And now, 20 Closing Ideas from an upset-crazed Week 6 in faculty soccer.
1. It’s at all times the Saturdays that look lightest on paper that ship the zaniest outcomes. This one noticed 5 of the nation’s prime 11 groups go down, 4 of them to unranked opponents. It was arguably probably the most hectic day the game has seen since Nov. 12, 2016, when 5 top-10 groups fell to unranked foes.
However Vanderbilt 40, No. 1 Alabama 35 belongs in a class unto itself.
2. In a single nook, we had vaunted Alabama, six-time nationwide champion this century, recent off a dramatic 41-34 win over then-second-ranked Georgia. Within the different, Vandy, 11-38 this decade, and 0-60 all-time in opposition to top-five foes. Certain, Clark Lea’s group knocked off Virginia Tech in its opener and took a top-10 Missouri group to time beyond regulation on the highway. However the Commodores additionally misplaced to Georgia State. They usually hadn’t defeated Alabama in 40 years. So even after Vandy (3-2, 1-1 SEC) took a shocking 23-7 first-half lead Saturday, one was proper to imagine Jalen Milroe and the Tide (4-1, 1-1) would draw back finally.
However Alabama’s protection, which almost blew final week’s Georgia recreation, by no means did work out Vandy cult hero quarterback Diego Pavia. Operating offensive coordinator Tim Beck’s read-option offense to perfection, he was by no means sacked and accomplished 16 of 20 throws for 252 yards whereas working 20 occasions for 56 yards. Alabama minimize it to 1 rating with 2:44 left, however by no means acquired the ball again after Pavia accomplished a 19-yard go for one first down and gained 8 yards on a keeper for an additional.
Moments later, he was working across the area in celebration as mates, relations and SEC Community reporter Alyssa Lang chased after him. (Lang was the one individual all day to efficiently cease him.) And Vandy followers took the purpose posts on a pleasant little tour of Nashville, en path to the Cumberland River.
The goalposts are within the cumberland! @VandyFootball pic.twitter.com/XSRiSC5vDo
— 102.5 & 106.3 The Recreation (@1025TheGame) October 6, 2024
3. Alabama’s former coach, Nick Saban, as soon as predicted that the switch portal was going to make “the wealthy get richer.” Don’t find out about that. Vandy coach Clark Lea received two SEC video games in his first three seasons whereas constructing primarily with highschool gamers. Within the previous days, we would have declared his rebuild hopeless. However Lea noticed New Mexico State win 31-10 at Auburn final season and stated, I would like that. He employed Beck, the Aggies’ OC. Pavia, the 2023 Convention USA Participant of the Yr, adopted, as did tight finish Eli Stowers, who caught six passes for 113 yards Saturday. Lea signed 22 transfers in whole, up from three the 12 months earlier than. And he simply made one of many wealthy look slightly bit poorer.
4. In principle, Alabama’s CFP hopes stay very a lot intact, with an 81 % probability to make the bracket, based on The Athletic’s mannequin. In actuality — panic! As explosive as Kalen DeBoer’s offense is (it averaged 8.6 yards per play however suffered from a Milroe fumble and fluky choose six), his protection has allowed 60 factors in its final six quarters. That features a mixed 5 passing touchdowns by Pavia and Georgia’s Carson Beck. DeBoer and DC Kane Wommack, who gave up a head-coaching job at South Alabama for this gig, want to search out some solutions in a rush.
Within the meantime, Paul Finebaum’s callers determine to be additional colourful come Monday. DeBoer was at all times going to be held to an unattainable commonplace as Saban’s successor, and so it begins. As many will notice, Saban’s groups solely misplaced to an unranked opponent as soon as in his final 16 seasons (2021 at Texas A&M). However Saban did infamously lose in his first season to Louisiana-Monroe as a 24.5-point favourite. The unfold Saturday was 22.5.
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5. Arkansas coach Sam Pittman entered the season on one of many hottest seats within the nation. Protected to say he’s again on stable floor following the Razorbacks’ first top-five upset in 17 years, a 19-14 win over No. 4 Tennessee (4-1, 1-1).
