We’ve formally approached the midseason level of the common season and conversations in regards to the School Soccer Playoff will solely proceed to develop as we embark all through the following eight weeks. With two-loss groups greater than more likely to be included within the 12-team discipline, what do these groups have to do all through the second half of the season to seem like CFP contenders?
After a tricky loss to USC within the season opener, LSU has achieved all the pieces proper since then to place itself for a spot within the convention title recreation and the CFP. The Tigers have particular aspects to enhance on, however what have the Tigers achieved proper since that Week 1 loss?
In its first 12 months within the SEC, Oklahoma hasn’t essentially had the best begin to the league. With loads of adjustments at quarterback and manufacturing nonetheless low on offense, is it time that the Sooners look in direction of subsequent season?
Our faculty soccer specialists break down key takeaways from Week 8.
Two-loss groups nonetheless need to seem like playoff groups
There was loads of dialogue about the potential of two-loss groups qualifying for the 12-team playoff and deservedly so — it is a way more forgiving system. However groups nonetheless need to seem like a nationwide title contender — and Alabama is way from it.
The 2-loss Tide once more was stricken by turnovers (two), penalties (15 for 115 yards) and a minimum of three sacks on quarterback Jalen Milroe for the second week in a row. If Alabama continues to play like that, it’ll stay an afterthought on Choice Day.
The larger query is what number of two-loss groups the committee should take into account. In keeping with ESPN Analytics, there are nonetheless 33 groups with a minimum of a 14% probability of ending with two or fewer losses — and that features half of the SEC (Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Missouri, and Texas A&M.) That is greater than another convention (the Large Ten has 5 — Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State, Indiana and Illinois).
Alabama’s drawback is not its variety of losses; it is who it misplaced to (Vanderbilt) and the way it misplaced (and gained) — ugly. That is beneath the committee’s requirements — even within the mighty SEC. — Heather Dinich
Michigan does not deserve a cross for its unpleasant QB play
Michigan may get a mulligan for a few of its shortcomings this season, after shedding a team-record 13 gamers to the NFL draft, together with coach Jim Harbaugh and a number of other of this system’s most necessary assistants. However there’s merely no excuse for the Wolverines to be this dangerous at quarterback.
Jack Tuttle on Saturday grew to become Michigan’s third beginning quarterback in seven video games, and the outcomes weren’t a lot better. Tuttle struggled along with his accuracy and missed open targets. He ended up with first rate numbers — 20 completions for 208 passing yards — however had two turnovers, as Michigan failed to attain 10 factors or extra for the primary time in a decade (Sept. 6, 2014). Tuttle seemingly would have been Michigan’s high choice to enter the season if he had recovered sooner from a throwing elbow damage. Maybe he would have discovered a groove earlier. However Tuttle additionally has an damage historical past and by no means has been a full-time starter. Michigan might have added a switch quarterback with extra beginning expertise within the spring portal, simply in case.
As an alternative, the Wolverines solid forward with a bunch that carried important questions, and by no means received on monitor offensively. Michigan does not deserve a cross for a bunch that struggles to finish many. — Adam Rittenberg
LSU is lurking
After a disappointing last-minute loss to USC in its season opener that had a steaming Brian Kelly slamming the press convention desk, the Tigers have quietly turned their season right into a burgeoning success. Not solely have they gained each recreation since however they’ve proven to have some semblance of a working id. LSU has been removed from mistake-free or good in any of its previous six video games, it does not have a dependable working recreation, and but the Tigers have discovered a solution to win.
Since shedding to the Trojans by a landing, they’ve gained two convention video games now by a discipline aim whereas additionally dealing with weaker opponents, together with Arkansas this previous week, with relative ease. Over the previous 4 video games, the shaky protection most noticed in Week 1 has compelled seven turnovers whereas, on the opposite aspect of the ball, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier leads one of many nation’s 10 finest passing assaults. Out of the blue, the Tigers are undefeated in convention play they usually keep away from a matchup with Georgia this season as effectively.
The win over Ole Miss was spectacular, however this subsequent stretch of two video games — at Texas A&M subsequent week and internet hosting Alabama the next week — would be the true take a look at of simply how a lot Kelly’s workforce has been in a position to proper the ship and switch themselves into what might probably be a workforce that performs for the convention title and possibly much more. — Paolo Uggetti
SEC logjam on the high looming?
