RJ Younger
FOX Sports activities Nationwide Faculty Soccer Analyst
Within the first season of the 16-team SEC, the league has proven to be much more tough than we thought it could be. It is not simply that Alabama upset Georgia again in Week 5 to realize the No. 1 rating. It is that Vanderbilt upset then-No. 1-ranked Alabama. It is that the subsequent finest crew within the SEC — not one of the best crew within the Huge Ten, Huge 12 or ACC, who all have undefeated groups of their leagues — acquired the nod because the No. 1 crew within the nation.
There have been three No. 1 groups within the first eight weeks of the season, they usually all hail from the identical convention: S-E-C! Nonetheless, with Georgia’s 30-15 win in opposition to Texas, we’re liable to see the Related Press rating meet up with me and rank Oregon, at present sitting at 7-0 with a win at residence in opposition to an distinctive Ohio State crew, as the brand new consensus No. 1 crew in America.
Nonetheless … There may be an argument for Georgia taking again the No. 1 rating it held to start out the season, and it begins with the Bulldogs occurring the street to safe a double-digit victory over the Longhorns. That’s the finest within the nation. The 15-point win on the Forty Acres stands above Oregon’s one-point win over Ohio State at Autzen, and the Bulldogs achieved the feat with quarterback Carson Beck throwing three interceptions and finishing simply 23 of 41 passes for 175 yards with zero touchdowns.
Georgia’s win over Texas was a dominant and classic Kirby Sensible defensive efficiency, the place Texas might do subsequent to nothing for 2 quarters and trailed UGA 23-0 at halftime. This whereas the Dawgs haven’t performed a whole sport on offense, protection or particular groups this season.
However profitable should be revered, and shedding should be punished. So, Oregon is the No. 1 crew right here — for now. However be careful if this Georgia crew finds a approach to play full soccer.
Georgia, even at No. 2, feels inevitable as soon as once more.
With that, this is a take a look at my high 25 rankings following Week 8 of the school soccer season:
1. Oregon (7-0)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Purdue, 35-0
The Geese confirmed no indicators of a hangover following their 32-31 win in opposition to Ohio State final week, making gentle work of the Boilermakers. Dillon Gabriel was scarily environment friendly, finishing 21 of 25 passes for 290 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
No. 2 Oregon Geese vs. Purdue Boilermakers Highlights
2. Georgia (6-1)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Texas, 30-15
Georgia has but to play an ideal sport in all three phases, however good groups discover methods to win massive video games, and that is precisely what Kirby Sensible’s crew did on Saturday. Whereas Carson Beck struggled all through, Trevor Etienne picked up the slack, speeding for 3 touchdowns within the win over the No. 1-ranked crew in America.
3. Ohio State (5-1)
Week 8 consequence: Idle
4. Penn State (6-0)
Week 8 consequence: Idle
5. Texas (6-1)
Week 8 consequence: Misplaced to Georgia, 30-15
Texas is an efficient soccer crew, however the SEC is just too deep for groups to return out of this league unblemished. Quinn Ewers threw for 211 yards with two touchdowns and a decide, whereas Georgia’s protection held Texas to simply 29 yards on the bottom. The Longhorns have now misplaced their final 5 residence video games in opposition to top-five opponents.
6. Miami (Fla.) (7-0)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Louisville, 52-45
Canes quarterback Cam Ward accomplished 21 of 32 passes with 4 passing touchdowns in a rollicking defeat of the Cardinals. Miami has now scored 50 factors or extra in 4 video games this season, which is probably the most by any Canes crew in a single season.
7. Clemson (6-1)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Virginia, 48-31
The Tigers have appeared just like the best-positioned challenger to Miami’s dominance, outdoors of undefeated Pitt. Since shedding to Georgia 34-3 again in Week 1, they’ve scored 40 or extra in 5 of their final six video games.
8. Iowa State (7-0)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated UCF, 38-35
Following an interception that appeared each bit like being returned for a backbreaking landing, UCF defensive again Braeden Marshall needlessly dropped the ball earlier than breaking the airplane and left Iowa State an opportunity to mount a comeback. That is precisely what Rocco Becht and the Cyclones did.
UCF’s Braeden Marshall intercepts a move however DROPS the ball on the 1-yard line vs. Iowa State
In a gritty win, Becht threw for 274 yards and ran for 97 with three whole TDs to maintain Iowa State undefeated.
