He already has extra passing touchdowns than final season (19) and has a career-high three 300-yard video games. Larger checks await after the open date, but it surely’s protected to say the Clemson offense is likely one of the most improved models within the nation. — Andrea Adelson
Earlier rating: 13
The doubts ought to be considerably diminished, if not gone utterly, about Curt Cignetti’s first Hoosiers crew. Indiana is for actual, and Cignetti has performed a masterful job flipping each a roster and a mindset in Bloomington. The one shock is how dominant and constant IU continues to be, because the offense diced up a veteran Nebraska protection for 56 factors, 24 first downs and 495 yards (together with 343 within the first half) on Saturday.
IU eclipsed 50 factors in a Massive Ten recreation for the primary time since 2016, and its team-record streak of six video games with 40 or extra factors tied the second-longest mark for a Massive Ten crew within the AP ballot period. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke confirmed why he’ll be an NFL draft decide, finishing 17 of 21 passes earlier than leaving the sport with an damage to his proper thumb. Rourke’s standing can be value anticipating the stretch run, however Indiana’s dominance goes past him. The Hoosiers pressured 5 turnovers and held Nebraska scoreless for the ultimate 37:40, as linebacker Jailin Walker and others shined. — Adam Rittenberg
Earlier rating: 10
The Cougars are nonetheless unbeaten after Jake Retzlaff’s 35-yard, go-ahead landing strike to Darius Lassiter with 10 seconds remaining that vaulted BYU previous Oklahoma State on Friday night time. Lassiter reached a career-best 129 yards on six receptions, and LJ Martin discovered the tip zone twice whereas dashing for a career-high 120 yards in a 38-35 win that improved the Cougars to 7-0. BYU has created extra turnovers (16) than all however three defenses nationally this fall, and that playmaking defensive unit had the Cougars on the correct aspect of the turnover battle in three of their first six video games.
That flipped in Week 8 on three BYU interceptions — two by Retzlaff, one other from Hinckley Ropati — and it practically resulted within the Cougars’ first defeat of 2024. A Week 9 journey to turnover-prone UCF ought to present BYU an opportunity to get again to sustaining its elite edge on turnover margin. — Eli Lederman
Earlier rating: 9
The Cyclones narrowly prevented a significant dwelling upset Saturday, storming from behind to beat UCF on Rocco Becht’s 1-yard landing run with 30 seconds remaining. With the 38-35 escape, Matt Campbell and Iowa State are 7-0 for less than the second time in program historical past (first set in 1938). Becht accounted for all three second-half touchdowns and Jaylin Noel caught eight passes for 153 yards within the win, however this was one other perplexing efficiency from Jon Heacock’s protection.
The Cyclones lead the Massive 12 in complete protection (304.0 YPG), passing protection (133.7 YPG) and scoring protection (14.4 PPG). Nonetheless, Oklahoma State is the one Massive 12 protection giving up extra dashing yards per recreation than Iowa State (170.3), and UCF gashed the Cyclones for 354 on Saturday, the second-most Campbell’s protection has allowed since 2016. Iowa State stays the Massive 12’s playoff favourite, however the Cyclones’ run protection is a regarding Achilles’ heel with matchups in November towards two of the convention’s high three dashing offenses: Kansas State and Kansas. — Lederman
Earlier rating: 14
There isn’t any getting round Tennessee’s struggles on offense, particularly within the first half, however the Vols’ protection is enjoying at a championship degree. That was by no means extra obvious than Saturday night time, when Tennessee’s protection stood tall regardless of a 3rd straight scoreless first half by the offense and steered the Vols to a 24-17 victory over Alabama at Neyland Stadium. It was Tennessee’s second win over Alabama prior to now three seasons — after dropping 16 straight to the Crimson Tide.
The Vols (6-1, 3-1) generated some huge performs within the passing recreation within the second half, one thing that had been sorely lacking. Nico Iamaleava’s 16-yard landing go to Chris Brazzell II at the back of the tip zone put Tennessee forward for good within the fourth quarter. Coach Josh Heupel known as his protection “elite” however mentioned discovering extra consistency on offense and avoiding poor begins can be essential, particularly if the Vols are going to remain within the thick of the SEC race. Tennessee will get a bye week this Saturday after which video games at dwelling towards Kentucky and Mississippi State earlier than visiting Georgia on Nov. 16. — Chris Low
Earlier rating: 12
The Irish walloped Georgia Tech 31-13 in Week 8, a 3rd straight win over an ACC crew wherein Notre Dame eclipsed 30 factors. Given the lingering offensive worries following a sluggish begin to the season, that is trigger for ample optimism. Given the chaos across the high of the rankings, too, Notre Dame’s case for a playoff bid stays robust. Then again, all three of these ACC opponents rank 66th or worse in ESPN’s defensive effectivity. This week, the Irish get undefeated Navy, and whereas the expertise differential ought to closely favor Notre Dame, the Midshipmen could be the most important problem the Irish have confronted but this season. — Hale
Earlier rating: 11
LSU might need been a little bit of an afterthought within the playoff dialog after a season-opening loss to USC. However not anymore. The Tigers (6-1, 3-0) have received six in a row and took care of Arkansas 34-10 on the highway Saturday. LSU managed the second half after main 16-7 on the break. The Tigers had the soccer 17 minutes greater than the Razorbacks and completed with 393 complete yards.