The Vols got here in averaging a national-best 54 factors per recreation, however star quarterback Nico Iamaleava was underneath duress all evening. After Arkansas (4-2, 2-1 SEC) misplaced quarterback Taylen Inexperienced to harm within the fourth quarter, freshman Malachi Singleton led the go-ahead drive with 1:22 left, with assist from freshman working again Braylen Russell (eight carries, 62 yards).
Tennessee hosts Alabama in two weeks in a recreation that figured to be a top-five showdown however could now be an elimination recreation for the SEC championship.
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6. Texas A&M quarterback Connor Weigman’s profession has been regularly placed on maintain for accidents, however he lastly acquired his breakout second in a 41-10 takedown of No. 9 Missouri (4-1, 1-1 SEC). Weigman, out the previous three weeks with a shoulder harm, performed the very best recreation of his profession (18 of twenty-two for 276 yards) for the Twenty fifth-ranked Aggies (5-1, 2-0), and Nic Scourton and the protection smothered Mizzou quarterback Brady Cook dinner (13 of 31 for 186 yards) to the tune of six sacks.
This was not the identical A&M group that scored 13 factors at dwelling in opposition to Notre Dame or squeezed by Arkansas 21-17 final week. Mike Elko’s squad is a piece in progress however might sneak into the CFP image if it beats LSU in two weeks.
7. The brand new cross-country Massive Ten has staged 9 convention video games so far that includes a pair of faculties situated no less than two time zones aside. The visiting groups are 1-8 in these video games.
No. 11 USC (3-2, 1-2 Massive Ten) has been on the flawed finish of two of them after a mistake-riddled 24-17 loss at Minnesota (3-3, 1-2). After the Gophers drove 75 yards for the go-ahead rating with 56 seconds left, Minnesota freshman Koi Perich picked off Miller Moss, the Trojans QB’s second interception of the fourth quarter. It marked the fewest factors USC has scored since a 17-14 win at Oregon State in Lincoln Riley’s first season. It regarded nearly nothing just like the offense we noticed grasp 28 second-half factors at dwelling in opposition to Wisconsin the week earlier than, and now the Trojans are already in must-win territory subsequent week once they host No. 7 Penn State.
The interception that sealed the win for @GopherFootball 🙌#B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/AX2WmSiEzQ
— Massive Ten Community (@BigTenNetwork) October 6, 2024
8. In different cross-country motion, Washington (4-2, 2-1 Massive Ten) survived No. 10 Michigan, 27-17, gaining no less than slightly revenge for final 12 months’s nationwide title recreation. I’m certain Huskies followers took explicit glee that Jedd Fisch’s first massive win got here the identical day as DeBoer’s first Alabama debacle.
After falling behind 14-0, Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore turned to his third quarterback this season, seventh-year senior Jack Tuttle, and at first it labored. Michigan rallied to take a 17-14 lead on Tuttle’s 8-yard landing go to Colston Loveland. However a fumble by Tuttle in Michigan territory allowed Washington to return up 24-17. He then acquired picked off by Huskies sixth-year senior security Kamren Fabiculanan to seal it. Don’t be shocked if the well-traveled Tuttle stays QB1 going ahead.
9. Week 6 got here to an in depth with two bowl-eligible groups making an attempt to maintain the momentum going: The Miami Hurricanes (6-0, 2-0 ACC) and Indiana Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0 Massive Ten). No. 23 IU received 41-24 at Northwestern (2-3. 0-2), marking its school-record fifth straight recreation scoring 40 factors or extra. It’s time to begin giving Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke some Heisman love. He was 25 of 33 for a season-high 380 yards, three TDs and no picks in Evanston and is now finishing 73.8 % of his passes for 14 TDs and two INTs. Indiana now will get a much-deserved week off, however Curt Cignetti’s group has been the story of the season’s first six weeks.
