And now, 20 Closing Ideas from Week 10, when eight ranked groups had the week off. They received to take a seat at house and watch practically half of the opposite ranked groups go down.
1. Amid a season of unprecedented change in school soccer, one custom stays alive and nicely: Penn State dropping to Ohio State.
The groups entered the sport trending in reverse instructions. The third-ranked Nittany Lions have been undefeated, whereas the fourth-ranked Buckeyes’ prior two video games have been a highway loss to Oregon and a near-disaster in opposition to Nebraska. Ohio State (7-1, 4-1 Large Ten) even noticed James Franklin’s workforce an early 10-0 lead because of Will Howard’s decide six. Didn’t make a distinction.
For all of the optimism generated by first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, Penn State (7-1, 4-1) went from scoring one offensive landing in final 12 months’s 20-12 Ohio State loss to none on this 12 months’s 20-13 defeat. After star tight finish Tyler Warren ran across the finish for 33 yards to get all the way down to the 3-yard line with 6:47 left, he by no means noticed the ball once more. Drew Allar handed off to Kaytron Allen up the center three straight performs, then threw incomplete into the tip zone on fourth-and-goal on the 1, and Ohio State ran out the ultimate 5:13.
BUCKEYES😤📈
pic.twitter.com/VyDDhTZiIb— Ohio State Soccer (@OhioStateFB) November 2, 2024
2. Now, for the requisite disclaimer: Penn State’s School Soccer Playoff hopes stay completely intact. It is a 7-1 workforce with highway wins in opposition to West Virginia, USC and Wisconsin. Will probably be closely favored in its ultimate 4 video games. Win out, and it’s possible internet hosting a first-round recreation. None of that modifications the very fact Franklin is 1-10 in opposition to the Buckeyes and 1-13 in opposition to AP top-five groups throughout his time at Penn State. Nothing about him or his program conjures up any confidence the Nittany Lions would do something apart from go one and out in a event filled with comparable foes.
However first, he has to get there.
3. Ohio State’s Ryan Day, who has been coping with his personal current “Can’t win the massive one” stigma, wanted this one badly. He improved to 3-6 versus top-five foes, which isn’t nice however nonetheless higher than contemporaries like Steve Sarkisian (2-8 at Washington/USC/Texas), Lincoln Riley (1-5 at Oklahoma/USC), Brian Kelly (1-8 at Notre Dame/LSU) and naturally, Franklin. It simply feels worse as a result of three of Day’s six losses have been to Michigan.
Ohio State’s offensive line, now with All-America guard Donovan Jackson beginning at left sort out as a consequence of accidents, was significantly better within the operating recreation than final week, and Jim Knowles’ protection received extra strain on Allar than it did Oregon’s Dillion Gabriel a number of weeks in the past.
Goodnight Buckeyes 😏 pic.twitter.com/F1uZby92BG
— Ohio State Soccer (@OhioStateFB) November 3, 2024
4. My one concern for Ohio State is identical one I had after the Oregon loss: Is Howard (16 of 24 for 182 yards, two TDs, one INT) dependable sufficient to guide a workforce to a nationwide title? Along with his decide six, Howard fumbled for a touchback whereas stretching for a landing that might have put the Buckeyes up 21-10. This was on the heels of his poor decision-making on the finish of the Oregon loss. To his credit score, Howard picked up two third downs together with his ft on Ohio State’s game-sealing drive. He does a good sufficient job getting the ball to the Buckeyes’ gifted receivers. He doesn’t must be C.J. Stroud, however he does want to carry on to the ball and regulate the clock.
5. For no matter motive, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, a projected first-round decide earlier than the season, simply doesn’t have it this 12 months. He threw three interceptions in opposition to Florida, giving him 11 in his final 5 video games, which allowed the underdog Gators to hold round far longer than they need to have after quarterback DJ Lagway suffered an terrible hamstring harm, forcing Florida to ship in third-string walk-on Aidan Warner for the second half. The second-ranked Dawgs (7-1, 5-1 SEC) lastly scored two late touchdowns to win 34-20.