9. BYU (7-0)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Oklahoma State, 38-35
This crew seems like 2022 Texas Christian. Are the Cougars excellent? Effectively, their report says they’re. And so they’re definitely one of many two finest groups within the Huge 12, and that will likely be ok to get them into the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
10. LSU (6-1)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Arkansas, 34-10
LSU tailback Caden Durham rushed for 101 yards with three touchdowns in a sport that the Tigers broke open late within the second half. They keep their unbeaten streak in SEC play and can face one other undefeated SEC foe in Texas A&M on Saturday.
11. Tennessee (6-1)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Alabama, 24-17
Using tailback Dylan Sampson, who rushed for greater than 100 yards within the second half alone, the Vols beat their hated rival for simply the second time in 18 years. With the win, Tennessee retains its SEC title and CFP hopes alive.
12. Indiana (7-0)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Nebraska, 56-7
The Hoosiers are one among simply three undefeated groups left within the Huge Ten, they usually appear like a reliable risk to play within the Huge Ten championship. Indiana has not trailed an opponent in any sport it has performed this season.
13. Notre Dame (6-1)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Georgia Tech, 31-13
The Combating Irish got here again from a 7-0 deficit for the second time in as many weeks to seize a win. With out Haynes King at quarterback, the Yellow Jackets leaned on Zach Pyron, who accomplished 20 of 36 passes for 269 yards with a landing and two interceptions. Notre Dame’s protection bowed up and held Georgia Tech scoreless within the second and third quarters.
14. Texas A&M (6-1)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Mississippi State, 34-24
The Aggies held on to defeat the Bulldogs and preserve their undefeated SEC season intact. Texas A&M is now one among simply two applications within the league but to take a loss in convention play. The Aggies’ solely loss this season was to a top-25 Notre Dame crew.
15. Missouri (6-1)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Auburn, 21-17
The Tigers scored a landing with 46 seconds left within the sport to seal a comeback win in opposition to Auburn. With the victory, not solely did Missouri keep its place on this set of rankings, nevertheless it additionally stays on the bubble for the CFP. Mizzou trailed Auburn 17-6 within the fourth quarter earlier than its comeback.
Week 8 consequence: Idle
17. Kansas State (6-1)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated West Virginia, 45-18
Kansas State is off to its first 6-1 begin since 2014 following a powerful win over West Virginia. With WVU promoting out to cease DJ Giddens and the Wildcat speeding assault, quarterback Avery Johnson accomplished 19 of 29 passes for 298 yards with three touchdowns.
Kansas State’s Avery Johnson connects with Jadon Jackson on an ELECTRIC 60-yard TD vs. West Virginia
18. Illinois (6-1)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Michigan, 21-7
The win marked the Illini’s first victory in opposition to Michigan since 2009 and their third in opposition to a crew that has been ranked within the high 25. They handed Michigan a second loss in as many Saturdays, marking the primary time since 2020 that the Wolverines have misplaced back-to-back video games.
19. Alabama (5-2)
Week 8 consequence: Misplaced to Tennessee, 24-17
After incomes the No. 1 rating following a win over Georgia, the Tide have now dropped two of their final three — each losses coming in opposition to applications from the state of Tennessee — and could be the one No. 1-ranked crew after the season started to not make the CFP.
20. Pitt (6-0)
Week 8 consequence: Idle
21. Ole Miss (5-2)
Week 8 consequence: Idle
22. SMU (6-1)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Stanford, 40-10
Together with Miami, Clemson and Pitt, the Mustangs are undefeated in convention play. Kevin Jennings handed for greater than 300 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in a rout of the Cardinal.
23. Military (7-0)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated East Carolina, 45-28
The Black Knights mauled the Pirates, and quarterback Bryson Day by day accounted for 318 yards — together with 171 speeding yards — within the win.
24. Navy (6-0)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Charlotte, 51-17
The Midshipmen led Charlotte 38-0 — with 10:24 left within the second quarter. The win was marked by three passing touchdowns from quarterback Blake Horvath and two interceptions returned for TDs by Dashaun Peele, who’s the primary Navy participant ever to carry out that feat in a sport.
25. Colorado (5-2)
Week 8 consequence: Defeated Arizona, 34-7
The Buffaloes are 5-2 for the primary time since 2005 and appear like a latecomer to a Huge 12 title-contending get together with a signature win in opposition to Arizona on the street. One the place it performed the second half with out Travis Hunter.
RJ Younger is a nationwide school soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports activities and the host of the podcast “The Quantity One Faculty Soccer Present.” Observe him at @RJ_Young.
[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]
Get extra from Faculty Soccer Observe your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