One of many huge questions on this LSU crew was how a lot better it could be on protection. The Tigers are clearly higher on that aspect of the ball and compelled three turnovers Saturday. Their recreation at Texas A&M on Saturday looms giant for his or her quest for a playoff spot. The Tigers nonetheless have Alabama at dwelling and Florida on the highway in November after getting a bye following the Texas A&M recreation. — Low
Earlier rating: 15
Final season, the Aggies averaged 3.9 yards per carry and 136.2 yards per recreation behind a much-maligned offensive line. A season later beneath offensive coordinator Collin Klein, the Aggies are averaging 218.6 yards per recreation on the bottom and 5.4 yards per carry regardless of a passing recreation that’s nonetheless growing. Regardless of dropping potential starter Rueben Owens earlier than the season with a foot damage, junior Le’Veon Moss has scored a number of TDs in three video games this season, together with 138 yards and three TDs towards then-No. 9 Missouri. Amari Daniels has additionally scored twice in two video games. No Aggies operating again did that when final season.
Moss, the Aggies’ second-leading rusher final season, has already eclipsed his 2023 season totals in yardage and TDs and added a brand new profession lengthy with a 75-yarder towards Missouri. A stingy protection and a operating recreation that may hold offenses off the sphere has been a successful system for the 6-1 Aggies (4-0 SEC). — Wilson
Earlier rating: 16
The Broncos’ bye week arrived at a good time as they’ve received each recreation apart from one — towards the No. 1 crew within the nation — and are getting ready for what may very well be their hardest regular-season matchup remaining towards UNLV this coming week. What Ashton Jeanty has performed has been nothing wanting heroic as he has carried this offense whereas being on tempo to interrupt Barry Sanders’ single-season dashing file. However past Jeanty, the lopsided Boise State protection has been a key determine in how its video games have gone.
The Broncos have been implausible at stopping the run (twenty third within the nation) whereas additionally being abysmal at stopping the go (124th). Their passing protection has usually stored groups in video games towards them and made them nearer than they need to be. Towards Mountain West opponents, which may not come again to harm them. Towards potential future playoff matchups, that may very well be an issue. — Uggetti
Earlier rating: 17
Pitt is coming off its second bye week and will get prepared for a difficult stretch run of six consecutive video games, together with showdowns with No. 9 Clemson and No. 22 SMU. However first up is a Thursday night time battle with Syracuse (5-1). Syracuse and Pitt had been picked to complete twelfth and Thirteenth, respectively, within the ACC’s preseason media ballot and have far exceeded expectations. Quarterback Eli Holstein had a tough outing towards California (133 passing yards, two INTs), however Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi is assured his redshirt freshman playmaker will bounce again properly. “There isn’t any misplaced belief in Eli,” Narduzzi informed reporters. “I feel he is spectacular.” — Olson
Earlier rating: 18
It is nonetheless most likely arduous for the Wildcats to just accept that they obtained blown out by BYU a number of weeks in the past regardless of outgaining the Cougars 367-241. Alas, they do not permit mulligans on this sport. However the expanded playoff does make it simple to bounce again from a loss given there’s nonetheless every part to play for. Okay-State turned in a convincing 45-18 win towards West Virginia on Saturday, as quarterback Avery Johnson accomplished 19 of 29 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns. Maybe extra noteworthy is that Johnson did not register a single rush try, regardless of coming into the sport with 306 yards dashing on the season. If Okay-State can win huge without having to faucet into that a part of Johnson’s recreation, it bodes nicely for the remainder of the yr. — Kyle Bonagura
Earlier rating: 19
New week, similar outcomes. The SMU offense is rolling, and Stanford offered little resistance in a 40-10 rout. Kevin Jennings continued to shine, throwing for 322 yards and three touchdowns. The Mustangs are averaging 3.3 factors per drive since putting in Jennings as QB1 in Week 4, the Thirteenth-best fee within the nation over that span. Their highway to the ACC championship recreation may hinge on these subsequent two weeks, nevertheless, as they hit the highway to face 6-1 Duke earlier than internet hosting undefeated Pitt. — Hale
Earlier rating: 7
Kalen DeBoer knew nothing about changing Nick Saban can be simple, and it hasn’t been for the Crimson Tide (5-2, 2-2). Their 24-17 loss to Tennessee on Saturday marked the primary time they’ve misplaced two SEC video games earlier than November since 2006, which was the yr earlier than Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa. It was Alabama’s protection that was shredded within the 40-35 loss to Vanderbilt two weeks in the past, however the offense was the chief perpetrator of their loss to the Vols — together with penalties and errors. The Tide dedicated a season-high 15 penalties.
