Joel Klatt
Chief faculty soccer analyst
Chaos reigned supreme in Week 13 of the school soccer season.
Seven groups within the prime 20 fell on Saturday, with the SEC’s hopes of getting 4 groups within the College Football Playoff seemingly decimated. Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M collapsed, making the bubble scenario murky. A wrench was additionally thrown into the Big 12 title race, as BYU and Colorado every misplaced, permitting Arizona State and Iowa to manage their very own future. What a job Kenny Dillingham did as head coach of the Sun Devils after they had been picked to complete final within the season-opening convention.
I believed this yr was going to be nice due to the expanded playoffs, though you would not actually know what to anticipate till issues calm down. Well, this has been the very best common season I can bear in mind in my profession up to now.
With that stated, let’s get to my prime 10!
1. Oregon (Last week: 1)
Documentation: 11-0
Week 13 outcome: Laze round
Ohio State he continues to look increasingly more spectacular every week, nevertheless it’s arduous to place him at No. 1 when the group that beat him continues to be undefeated. Oregon was off Saturday, marking a vital bye week for the Ducks as they are going to be engaged within the Big Ten Championship Game following their matchup with Washington. Getting as a lot relaxation as doable is actually optimum as they appear to play till January.
2. Ohio State (Last week: 2)
Documentation: 10-1
Week 13 outcome: Defeated Indiana, 38-15
Here’s what I like most about Ohio State: It has solutions in every single place. When you get into these matchup-style video games, these playoff video games and championship video games — and inevitably, what is going on to occur right here down the highway after we find yourself crowning a nationwide champion — is that you will find yourself in a spot the place you want solutions and you could adapt . You will not have the ability to throw your fastball proper down the center and win.
Often, in faculty soccer, you see groups attempting to all the time depend on what they do greatest. It will not all the time be there for you. So, you need to have a secondary step. Ohio State has the solutions. It can do numerous various things to beat you on the prime finish.
Offensively, Ohio State has confirmed all year long that it will possibly do absolutely anything. The Buckeyes can clearly throw the ball outdoors. Quarterback Will Howard has proven he will be superb. In reality, this was one in all his greatest and most effective video games as a Buckeye. Their large receiver corps is unimaginable. I like that they’ll run the ball when they should. They threw the ball effectively once they wanted it towards Penn State and so they threw it effectively once they wanted it towards Indiana.
Defensively, they’re beginning to have extra solutions on that aspect of the ball. This is not a group that has only one system with weaknesses that may be defeated when you assault simply that. We’ve seen the Buckeyes alter now since that sport towards Oregon. OSU put a lot stress on quarterback Kurtis Rourke, as he allowed simply 15 factors and 151 complete yards. Numerous that occurred on the primary collection after which that final landing. At the half of the sport, Indiana could not do a lot. Ohio State additionally received a punt return landing from security Caleb Downs in Saturday’s sport, so it is a group that may beat you in numerous methods.
Ohio State takes care of enterprise and Indiana is a playoff group?
3. Texas (Last week: 3)
Documentation: 10-1
Week 13 outcome: Kentucky defeated, 31-14
Texas earned one other decisive victory on Saturday. The solely concern was the well being of quarterback Quinn Ewers, who suffered an ankle harm within the victory. Reports point out he’ll have the ability to play in Texas A&M’s enormous tilt. Anyone who has listened to or learn me all through the season is aware of that I imagine Arch Manning is a greater than succesful backup.
4. Pen State (Last week: 5)
Documentation: 10-1
Week 13 outcome: Minnesota defeated, 26-25
Saturday was a gutsy Penn State win in Minnesota. How about calling a faux punt in your individual territory whenever you lead by one level late within the fourth quarter together with your playoff hopes on the road? Slow clap for coach James Franklin on that decision. Penn State wants a giant upset of Michigan to make the Big Ten Championship Game, however seems in line to host a first-round playoff sport. It could be simply the scene from Happy Valley.
Penn State QB Drew Allar threw for 244 yards and a landing to finish a landing run in his win at Minnesota. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire through Getty Images)
5. Georgia (Last week: 6)
Documentation: 9-2
Week 13 outcome: UMass defeated, 59-21
This continues to be a harmful group. When Georgia is at its greatest, it will possibly positively win a nationwide championship. Quarterback Carson Beck had one other robust outing Saturday, throwing for 297 yards and 4 touchdowns.