10. We lastly acquired to see No. 2 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Massive Ten) face a decent opponent, and whereas Iowa (3-2, 1-1) did maintain the Buckeyes to seven factors within the first half, the ultimate 35-7 margin was not surprising. Ohio State’s star-studded offense does slightly little bit of the whole lot. The Buckeyes ran for 203 yards and acquired 4 passing touchdowns from quarterback Will Howard. The second was a 4-yard go to freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith, who made one more ridiculous one-hand catch. He and Alabama’s Ryan Williams appear to be in a weekly contest to see which freshman can ship probably the most jaw-dropping spotlight.
Subsequent week, Ohio State embarks on the hardest three-time zone take a look at of the season up to now when it visits No. 7 Oregon (5-0, 2-0).
JEREMIAH SMITH DID IT ALL ON THIS DRIVE 🔥
ANOTHER RIDICULOUS ONE-HANDED TD GRAB 😱 @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/EmdWmKKXBA
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 5, 2024
👀👀👀👀@Ryanwms1
📺: SEC Community pic.twitter.com/Vq9ZHy92Rf
— Alabama Soccer (@AlabamaFTBL) October 5, 2024
11. The Geese’ protection placed on a present of their 31-10 Friday evening rout of visiting Michigan State (3-3, 1-2 Massive Ten). Going through a well-recognized foe in former Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith, Dan Lanning’s group notched 5 sacks and held the Spartans to 250 whole yards. Lanning has spent three years stockpiling athletic go rushers like Jordan Burch (2.5 sacks), Teitum Tuioti (7 tackles) and Matayo Uiagalelei, they usually’ve more and more regarded the half. However this is similar protection that had few solutions for Boise State star Ashton Jeanty in Week 2, and now TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are coming to city.
12. After a grassroots social media marketing campaign acquired ESPN’s GameDay to make its first journey to Berkeley, Cal certain regarded prefer it, too, was going to knock off a top-10 group.
However Miami star Cam Ward (35 of 53 for 437 yards, two TDs, one INT) led the eighth-ranked Canes again from a 35-10 third-quarter deficit to win 39-38. Miami (6-0, 2-0 ACC) stays undefeated, however its final two video games have led to controversy.
ACC replay officers acquired it proper in overturning Virginia Tech’s last-second Hail Mary in Week 5, however they inexplicably whiffed on a missed concentrating on name that might have stored a Cal drive alive, up 38-31, with 1:46 left. As a substitute, the Bears (3-2, 0-2) punted, and Ward had his group ultimately zone 5 performs later.
It’s been enjoyable watching Cal’s fan base spring to life this season after a decade-plus in hibernation. Why received’t the soccer gods allow them to have good issues?
13. Kudos to Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, who handed the nice Bobby Bowden for many wins (174) whereas an ACC head coach. Which is wild, given Swinney, now in his seventeenth season, is simply 54.
Fittingly, he did it in opposition to Florida State, with the Fifteenth-ranked Tigers (4-1, 3-0 ACC) changing into the newest to close down the Seminoles (1-5, 1-4) in a 29-13 win at Doak Campbell Stadium. Operating again Phil Mafah carried 25 occasions for a season-high 154 yards. With Miami’s shut calls, Clemson certain seems to be like the brand new ACC favourite — although a couple of darkish horses are looming.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney says he’s “blessed” to interrupt Bobby Bowden’s profession ACC wins file at FSU nevertheless it’s not one thing he ever sought out. Simply stored on working. Plus: “My title could also be on there, however Bobby Bowden’s nonetheless the best” pic.twitter.com/XhfzFpzvRz
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) October 6, 2024
14. A 12 months after its 3-9 debacle, Pittsburgh is off to its first 5-0 begin since 1991 after a 34-24 win at North Carolina (3-3, 0-2 ACC) within the Panthers’ ACC opener. Coach Pat Narduzzi’s offense went right into a two-year abyss following the 2021 ACC title season with Kenny Pickett, however 31-year-old offensive coordinator Kade Bell, previously of Western Carolina, has confirmed to be an astute rent. And get this: Redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein, who transferred in from Alabama final January, is the primary Pitt quarterback to win his first 5 begins since a teen named Dan Marino did it in 1979. Holstein was 25 of 42 for a best-yet 381 yards, three TDs and one choose in Chapel Hill.