For the primary time since 2007, the SEC will enter the month of November with out an unbeaten workforce after Georgia went on the street Saturday and beat up on then-No. 1 Texas 30-15.
Anyone who may need forged the Bulldogs apart after their lackluster 13-12 win over Kentucky or their 41-34 loss to Alabama in Week 4 or their porous defensive displaying in a 41-31 win over a 1-6 Mississippi State workforce hasn’t been paying consideration.
Kirby Sensible is cash in these video games. He is now 6-1 in top-5 matchups, and his groups nearly all the time get higher and reply to adversity.
What does all of it imply? Extra cannibalism throughout the league is nearly actually on the best way, leaving open the true risk {that a} two-loss SEC workforce (or groups) could possibly be on the skin wanting in when the School Soccer Playoff committee releases its last rankings for the 12-team bracket on Dec. 8. There are six SEC groups with 6-1 total data at this level and three extra with 5-2 data. A whole lot of these groups play one another over the following few weeks, and whereas LSU and Texas A&M may need been a little bit of an afterthought after shedding their season openers to nonconference opponents, they’re the one two unbeaten groups left in SEC play and sq. off this Saturday in School Station.
It is setting as much as be a wild end within the SEC. Missouri nonetheless has to play at Alabama (Oct. 26), Texas A&M at South Carolina (Nov. 2), Georgia at Ole Miss and Alabama at LSU (Nov. 9), Tennessee at Georgia (Nov. 16) and Texas at Texas A&M (Nov. 30). And that is only a sampling. Do not sleep on Vanderbilt a minimum of being an element. The Commodores get Texas (Oct. 26) and Tennessee (Nov. 30) at dwelling. Georgia has the SEC’s finest nonconference win (Clemson), and Alabama’s win over Georgia could possibly be a separator for the Tide if they’ll get away of their funk and win out. Both method, there’s rather a lot to kind out. — Chris Low
Duke picks up historic victory
Since Florida State joined the ACC in 1992, one certainty had prevailed: The Seminoles would all the time beat Duke.
That’s, in fact, till Friday evening.
Whereas it’s true Florida State is in the midst of a nightmare season — the sort that had been commonplace for Duke in almost all their earlier matchups — the report books will rely the Blue Devils 23-16 win as a historic first regardless. Duke picked up its first ever win over the Seminoles with a stingy protection, the sort that Manny Diaz promised to carry when he took over for Mike Elko this season.
Elko, a defensive wizard in his personal proper, had turned across the Duke program in two brief years with a strong protection of his personal. However Diaz has elevated unit into one which has change into much more aggressive. Duke leads the nation in tackles for loss with 69, ranks No. 7 in sacks (24) and ranks No. 4 in yards per play allowed (4.29) — almost one yard fewer per play than final season (when Duke went 8-5).
Duke additionally compelled three turnovers on three straight performs to show the sport, giving it 13 on the season. Whereas the offense has struggled to search out consistency, the protection has led the best way. Diaz most likely likes it that method contemplating his background. Duke is now 6-1 and bowl eligible after being picked to complete eleventh within the preseason media ballot.
No one fairly knew what to anticipate out of a workforce that misplaced its head coach, beginning quarterback and a plethora of others to the draft and switch portal. The street forward will get more durable – 4 of its 5 remaining opponents have profitable data, beginning with SMU on Saturday after which a visit to Diaz’s former employer, Miami, on Nov. 2. It doesn’t matter what occurs, although, Duke will all the time have its historic second. — Andrea Adelson
Large Reds in a nasty method
Oklahoma and Nebraska reached information lows on Saturday in what are shortly spiraling into sobering seasons for the previous Large Eight Convention rivals.
Nebraska suffered a 56-7 defeat to Indiana for its second-biggest loss since becoming a member of the Large Ten in 2011 — and third-biggest loss over the previous 75 years, in line with ESPN Analysis. Matt Rhule is now 0-5 in opposition to ranked opponents as Nebraska’s head coach, whereas the Huskers have misplaced 26 straight to AP ranked groups.
At the least Nebraska (5-2) is a win away from bowl eligibility.
After South Carolina embarrassed them 35-9 at dwelling, the Sooners (4-3) appear destined to overlook out on a bowl for the primary time for the reason that John Blake period (1996-98).
Oklahoma’s offense is in disarray. The Sooners now rank 133rd in offensive EPA, forward of solely Kennesaw State.