When it’s on, Georgia has been the perfect workforce within the nation, as seen when the Dawgs demolished Clemson in Week 1 and Texas two weeks in the past. However Kirby Good’s workforce squeaked by in opposition to Kentucky, bombed within the first half at Alabama and struggled in opposition to Florida. Which model will present up subsequent week at Ole Miss?
GO DEEPER
School Soccer Playoff 2024 projections: Indiana rise continues as Clemson falls out
6. Poor Billy Napier can not catch a break. First, incumbent quarterback Graham Mertz sustained a season-ending ACL harm on Oct. 12, and now Lagway, who threw a 43-yard landing on Saturday, is out with what Napier known as a “fairly important” harm. Warner, a redshirt freshman who started his profession at Yale, often is the starter when Florida visits Texas subsequent week and maybe past that. The Gators (4-4, 2-3) have improved fairly a bit this season, nevertheless it nonetheless may not be sufficient to save lots of Napier if extra losses begin piling up.
7. I can’t say I’m shocked No. 10 Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 SEC) suffered a letdown after its big win over LSU, however South Carolina’s One hundred and fifteenth-ranked offense unexpectedly exploded within the Gamecocks’ 44-20 win over the Aggies. Former Arkansas operating again Rocket Sanders shredded A&M to the tune of 144 yards dashing and 92 yards receiving, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers was efficient together with his arm (13 of 27, 244 yards, two TDs, 0 INTs) and legs (15 carries, 106 yards, one TD). Shane Beamer’s workforce (5-3, 3-3) isn’t successful the SEC, however in its previous three video games, it misplaced by two factors to Alabama, drilled Oklahoma on the highway and doubled up a top-10 A&M workforce.
With that, there are not any remaining SEC groups with excellent convention data. Georgia and Texas A&M are tied for first, however Tennessee (4-1), Texas (3-1) and LSU (3-1) are all tied within the loss column as nicely.
— Gamecock Soccer (@GamecockFB) November 3, 2024
8. Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin is about to face his Franklin crossroads second. The Nineteenth-ranked Rebels (7-2, 3-2 SEC) appear to have no bother with the groups they need to beat (apart from Kentucky, in fact). They went to Fayetteville and destroyed Arkansas 63-31, with Jaxson Dart throwing for 515 yards and 6 touchdowns, and huge receiver Jordan Watkins going off for eight catches for 254 yards and 5 TDs. Three of his scores have been for 60-plus yards.
However Ole Miss didn’t spend all that NIL cash to beat up on Arkansas and perhaps go to the Citrus Bowl. The CFP was all the time the tip recreation. To get there, Dart, who largely has struggled in opposition to the SEC’s prime groups, must ship a few of these huge performs subsequent week when Georgia visits Oxford.
9. No. 1 Oregon (9-0, 6-0 Large Ten) has not missed a beat on the highway this season. Gabriel (22 of 34, 294 yards, 1 passing TD, 1 dashing TD) was his regular environment friendly self within the Geese’ 38-17 win at Michigan (5-4, 3-3). Wolverines quarterback Davis Warren (13 of 23, 165 yards, two TDs, 0 INTs) made some good performs, and Michigan received to the Oregon 10 within the fourth quarter with an opportunity to get inside one rating. However on fourth-and-5, Sherrone Moore known as a weird trick play, with receiver Semaj Morgan making an attempt to throw to backup QB Alex Orji. The Geese … weren’t fooled.
Oregon suffered a doubtlessly pricey harm, dropping prime receiver Tez Johnson early within the recreation. His standing was undisclosed. Traeshon Holden (six catches, 149 yards) and Justius Lowe (six catches, 45 yards) stepped up in his place.
GO DEEPER
Introducing The Athletic’s School Soccer Playoff Bracket Problem
10. Michigan should go from dealing with the nation’s No. 1 workforce this week to the nation’s most dominant workforce subsequent week. No. 13 Indiana (9-0, 6-0 Large Ten) fell behind 10-0 early at Michigan State (4-5, 2-4), the Hoosiers’ first deficit of the season, then circled and smoked the Spartans 47-10. Indiana, 9-0 for the primary time in program historical past, notched seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke, again after lacking final week, threw 4 touchdowns.