15. I had assumed SMU would take a 12 months or two to ramp as much as power-conference membership. I assumed flawed. The Mustangs (5-1, 2-0 ACC), which pummeled TCU and Florida State the previous two weeks, received a back-and-forth recreation at No. 22 Louisville, 34-27. SMU’s season modified utterly when, following an 18-15 loss to BYU, coach Rhett Lashlee modified quarterbacks to third-year sophomore Kevin Jennings. He was magnificent in opposition to the Cardinals (3-2, 1-1), going 21 of 27 for 281 yards and working 10 occasions for 113 yards and a rating.
16. A 12 months after reaching the Massive 12 championship recreation, Oklahoma State (3-3) fell to 0-3 in convention play with an embarrassing 38-14 loss at West Virginia (3-2, 2-0). The Mountaineers ran a staggering 65 occasions for 389 yards and 4 TDs. Including harm to insult, Oklahoma State working again Ollie Gordon II, who has been unable to duplicate his Doak Walker-winning 2023 manufacturing, went out within the third quarter with a leg harm. Gundy downplayed the severity, however ESPN analyst Kirk Morrison prompt through the broadcast that Gordon ought to shut it down for the season to protect himself for subsequent 12 months’s NFL Draft. “As this season continues, not a lot to play for,” he stated.
Kirk Morrison after Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon was damage in Saturday’s recreation.
“If I am Ollie Gordon, I most likely performed my final play at Oklahoma State…Ollie could have to begin interested by himself as this recreation, or this season, continues. Not likely a lot to play for.” pic.twitter.com/KFVBdnRieA
— Terrible Saying (@awfulannouncing) October 5, 2024
17. Friday evening’s Syracuse–UNLV recreation felt greater than it might need prior to now, each due to the Twenty fifth-ranked Rebels’ latest media highlight and the very fact they’re within the combine for a CFP berth. However their try at a 3rd P5 win fell simply brief in a 44-41 time beyond regulation loss. Syracuse (4-1, 1-1 ACC) has been a nice shock in Fran Brown’s first season, thanks largely to ex-Ohio State QB Kyle McCord (40 of 63 for 355 yards, three TDs, one INT). Whereas Friday’s loss doesn’t have an effect on UNLV’s convention championship hopes, it could have been a pleasant resume enhance if that G5 spot comes right down to the Mountain West champ vs. the AAC champ.
18. And the AAC champ may very well be a well-recognized face. Tulane (4-2, 2-0 AAC) could have fallen brief in opposition to P4 foes Kansas State (34-27) and Oklahoma (34-19), however the Inexperienced Wave have been on hearth since. After beating USF 45-10 in final week’s convention opener, they went to Birmingham and walloped UAB 71-20. Tulane has a flexible offense. Jon Sumrall’s group ran for 317 yards and 6 TDs in opposition to the Blazers (1-4, 0-2).
19. UAB’s weird Trent Dilfer rent two years in the past is panning out even worse than I imagined. The previous Lipscomb Academy coach is off to a 5-12 begin, with three 20-plus-point losses this season.
20. Lastly, the Military-Navy takeover continues! Each at the moment are 5-0 for the primary time since 1945 following their newest dominating performances.
The Midshipmen (3-0 within the AAC) ran for 329 yards and 5 TDs — whereas quarterback Blake Horvath additionally went 9 of 15 passing — in a 34-7 dwelling win over Air Power (1-4), their most lopsided win within the sequence since 1978. Military (4-0 within the AAC) now has the longest successful streak within the nation at 9 after placing a 49-7 drubbing on Tulsa (2-4, 0-2 AAC). The Black Knights averaged 8.0 yards per dashing try.
It’s a enjoyable second for America, however don’t suppose for a second the 2 academies are rooting one another on. “Right here’s hoping they lose each recreation,” Military coach Jeff Monken stated final week.
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(Picture of Vanderbilt followers marching off with the purpose posts: Matthew Maxey / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)