Rating 134 faculty soccer groups after Week 1, from Georgia to Temple

Editor’s word: The Athletic 134 is a weekly rating of all FBS faculty soccer groups.

Week 1 is full, and we’ve lastly gotten a take a look at everybody in FBS. Effectively, not everybody (sorry it’s a must to wait, Ball State).

After a weekend that gave us just a few upsets however a number of mighty spectacular performances, the place does everybody transfer on this week’s version of The Athletic 134?

Welcome again to the highest spot, Georgia, for its 34-3 domination of Clemson. Welcome to the highest 25, Vanderbilt! The Commodores had been ranked ninety fifth within the preseason rankings, however after an time beyond regulation win towards standard ACC darkhorse Virginia Tech, why shouldn’t Vandy transfer up close to the highest 25 for now? It was probably the most surprising results of the season, towards a crew in my preseason high 25.

Penn State, Miami and Georgia Tech additionally moved up, whereas Florida State, Florida and others have dropped.

A reminder: The rankings shall be risky early. Wins towards high quality and competent groups are rewarded and skewed. Groups could make huge jumps shortly with good wins. Groups that beat up on inferior competitors gained’t transfer a lot or may even “drop,” however that’s just because another person jumped with a notable win. Don’t fear. Chill out. It’s going to take just a few weeks for all the pieces to type out, as soon as everybody has performed at the very least one sport of word. I attempt to emphasize outcomes, and it takes time for everybody to have one.

Right here is the Week 2 version of The Athletic 134.

1-10

I thought of shifting Notre Dame to No. 2 only for this week. I did. The 23-13 win at Texas A&M was higher than something anybody within the high six did outdoors of Georgia. However Notre Dame isn’t the second-best crew within the nation, and everybody else appeared nice towards low-level competitors, so it’s a slight transfer up for the Irish for now. Don’t anticipate them to maneuver out of this space for some time with a positive schedule for the subsequent month. However this Notre Dame win could look higher because the season goes on, which might influence the rating.

Penn State, welcome to the highest 10. I used to be a preseason skeptic. I didn’t imagine in Drew Allar, however Saturday’s 34-12 win at West Virginia was a whole bodily domination, and we noticed an offense prepared to throw the ball down the sphere and one which schemed these receivers open. It felt totally different than final 12 months’s sport. Possibly it’s a Week 1 overreaction, nevertheless it made me suppose this isn’t only a crew that would make the Faculty Soccer Playoff however one that would win a sport or two.

Michigan and Oregon almost dropped out of the highest 10 after too-close-for-comfort wins towards Fresno State and Idaho, respectively. Each groups had been in a one-score sport deep into the fourth quarter. However they gained, in order that they get some Week 1 advantage of the doubt, for now. Subsequent up is Texas and Boise State for every, so we’ll be taught shortly in the event that they’re for actual.

11-25

Whats up, USC. The overhauled protection appeared greater than competent, and Miller Moss appeared like a correct Lincoln Riley quarterback because the Trojans upset LSU 27-20 and now transfer as much as No. 15, whereas the Tigers drop to No. 16.

Clemson hangs on within the high 25 for now at No. 23. That is largely primarily based on my perception Georgia would do this to nearly everybody. Boston Faculty’s 28-13 win at Florida State was extra dominant than the ultimate rating, because the Eagles leap from No. 62 to No. 24, and Vanderbilt’s time beyond regulation win at Virginia Tech strikes the Commodores to No. 25.

26-50

Georgia Tech rises to No. 26 after a 2-0 begin. The Yellow Jackets would’ve been within the high 25 till BC’s dominant win Monday night time made the win over FSU in Eire look much less spectacular. That’s how issues can change week to week.

No. 27 NC State wanted to come back again within the fourth quarter and maintain on towards Western Carolina. The identical for No. 29 Boise State towards Georgia Southern. The Wolfpack and Broncos keep put of their positions for now. North Carolina strikes up 10 spots to No. 36 after a win at Minnesota, due to a missed Gophers discipline aim, however the lack of quarterback Max Johnson for the season could possibly be an issue.

