Rating 134 faculty soccer groups after Week 7: Why Oregon’s on prime at midseason

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

If there’s one lesson to be discovered from the primary half of this school soccer season, it’s that the hole between the highest groups and the middle-tier groups appears to be like as small because it’s been in a really very long time.

It’s a brand new week, and now we have one more new No. 1 in The Athletic 134. Welcome to the highest, Oregon.

The reasoning is simple: The Geese are undefeated and have one of many two finest wins of the season after beating Ohio State 32-31 in a thriller in Eugene. It was the primary win over a staff within the AP ballot’s prime two in Oregon historical past and this system’s first actual large win beneath coach Dan Lanning, one which was desperately wanted. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel performed among the best video games of his profession, receiver Evan Stewart regarded just like the five-star expertise he entered faculty soccer as, and the protection made sufficient performs.

The win places the Geese within the driver’s seat to achieve the Large Ten championship recreation and get a first-round bye within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. And given the surprises we’ve seen thus far this season, having a bye might be large.

Oregon wanted to come back again late to beat Boise State and struggled with FCS program Idaho early within the season. Maybe the hole between No. 1 Oregon and No. 16 Boise State will not be that far. Maybe the hole between Alabama and Vanderbilt will not be far. Even Georgia couldn’t bury a Mississippi State staff that was plastered by Toledo just a few weeks in the past. Who’re the good, elite groups? I’m undecided there may be one this season.

Whether or not that uncertainty is a product of NIL, transfers, teaching adjustments or a mixture of all of it, this has been some of the enjoyable and surprising faculty soccer seasons in a very long time. We’re in retailer for a lot of extra thrilling Saturdays, after which maybe a postseason that shall be extra open than we initially envisioned.

Right here is that this week’s Athletic 134.

1-10

Apart from Oregon’s elevation to No. 1, the massive transfer right here is Alabama dropping from No. 3 to No. 7. I acquired a whole lot of warmth for protecting Alabama within the prime three after its loss to Vanderbilt. My reasoning was that Alabama and Georgia had been nonetheless on the identical tier, and their head-to-head consequence knowledgeable that rating. Not anymore. After barely hanging on for a 27-25 win towards South Carolina, Alabama is tumbling. The Crimson Tide have now performed 5 consecutive halves of dangerous soccer since halftime towards Georgia. This staff goes within the improper course.

You could possibly flip No. 4 Penn State and No. 3 Georgia, because the polls have, and I wouldn’t argue with you. Each groups have one win towards a staff with a profitable file. Georgia’s is No. 9 Clemson, whereas Penn State’s is a No. 27 Illinois staff that almost misplaced to Purdue this weekend. Georgia has performed two top-10 groups; Penn State hasn’t performed a staff in my prime 25. Each have shut wins towards .500 groups (Kentucky, USC), and each struggled a bit towards weak competitors (Mississippi State, Bowling Inexperienced).

Ohio State drops to No. 5 as a result of though the Oregon recreation got here all the way down to the ultimate seconds, the remainder of the Buckeyes’ resume doesn’t have anything that jumps out like Georgia’s has. The hole between these prime 5 groups is extremely small, and we’ve acquired Texas-Georgia and Ohio State-Penn State arising within the subsequent few weeks to shake it up once more.

11-25

Tennessee falls out of the highest 10 to No. 12 after needing additional time to beat Florida at dwelling. The Volunteers’ solely notable win got here towards an Oklahoma staff that’s struggling. It’s clear the Vols offense will not be what we thought it was early within the season. Boise State jumps as much as No. 16 after a win at Hawaii, principally due to Oregon’s elevation to No. 1 and Washington State’s transfer as much as No. 24. To observe some transitive property tiebreakers right here, Arizona State’s win towards Utah strikes the Solar Devils up, however Texas Tech beat Arizona State, and Wazzu beat Texas Tech.

Undefeated Pitt strikes into the highest 25, as much as No. 20 after a 17-15 win towards Cal. Vanderbilt’s 20-13 win at Kentucky strikes the Commodores as much as No. 21.

26-50

I actually wished to get Arizona State into the highest 25, however the Texas Tech and Washington State scenario defined above stored the Solar Devils one spot out. Michigan dropped to No. 29 and was jumped by Iowa as a result of final two Washington outcomes (Iowa beat the Huskies 40-16 one week after the Huskies beat Michigan). No. 31 Oklahoma and No. 32 Nebraska additionally dropped out of the highest 25.

No. 39 USC continues to fall. One play in any of these three losses might’ve modified the outcomes, however the Trojans are additionally 5-8 of their final 13 video games. Wisconsin jumps as much as No. 40 after a shocking 42-7 win towards Rutgers.

Military strikes as much as No. 50 and is now No. 23 within the AP Ballot. I acquired some criticism about the place I had the Black Knights final week. They haven’t trailed all season, however their six wins have come towards 5 groups with one or two wins, plus an FCS staff. Navy, in the meantime, has a win towards 5-1 Memphis (plus three one-win groups and an FCS staff). That’s the distinction. The excellent news is Military nonetheless has 5-1 North Texas, Notre Dame and Navy on the schedule, and it’s well-positioned to make the AAC title recreation. There shall be alternatives for good wins.

51-75

Cincinnati jumps as much as No. 54 after a 19-13 win at UCF. No. 56 Louisiana-Monroe is now 5-1 after beating Southern Miss. Liberty wanted additional time to beat FIU, so the Flames slip to No. 61, however the path to an undefeated season remains to be very open.

Texas State strikes as much as No. 66 after beating Arkansas State, and Louisiana is as much as No. 67 after beating App State. The 2 Solar Belt West leaders will play proper earlier than Halloween. Oregon State drops to No. 70 after a loss to Nevada, whereas Northwestern jumps to No. 72 after beating Maryland 37-10. North Texas is as much as No. 75 after coming again to beat FAU.

76-100

No. 77 Buffalo has wins towards Northern Illinois and Toledo, however the Bulls’ 47-3 loss to UConn two weeks in the past helps transfer the idle Huskies as much as No. 76. San Jose State slips to No. 81 after shedding to Colorado State.

The three lowest-ranked Energy 4 groups all put in stable performances this week. UCLA led Minnesota at halftime and misplaced within the ultimate seconds; Mississippi State stayed inside arm’s size of Georgia in a 41-31 loss; Purdue took Illinois to additional time. All of them transfer up and now sit simply behind Florida State, Kansas and Baylor.

Within the wildest comeback of the season, No. 82 Georgia Southern overcame a 23-3 deficit with seven minutes left to beat Marshall 24-23.

101-134

We had a whole lot of matchups inside this group.

Rice beat UTSA within the ultimate seconds, sending Rice as much as No. 117 and UTSA all the way down to No. 118. No. 120 Louisiana Tech acquired a 48-21 win towards No. 127 Center Tennessee, No. 111 San Diego State beat No. 122 Wyoming, No. 114 Jacksonville State beat No. 124 New Mexico State, No. 115 New Mexico beat No. 123 Air Drive, and No. 113 Western Michigan beat No. 131 Akron.

Kent State performed Ball State shut however in the end stays on the backside.

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 overview tales earlier than publication.

(Photograph: Ali Gradischer / Getty Photos)