Editor’s observe: The Athletic 134 is a weekly rating of all FBS faculty soccer groups.
It took simply two weeks for school soccer to descend into chaos.
We’ve had two top-10 groups lose to unranked opponents. Notre Dame appeared to have a transparent path to the School Soccer Playoff, then misplaced to Northern Illinois. Oregon wanted a last-second subject objective to beat Boise State. Alabama battled USF deep into the fourth quarter for the second consecutive 12 months.
However after per week stuffed with thrillers, the headliner is Texas transferring as much as No. 2 — and having a case for No. 1 — after a 31-12 win at reigning nationwide champion Michigan. The Longhorns appear to be a crew that would win all of it, they usually host No. 1 Georgia in a bit greater than a month.
A reminder: The rankings can be unstable early. Wins in opposition to high quality and competent groups are rewarded and skewed. Groups could make massive 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. A number of folks in final week’s feedback didn’t get this.
A whole lot of groups occurred to “drop” this week after a win due to shocking outcomes. Don’t fear. Loosen up. It’s all in a restricted context. It’ll take a couple of weeks for every part to type out as soon as everybody has performed at the very least one sport of observe. I attempt to emphasize outcomes, and it takes time for everybody to have one.
Right here is the Week 3 version of The Athletic 134.
1-10
Georgia stays No. 1, and the win over Clemson final week seems to be even higher per week later. Texas strikes as much as No. 2 after its domination at Michigan. Ohio State has been a machine for 2 weeks, however the Buckeyes lack an excellent win like the opposite two, and sadly gained’t have one for a number of weeks. They’ll be positive. This prime three feels prefer it’s forward of everybody else.
Alabama drops to No. 7 after needing a four-touchdown fourth quarter to drag away from USF, and Penn State drops to No. 8 after holding on 34-27 in opposition to Bowling Inexperienced. Oregon strikes up a spot however wanted a last-second subject objective to beat Boise State, and the Geese have proven regarding points for 2 weeks after being my preseason No. 3.
On account of these Alabama and Penn State points, plus Notre Dame’s and Michigan’s losses, Miami slides as much as No. 5. Tennessee additionally rises to No. 6 after a 51-10 win in opposition to NC State.
11-25
Iowa State strikes as much as No. 13 after a last-second win at Iowa, and the Hawkeyes drop to No. 24. Oklahoma seemed shockingly poor in opposition to Houston however stays at No. 14 on account of the groups behind it. No. 16 Kansas State escaped Tulane, No. 17 Oklahoma State allowed 648 yards however by some means gained a weird sport in opposition to Arkansas, and No. 18 Clemson has a loss.
Welcome to the highest 25, Nebraska, after a 28-10 win in opposition to Colorado that was by no means shut. Additionally welcome, Northern Illinois! The Huskies beat a Notre Dame crew that gained at Texas A&M and make one of many greatest one-week jumps within the historical past of those rankings, from No. 106 to No. 21. Why shouldn’t NIU be forward of the Combating Irish?
Michigan stays within the prime 25 at No. 23 as a result of I believe Texas is absolutely good, however the Wolverines are trending down. Arizona drops a couple of spots to No. 25 after trailing Northern Arizona at halftime.
26-50
There are numerous new groups on the prime of this group. Illinois makes an enormous soar to No. 27 after beating a ranked Kansas crew. No. 28 Syracuse equally has a giant rise after beating Georgia Tech 31-28. No. 30 Arizona State and No. 31 Cal soar right here after wins in opposition to the SEC’s Mississippi State and at Auburn, respectively.
I do know Louisville is ranked within the AP and Coaches Ballot. The straightforward rationalization for the Playing cards’ place right here at No. 35 is that they’ve crushed up on Austin Peay and Jacksonville State, in order that they haven’t moved a lot from their preseason No. 32 rating. Like Ohio State, they should play notable opponents, which begins subsequent week with Georgia Tech. Different groups gained and “dropped” in right here as effectively, like No. 33 Texas A&M and No. 34 Memphis. It is because the loss to Notre Dame seems to be worse for A&M now, and different groups bought higher wins to leap over numerous groups that haven’t performed a sport of observe but.
I do not know what to do with South Carolina. The Gamecocks barely escaped Previous Dominion at house in Week 1 after which rocked Kentucky 31-6 on the highway. They’re again as much as No. 41, round their unique preseason rating. Tulane slips just one spot to No. 45 after taking Kansas State to the restrict, however the Inexperienced Wave appear to be a crew that ought to contend for the AAC once more. Liberty tumbles to No. 46 after needing a fourth-quarter comeback to beat New Mexico State.
After struggling to get previous Western Michigan in Week 1, Wisconsin adopted up with one other regarding efficiency in opposition to South Dakota, dropping to No. 49. Subsequent up? Alabama.
51-75
This group additionally sees a number of groups “drop” after a loss, however once more, that’s simply due to notable wins by different groups.
Arkansas put virtually 650 yards of offense on Oklahoma State and nonetheless by some means misplaced, because the Hogs keep put at No. 52. Kentucky’s lopsided loss to South Carolina sees the Wildcats drop to No. 54. Texas State put it on UTSA 49-10 in an announcement win to maneuver as much as No. 57 with Arizona State coming to city on Thursday.
BYU beat SMU 18-15 in an unpleasant affair however picked up a helpful highway win to maneuver as much as No. 58. Oregon State and Washington State are 2-0 and ranked No. 62 and No. 63 with Civil Conflict and Apple Cup rivalries coming this weekend. Michigan State’s last-second subject objective in opposition to Maryland sees the Spartans transfer as much as No. 64, and the Terrapins slide 10 spots to No. 66. Texas Tech drops to No. 72 after a 37-16 loss at Washington State, whereas Pitt strikes into the highest 75 after a fourth-quarter comeback at Cincinnati.
76-100
The highest a part of this group contains a number of groups that misplaced and dropped out of the highest 75. However No. 81 Virginia is 2-0 after squeaking out a win in opposition to Wake Forest. No. 84 Georgia Southern beat Nevada in a matchup of groups that could be higher than we anticipated.
No. 90 Houston is one other crew I do not know the place to rank. The Cougars had been blown out by UNLV in Week 1 after which stayed shut with Oklahoma 16-12 this week. Previous Dominion adopted up its shut loss to South Carolina with a 20-14 loss to East Carolina, so the Monarchs transfer all the way down to No. 97 as ECU strikes as much as No. 95.
Shoutout to ULM. The Warhawks beat UAB 32-6 and transfer into the highest 100 of those rankings for the primary time in a really very long time.
101-134
Ohio strikes as much as No. 103 after beating South Alabama, and I’m questioning if the Bobcats are going to make numerous noise within the MAC race. Troy dropped to No. 104 after an 0-2 begin following a 38-17 loss to Memphis. Pitbull Stadium was rocking as FIU beat Central Michigan 52-16 to maneuver as much as No. 106. Wyoming drops all the best way to No. 118 after an alarming 0-2 begin. The Cowboys have a 48-7 loss to Arizona State and a 17-13 loss to FCS Idaho, although it’s the identical Idaho crew that battled Oregon in Week 1. UTEP additionally misplaced to Southern Utah for one more FBS-FCS loss, because the Miners drop to No. 133.
Lastly, we have already got our third No. 134 of the season. Kent State takes over the underside spot after dropping to FCS St. Francis (Pa.), which was a below-.500 crew final 12 months. Subsequent up for the Golden Flashes: Tennessee and Penn State.
The Athletic 134 sequence 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.
(Photograph: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Pictures)