Florida State drops from No. 9 to No. 46 after its dreadful 0-2 begin, and proper behind the Seminoles are the Florida Gators, two packages with followers dealing with existential crises.

Colorado strikes up just a few spots and into the highest 50 after beating North Dakota State 31-26. The Buffaloes appeared rather a lot like final 12 months’s crew, and a few questionable clock administration by Deion Sanders gave the Bison a shot on the finish, nevertheless it was nonetheless a stable victory towards a really profitable program with its share of FBS upsets. TCU sits at No. 49 after a 31-24 win at Stanford.

51-75

UNLV simply misses out on the highest 50 after a dominant 27-7 win at Houston that was almost a shutout. If you happen to thought final 12 months’s UNLV season was a fluke, the Rebels opened with an announcement win, although issues in regards to the passing sport persist after Week 1.

Arizona State’s 48-7 win towards Wyoming may’ve been probably the most surprising margin of victory of the weekend, and ASU strikes all the best way up from No. 89 to No. 53. A Solar Devils program that completed 124th nationally in scoring final 12 months (17.8 factors per sport) put it on a Wyoming protection that’s often very stable.

South Carolina drops 9 spots and out of the highest 50, falling to No. 54 after coming again and barely holding on for a 23-19 win towards Previous Dominion. The identical goes for Texas Tech, which falls to No. 57 after needing a two-point cease in time beyond regulation to flee an Abilene Christian crew that put up 615 yards of offense.

Coastal Carolina put it on Jacksonville State 55-27 in a surprisingly dominating efficiency to maneuver up 30 spots to No. 64. The Chanticleers have now gained seven of their final 9 beneath head coach Tim Beck.

76-100

Is it already time to imagine in Jeff Choate’s Nevada? The Wolf Pack hung with SMU in Week 0 and confirmed it wasn’t a one-off with a 28-26 win at two-time defending Solar Belt champion Troy. Nevada rockets up greater than 50 spots to No. 76, after being lifeless for the previous two seasons.

Previous Dominion and Georgia Southern transfer up regardless of their losses as they put in good performances with fourth-quarter leads. Why lean on a preseason rating in the event that they each performed higher than anticipated in defeat? North Texas’ stable win at South Alabama strikes the Imply Inexperienced as much as No. 93.

Sam Houston was my preseason Convention USA crew to look at, and the Bearkats made an announcement with a 34-14 win at Rice to maneuver as much as No. 99. The Bearkats began final 12 months 0-8 however gained three of their final 4 and now begin 2024 at 1-0. Hawaii performed sloppy in a Week 0 win towards Delaware State however almost knocked off UCLA in Week 1, dropping on a last-second discipline aim. So the Rainbow Warriors transfer up just a few spots to No. 98. We’ll see which is the actual Hawaii. Florida Atlantic moved up one spot into the highest 100 after an in depth (however sloppy) 16-10 loss at Michigan State.

101-134

Arkansas State wanted a last-second landing to beat Central Arkansas, so the Pink Wolves drop to No. 103. New Mexico is 0-2, however purchase that Bronco Mendenhall inventory when you can. The Lobos had a 17-point fourth-quarter lead towards Montana State in Week 0 and trailed Arizona by simply three at halftime in Week 1. New Mexico misplaced each of these video games, however the crew has extra of a pulse than we’ve seen shortly. In consequence, the Lobos transfer up six spots to No. 116. New Mexico State wanted a landing with lower than two minutes left to beat Southeast Missouri State, so the Aggies drop to No. 117.

There’s a new No. 134. Kennesaw State performed UTSA deep into the fourth quarter, so the Owls transfer out from the underside. In comes a special group of Owls. Temple turned the ball over six occasions in a 51-3 loss to Oklahoma. Issues have been tough in Philly for the previous few years, and it didn’t look any higher Saturday.

The Athletic 134 collection is a part of a partnership with Allstate. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Companions haven’t any management over or enter into the reporting or enhancing course of and don’t assessment tales earlier than publication.

(Picture of Kirby Good: Todd Kirkland / Getty Pictures)