I’m fascinated to see how the committee treats the Hoosiers. They haven’t performed an amazing schedule, however they’ve clobbered everybody they’ve performed, scoring 40-plus factors in seven of their 9 video games. My hunch is that they’ll be larger than they’re within the AP and coaches polls than the CFP rankings.
11. Louisville coach Jeff Brohm, going again to his Purdue days, is all the time good for not less than one huge upset a 12 months. The Cardinals (6-3, 4-2 ACC) went to No. 11 Clemson (6-2, 5-1) and constructed a 26-7 lead, successful 33-21. Louisville’s offense, led by freshman operating again Isaac Brown (20 carries, 151 yards), appeared to have the Tigers on their heels all night time.
Clemson had received six straight, all by not less than two scores. Trying again now, not one of the groups it beat presently has a successful document. Its protection, ranked within the prime two within the ACC in seven of the previous eight seasons, was simply seventh getting into the weekend. It could be that Louisville was the primary workforce since Georgia able to exploiting it.
45-YARD TD!!! ISAAC BROWN!!
📺 ESPN#GoCards pic.twitter.com/h9bZCFGa0b
— Louisville Soccer (@LouisvilleFB) November 3, 2024
12. That leaves the ACC in a two-team tie for first between No. 5 Miami (9-0, 5-0 ACC) and … No. 20 SMU (8-1, 5-0).
The Canes fell behind 28-17 early within the third quarter in opposition to Duke (6-2, 2-3), solely to win going away, 53-31. Star quarterback Cam Ward (25 of 41 for 400 yards, 5 TDs, one INT) and new Miami profession receiving yards chief Xavier Restrepo (eight catches, 146 yards, three TDs) have helped lead Miami to its first 9-0 begin since 2017. SMU, needing no adjustment interval after transferring up from the Group of 5, throttled beforehand undefeated Pittsburgh 48-25. Quarterback Kevin Jennings (17 of 25 for 306 yards, two TDs) and operating again Brashard Smith (23 carries, 161 yards, two TDs) lit up the Panthers’ Eleventh-ranked protection.
Each groups nonetheless have work to do, however SMU wouldn’t be a super ACC championship matchup for the Canes, whose protection offers up a whole lot of huge performs. However Ward has been in a position to outscore each opponent up to now.
GO DEEPER
SMU’s rout of Pitt paying homage to heyday. After ponying as much as be part of ACC, its imaginative and prescient is close to
13. The Large 12 is mild on elite groups (if it has any) and excessive on parity — and it’s a heckuva lot of enjoyable.
Star Texas Tech operating again Tahj Brooks’ landing with 19 seconds left lifted the Crimson Raiders (6-3, 4-2 Large 12) to a 23-22 highway upset at No. 11 Iowa State (7-1, 4-1), the most important win of the Joey McGuire period up to now. Lower than an hour later, Houston (4-5, 3-3) rallied from a 19-10 deficit getting into the fourth quarter to beat Kansas State 24-19, handing the Wildcats (7-2, 4-2) a pricey second convention loss. Because of this, No. 9 BYU (8-0, 5-0), which was off, is now alone in first, with the Cyclones and, sure, Colorado (6-2, 4-1), tied for second.
Right here’s guessing these received’t be the league’s final race-altering upsets this season.
14. Arizona State operating again Cam Skattebo entered Saturday main the Large 12 in all-purpose yards (161.6 per recreation) and turned in his best efficiency but within the Solar Devils’ 42-21 win at Oklahoma State. Skattebo ran for 153 yards, caught 4 passes for 121 yards and scored three TDs in a recreation delayed by two and a half hours at one level as a consequence of climate. ASU (6-2, 3-2 Large 12), picked to complete lifeless final within the convention, clinched bowl eligibility in coach Kenny Dillingham’s second season. Oklahoma State (3-6, 0-6), which reached the Large 12 title recreation final season, is mired within the first six-game dropping streak of Mike Gundy’s 20-year tenure.
15. Vanderbilt (6-3, 3-2 SEC) received bowl-eligible for the primary time in six years on the energy of its protection. The Commodores held Auburn operating again Jarquez Hunter to a season-low 50 dashing yards in a 17-7 highway win, this system’s first at Jordan-Hare Stadium. (Be aware: This was solely its tenth go to.) With yet another victory, Vandy will attain seven wins for the primary time since Franklin’s final season there in 2013. It might be a outstanding feat for fourth-year coach Clark Lea, who went 9-27 his first three seasons earlier than efficiently upgrading his lineup by way of the switch portal. TCU switch edge Randon Fontenette had 2.5 tackles for loss and a go breakup.