Aside from Maine, OU figures to be heavy underdogs in each recreation the remainder of the best way. Welcome to the SEC. — Jake Trotter
It is time for Venables to start out buying
When Jeff Lebby left Oklahoma to change into the pinnacle coach at Mississippi State, Brent Venables went the protected route and promoted from inside, naming Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley his co-offensive coordinators. Via seven video games, that call has yielded disastrous penalties. And now, Venables is shifting on from offensive coordinator Seth Littrell.
Oklahoma’s 35-9 dwelling loss to South Carolina was over quickly after it began, with a surprising 21-0 swing within the first six minutes on three turnovers by true freshman QB Michael Hawkins Jr. The employees went again to Jackson Arnold 4 weeks after benching him, however Arnold could not spark a lot whereas getting sacked eight occasions. In equity to the QBs, it is laborious to determine any place teams on OU’s offense which might be enjoying effectively.
Venables is switching playcallers now, but it surely’s formally time to start out considering forward for 2025. The top coach must determine an offensive coordinator who can flip issues round and successfully hold him off the recent seat subsequent 12 months. Then he must go get him.
The blueprint going ahead is likely to be akin to what Arkansas coach Sam Pittman’s strikes had been coming into 2024: Rent a confirmed OC, discover a promising quarterback within the portal and reload with a dozen transfers on offense. If that OC candidate can carry his beginning QB with him, even higher.
These are troublesome selections. They might find yourself defining Venables’ tenure. However at this level, he clearly realizes they’re unavoidable. — Max Olson
Cal: Unhealthy luck or … ?
It does not take a vivid creativeness to ascertain a world during which the California Golden Bears are 7-0 and ranked within the top-10. As an alternative, Cal resides in a vastly totally different actuality: sole possession of final place within the ACC. The Bears have dropped their first 4 convention video games of the season by a mixed 9 factors.
Discover one play in every of these losses to go otherwise and Cal may need gained, which makes it laborious to guage this workforce. On one hand, you may make the case it’s a sufferer of horrible, horrible, no good, very dangerous luck. On the opposite, there’s the case that Cal has constantly mismanaged its method out of success and does not have what it takes to win shut video games.
Probably the most truthful method to take a look at it’s someplace in between, however this can be a bottom-line enterprise and you’re what your report says you’re. The great vibes from the GameDay go to and the Calgorithm can solely buoy spirits for thus lengthy. — Kyle Bonagura
Let’s hear it for the Military-Navy offenses
The service academy rivals turned in two of the highest six scoring performances amongst AP High 25 offenses in Week 8. Each unbeaten at this stage of the season for the primary time since 1945, Military and Navy are a pair of bonafide Group of 5 playoff contenders in 2024, surging this fall behind two of faculty soccer’s most spectacular offensive turnarounds.
Military improved to 7-0 Saturday in a 45-28 win over East Carolina behind 5 dashing scores from Bryson Each day. The Black Knights quarterback’s 19 dashing touchdowns lead the nation this fall, and Military hits its bye week with the FBS’ high dashing assault averaging 359.1 yards per recreation. In the meantime in Annapolis, three first-quarter scores from fullback (!) Alex Tecza was the spark for Navy in a 51-17 win over Charlotte that now sends the Midshipmen into the again half of their season 6-0 with the nation’s fourth-highest scoring offense at 44.8 factors per recreation.
Eight weeks into the 2024 common season, Military and Navy sit fourth and ninth respectively in scoring margin amongst FBS offenses because the AAC’s final two remaining unbeatens, having fun with a pair of offensive renaissances that exist in stark distinction to the varsity’s latest offensive histories.
After ending 114th in scoring and one hundred and twentieth in whole offense a 12 months in the past, Military has now totaled extra factors (283) than all however seven FBS assaults in 2024, below the management of first-year offensive coordinator Cody Worley. And in Yr 2 below coach Brian Newberry, a Navy offense that completed no higher than a hundred and fifth in factors per recreation over the earlier three years, now finds itself on tempo to have one of many nation’s top-five per-game scoring margins this fall.
Navy’s assault shall be examined in Week 9 when it meets Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium. Ditto for Military when it runs into the Irish at Yankee Stadium on Nov. 23. Sure, nevertheless, is that the offenses at Military and Navy are decidedly again in 2024, fueling shock playoff competition and promising fireworks when the varsity’s meet for the one hundred and twenty fifth time on Dec. 14. — Eli Lederman