6. Our Lady (Last week: 10)
Documentation: 10-1
Week 13 outcome: Army defeated, 49-14
Another dominant win for Notre Dame over the weekend, making Army fast work. I do know Northern Illinois’ loss in Week 2 wasn’t nice, however Notre Dame could possibly be a sneaky group coming into the CFP. It seems to be just like the Fighting Irish will host a primary spherical sport. I would not need to face that Notre Dame group in South Bend. They are a bodily group that’s extra proficient than folks understand. They are additionally gaining confidence, choosing up their eighth win by at the very least three factors.
7. Tennessee (Last week: 9)
Documentation: 9-2
Week 13 outcome: Defeated UTEP, 56-0
No one had a greater Saturday than Tennessee. Everything that wanted to occur for Tennessee occurred. The Vols cheered and did the Gator Chomp as they watched Florida defeat Ole Miss. Maybe it wasn’t nice for Tennessee followers to root for Florida, however these emotions will be put apart when playoff spots are on the road.
Alabama and Ole Miss: Will they miss the CFP after struggling their third defeat?
8. Miami (Florida) (Last week: unranked)
Documentation: 10-1
Week 13 outcome: Defeated Wake Forest, 42-14
I’ve stated all of it season, however I nonetheless imagine in quarterback Cam Ward. While Miami’s protection hasn’t been nice, Ward has been terrific, throwing for the second-most yards within the nation (3,774) and main the nation in landing passes (34). It seems to be like he’ll be in New York when the Heisman Trophy is introduced, whereas Miami could have benefited from Saturday’s chaos.
9. Indiana (Last week: 4)
Documentation: 10-1
Week 13 outcome: Lost to Ohio State, 38-15
Let’s begin with this: Indiana is firmly within the College Football Playoff. There’s little doubt in my thoughts, and there is in all probability little doubt within the committee’s thoughts, as a result of all the pieces broke Indiana’s path after Saturday’s loss. If they took care of enterprise towards Purdue, Indiana must be there.
The matchup towards OSU was too large for Indiana at the moment, however the prime 5 matchups are all the time too large for groups the primary time they face them. This has occurred all yr. Georgia and Ohio State dwell on this ambiance, and each applications misplaced their first 5 conferences on the highway earlier this yr.
While Georgia and Ohio dwell for these matchups 12 months a yr, the identical cannot be stated for Indiana. It’s a program that is attempting to degree up. The Hoosiers did not know precisely how good they had been to begin the yr. This was compelled on Indiana as a result of it performed so effectively in its earlier 10 video games. There had been moments in that sport the place, I believed, the second was too large for the gamers and coaches. I believe coach Curt Cignetti would admit that.
The punt group introduced Indiana again. You will not win a soccer sport when you permit 14 factors on fumbles to your punt group. If they hadn’t fumbled a punt late within the first half or allowed a punt return landing to open the second half, the Hoosiers’ fourth-quarter landing would have made it a three-point sport.
I do not suppose Indiana performed badly. Was Ohio State’s protection dominant? Without a doubt, however Indiana’s protection held Ohio State to a season-low 316 yards. It was similar to the best way Georgia misplaced to Ole Miss. Indiana performed higher within the loss than Alabama did towards Oklahoma.
This sport wasn’t proof that Indiana wasn’t pretty much as good as we thought. Rather, this was proof that Ohio State is Truly Well. The prime 5 groups are 23-3 at residence this season. Indiana made some drastic and gigantic errors that value them the sport. I do know Indiana can be higher the subsequent time they get an opportunity to take action.
Highlights of the No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers vs. the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes
10. SMU (Last week: 10)
Documentation: 10-1
Week 13 outcome: Virginia defeated, 33-7
SMU ran enterprise towards Virginia over the weekend. You cannot argue with what SMU is doing. Coach Rhett Lashlee did an exquisite job. It’s really just a little just like what Cignetti did in Indiana or what Deion Sanders did in Colorado. Lashlee acquired numerous transfers from Miami, the place he was beforehand the offensive coordinator, and they’re largely contributing. In its first yr within the ACC, SMU will play within the convention title sport, securing its berth with Saturday’s victory.
Joel Klatt is FOX Sports’ lead faculty soccer analyst and host of the podcast “The Joel Klatt Show.“Follow him to @joelklatt AND Subscribe to the “Joel Klatt Show” on YouTube.
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