16. Fifth-year Baylor coach Dave Aranda all the way down to his final days when the Bears, 3-9 final season, started this season 2-4. However Baylor (5-4, 3-3 Large 12) has received three straight video games since. Led by freshman operating again Bryson Washington’s 29 carries for 196 yards and 4 TDs, the Bears bested rival TCU 37-34 on a walk-off 33-yard discipline objective, two years after the Horned Frogs (5-4, 3-3) did the identical factor in a November recreation in Waco. College students stormed the sphere afterward and partied prefer it was the 2021 Large 12 championship season once more.
Baylor misplaced on a Hail Mary to Colorado on Sept. 22. If not, this workforce simply may have been among the many jumble of league contenders proper now.
FOR THE WIN‼️
Isaiah Hankins nails the game-winning discipline objective to assist raise Baylor over TCU 😤 pic.twitter.com/bEfx6f4MwZ
— ESPN School Soccer (@ESPNCFB) November 3, 2024
17. Just one workforce has not trailed this season: No. 21 Military (8-0). The Black Knights’ offense wasn’t as highly effective as regular with out star quarterback Bryson Each day, however operating again Kanye Udoh’s profession day (22 carries, 158 yards, two TDs) helped Military to a 20-3 win over Air Drive (1-7). Coach Jeff Monken didn’t element what harm or sickness saved Each day out of shape and the sport however mentioned he’s hopeful the QB, who has accounted for 26 touchdowns this season, will likely be again subsequent week in opposition to North Texas.
Military and Tulane (7-2, 5-0 AAC) are the final remaining AAC groups with undefeated data in convention play.
18. After operating 31 occasions for 149 yards and two scores in Boise State’s 56-24 rout of San Diego State (3-5, 2-1) on Friday night time, Ashton Jeanty has run for 1,525 yards and 20 TDs. He’s averaging 170.0 yards in convention play for the Broncos (7-1, 4-0 MWC). At that tempo, he’d end a 13-game common season with 2,375 yards, third-most ever behind solely Barry Sanders (2,628 in 1988) and UCF’s Kevin Smith (2,448 in 2007).
Boise State’s subsequent foe is Nevada, presently 0-4 in Mountain West play. Recalibrate your calculators now.
19. It’s not a provided that Nebraska will finish its eight-year bowl drought. Per week after practically taking down Ohio State on the highway, the Huskers (5-4, 2-4 Large Ten) by some means misplaced 27-20 at house to UCLA (3-5, 2-4) in a recreation the Bruins wrapped up with an interception of a go that bounced off Nebraska receiver Jacory Barney’s knee. This got here after freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola was injured after a tough hit with about six minutes remaining.
Matt Rhule’s workforce will get a much-needed week off earlier than closing at USC, vs. Wisconsin and at Iowa. Final 12 months’s workforce began 5-3, then misplaced its final 4. Up to now, this one is 0-2 since getting to 5 wins. It’s like Scott Frost by no means left.
HUSKIES GET THE SACK AND THE WIN!!!!!!! 🔥 @UW_Football pic.twitter.com/nXYErv8QiM
— FOX School Soccer (@CFBONFOX) November 3, 2024
20. However nobody has misplaced extra painfully, extra regularly than USC (4-5, 2-5 Large Ten). In a traditional Pac-12 matchup aired on the Large Ten Community, Washington (5-4, 3-3) topped the Trojans 26-21. USC had two probabilities to drive for the lead within the final 5 minutes, however the Huskies stuffed Trojans operating again Woody Marks on a fourth-and-goal on the 1, then pressured Miller Moss into three straight red-zone incompletions to seal a 26-21 win.
Understandably, Washington is hovering round .500 given a training change and large attrition following final 12 months’s nationwide title recreation run. Lincoln Riley has no such excuse to be sitting under .500 this late into his third season.
(Photograph of Will Howard: Scott Taetsch / Getty Photographs)