Quarterback Jalen Milroe was intercepted twice and was held to 11 yards on 14 carries. One among his interceptions was ultimately zone within the first quarter on second-and-goal from the three. There isn’t any dismissing the win over Georgia final month, however the Tide will possible have to go unbeaten the remainder of the best way if they will get within the playoff. The following two weeks will not be simple towards ranked foes. They face Missouri at dwelling on Saturday after which journey to LSU on Nov. 9. — Low
Earlier rating: 21
The hype is rising in West Level, and Military is welcoming the eye. The Black Knights dominated East Carolina to maneuver to 7-0 on Saturday, rolling to a 31-0 third-quarter lead earlier than permitting garbage-time factors in a 45-28 win. Quarterback Bryson Day by day was once more devastating, dashing 31 occasions for 171 yards and 5 touchdowns whereas finishing 7 of 10 passes for 147 yards and one other rating. With 102 dashing yards, Kanye Udoh contributed his third 100-yard recreation of the season, too. Military is now 7-0 general and 6-0 in convention play in its first yr within the AAC.
It will be arduous to maintain the Black Knights out of the AAC championship, and their Week 13 recreation towards Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium may have respectable playoff stakes. What a turnaround it has been for an Military offense that needed to take care of rule modifications outlawing reduce blocks — a staple of the choice recreation — and unsuccessfully transformed to extra of a shotgun unfold assault final yr. It has gone again to fundamentals this yr, and it has labored shockingly nicely. — Invoice Connelly
Earlier rating: 24
The 6-0 Midshipmen regarded unstoppable but once more on Saturday in a 51-17 rout of Charlotte. Navy by no means gave Charlotte an opportunity, scoring on its first 5 drives and operating out to a 38-0 lead early within the second quarter. Protection received the day with 5 takeaways, led by cornerback Dashaun Peele scoring on 61- and 84-yard interception returns for touchdowns. The Midshipmen are bowl eligible for the primary time since 2019. Now, they will attempt to beat No. 12 Notre Dame for the primary time since 2016. This yr’s neutral-site recreation at MetLife Stadium presents a wonderfully timed alternative to show they’re an actual CFP contender. — Olson
Earlier rating: 23
The shock wasn’t that Illinois beat Michigan — the Illini have carried out higher than the Wolverines all through the season — however how coach Bret Bielema’s crew delivered a win. Illinois leaned on its run recreation, which entered Saturday ranked 87th nationally (139.5 YPG), for 187 yards on 38 carries towards a sturdy Michigan defensive entrance led by Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. The Illini had been excellent on particular groups with a wonderfully executed pretend punt within the third quarter, two area targets and a blocked Michigan area aim try.
Illinois additionally obtained an enormous carry from its defensive entrance seven, notably outdoors linebacker Gabe Jacas and lineman TeRah Edwards, who mixed for 4.5 sacks and two pressured fumbles. The efficiency extra intently resembled these of Bielema’s Wisconsin groups, which received the Massive Ten in his ultimate three seasons there. Illinois could be very a lot alive within the league title race because it prepares for a troublesome journey to Oregon. — Rittenberg
Earlier rating: 20
Lane Kiffin’s Rebels had a bye week to determine how the remainder of the season goes to be outlined. They suffered their second lack of the season, 29-26 to LSU, per week in the past, and so they would possibly have to win out to be ok with the CFP probabilities they thought they’d heading into the season.
Contemplating they will get a go to from Georgia in a number of weeks, with journeys to wild playing cards Arkansas and Florida sandwiching that huge recreation, successful out looks as if an extended shot. However they will have an opportunity to construct confidence subsequent week towards a spiraling Oklahoma crew. We’ll see what occurs from there. We’ll additionally see whether or not the bye week brings the offense again. The Rebels have averaged a surprisingly low 23.3 factors over their previous three video games (together with two losses). — Connelly
Earlier rating: 22
It took a visit to the hospital for Brady Prepare dinner to play his finest ball of the season. The Mizzou senior quarterback suffered an ankle damage on the primary drive of the day towards Auburn and left for an MRI, however he shocked followers by reentering the sport late with Mizzou down 17-6 late within the third quarter and led a pair of landing drives, the final ending with beneath a minute left to win the sport.
Auburn had gone up 17-3 on a Cam Coleman landing and a rating off a muffed punt, however whereas Mizzou’s offense was stagnant with Prepare dinner out, the protection made sufficient stops to purchase time. It was rewarded with Prepare dinner’s late heroics. Missouri hasn’t regarded just like the borderline playoff crew it was presupposed to be this yr, however the Tigers are nonetheless 6-1, and followers will discuss in regards to the Brady Prepare dinner Recreation for fairly some time. — Connelly
Earlier rating: NR
After the offense surprisingly struggled in its previous two video games, Wazzu obtained again on monitor with a convincing 41-10 win towards Hawai’i to succeed in bowl eligibility. And not using a convention title to play for, the Cougars nonetheless got here into the yr hoping to chase a playoff spot.
These probabilities took a significant blow with a loss to Boise State, however till the Cougars undergo a second defeat, there’s some hope they will sneak in. Quarterback John Mateer turned in his finest passing efficiency of the season towards Hawai’i, going 23-of-27 for 295 yards with three touchdowns and no picks. He additionally added a pair of dashing touchdowns. — Bonagura
