Joel Klatt
Chief school soccer analyst
This school soccer the season continues to supply outcomes.
Saturday gave us one other week of thrilling motion with numerous nice matches. We additionally had one other prime 5 matchup as beforehand fifth-ranked Georgia defeated the beforehand No. 1 ranked Georgia Texas at Austin, 30-15.
When we get matchups like Georgia-Texas far more regularly, it is onerous to argue towards superconferences and an expanded College Football Playoff, proper? What’s even higher is that there are nonetheless loads of significant matchups left this season because of expanded conferences and playoffs.
With that stated, listed below are my prime 10 school soccer groups after Week 8 of the season:
1. Oregon (Last week: 2)
Documentation: 7-0
Week 8 Result: Purdue defeated, 35-0
Just 2.5 years into his tenure at Oregon, Dan Lanning has the Ducks at #1 in my ballot. I’m not stunned both. I’ve stated for some time that if there’s one younger coach I may purchase inventory in, it is Lanning. Oregon was clicking on all cylinders towards Purdue on Friday, and no matter early-season points had appeared a factor of the previous.
Highlights no. 2 of the Oregon Ducks vs. Purdue Boilermakers
2. Georgia (Last week: 4)
Documentation: 6-1
Week 8 Result: Texas defeated, 30-15
Watching Georgia’s win over Texas dwell, it felt like Bulldog beat up the Longhorns. It did not appear to be Texas had a lot of an opportunity in that recreation, even after the comeback try. When you watch the movie, although, it is by no means as unhealthy as you assume, and it is by no means pretty much as good as you assume it might be because you watched the sport dwell.
That was the case for Saturday’s match. The movie confirmed that Georgia was higher, however not drastically higher. The movie confirmed two elite defenses taking part in unimaginable whereas each offenses principally struggled. Texas struggled a bit extra, however principally on the line of scrimmage. Georgia was actually good on the line of scrimmage and regarded very snug in an uncomfortable surroundings. It jogged my memory why Georgia has received 51 straight video games towards non-Alabama groups. Georgia was a machine and performs protection like that. The Bulldogs line of defense had an excellent night time towards Texas, making no errors. That was the distinction in that recreation. Georgia is actually good on protection, people.
However, I wasn’t very impressed with Georgia’s offense. It’s a little bit of an issue on the prime finish as a result of there aren’t lots of outdoors threats which can be constant and create lots of separation. Georgia’s offensive line has performed fairly properly and can quickly get more healthy, permitting them to run the ball higher than they did on Saturday. But Georgia lacked simply 283 yards with three turnovers, whereas solely certainly one of its scoring drives was longer than 35 yards. Carson Beck has additionally thrown eight picks in his final 4 video games. So, all is just not good for Georgia.
Georgia DB Daylen Everette (6) had an interception and a compelled fumble in its win over Texas, creating two of the 4 turnovers the Bulldogs received. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire through Getty Images)
3. Ohio State (Last week: 3)
Documentation: 5-1
Week 8 Result: Laze round
Ohio State was leapfrogged by Georgia because the Bulldogs went to the No. 1 dwelling group within the nation and beat them. However, Ohio State’s solely blemish this season is a one-point loss at Oregon. That group continues to be arguably essentially the most proficient within the nation.
4. Pen State (Last week: 4)
Documentation: 5-1
Week 8 Result: Laze round
THE Nittany Lions they continue to be at quantity 4 after their bye week. I used to be actually impressed with Penn State in its final recreation, an additional time win towards USC. James Franklin and Drew Allar appeared to show rather a lot in that match.
5. Texas (Last week: 1)
Documentation: 6-1
Week 8 Result: Loss to Georgia, 30-15
Texas’ errors in Saturday’s recreation have been magnified as a result of they occurred the place the opponent may take benefit. The Texas offense put its protection in unhealthy conditions on a couple of events in that recreation. There was a three-possession stretch the place the sport went Texas’ manner within the first half, the place Quinn Ewers misplaced a fumble on one drive and threw an interception on one other. It appeared just like the stage was too vibrant for the Texas offense. They have been making little errors you can’t make.
As for the quarterback scenario, what occurred Saturday between Steve Sarkisian, Arch Manning and Ewers was a case examine in a coach understanding that his group and the quarterback (to some extent) have been in shock throughout 4 collection of soccer, and he needed to change what was occurring. For me, it wasn’t essentially that he changed Ewers with Manning greater than that he wanted his beginning quarterback to relax for a second. He wanted a spark. But if Manning performed properly after getting into the sport, Ewers knew Manning would keep within the recreation. Sarkisian agreed with this discovering whereas attempting to bop alongside a positive line.
Texas Longhorns: Was overturned non-public investigator name a foul choice?
Sarkisian knew Ewers wasn’t taking part in properly within the first half of Saturday’s recreation, and his choice to present him a break labored as a result of he performed significantly better within the second half. Moving ahead, Ewers is the starter so long as Sarkisian says it as firmly as he says it. Ewers ought to enhance from this recreation and Texas can be higher consequently shifting ahead.
Texas and Georgia are the 2 finest groups within the SEC. I hope we get to see them play once more.
6. LSU (Last week: 8)
Documentation: 6-1
Week 8 Result: Arkansas defeated, 34-10
Since their Week 1 loss to USC, LSU has carried out nothing however enhance. LSU received decisively at Arkansas, which it beat Tennessee simply two weeks earlier. I stated earlier that I favored what quarterback Garrett Nussmeier did this season for the Tigers. LSU has an essential matchup towards Texas A&M on Saturday that would decide one of many spots within the SEC Championship Game.
LSU RB Caden Durham rushed for 3 touchdowns in its win over Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
7. Clemson (Last week: 6)
Documentation: 6-1
Week 8 Result: Virginia defeated, 49-31
Clemson’s offense continued its dominant streak following its Week 1 loss to Georgia. They’ve averaged practically 50 factors per recreation since that loss as quarterback Cade Klubnik and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley have actually figured issues out. Clemson solely misplaced a spot as a result of I used to be impressed with LSU.
8. Tennessee (Last week: unranked)
Documentation: 6-1
Week 8 Result: Defeated Alabama, 24-17
Even although Tennessee obtained an enormous win towards Alabama, my ideas on Volunteers they have not modified a lot. Tennessee is elite on protection, can run the ball properly and actually struggles within the passing recreation. Nico Iamalevava made some performs in Saturday’s recreation that I favored. I believed the leg performs have been a few of his finest moments. If Josh Heupel and his employees can get Iamaleava to run extra, that would assist the quarterback, as a result of I feel he is at his finest when he runs out of sources to create explosive performs. I’m nonetheless involved, although, in regards to the lack of a constant passing recreation.
Alabama Crimson Tide: Can the Tide make the 12-team playoff?
When you see what Georgia did to Texas, it is onerous to think about Tennessee beating Georgia on Nov. 16 until issues change. But if that is Tennessee’s solely different loss this season, it ought to search a playoff spot.
9. Indiana (Last week: unranked)
Documentation: 7-0
Week 8 Result: Nebraska defeated, 56-7
If you had any questions on whether or not Indiana actually exists, this group answered them on Saturday.
Indiana had its greatest Big Ten victory since 1945 towards a 5-1 Nebraska group I held in excessive regard. The Hoosiers have the No. 1 offense within the nation and we’re nearing the tip of October.
I like what Curt Cignetti has carried out in Bloomington. Indiana is an extremely well-coached group and will have set a template for different groups within the nation to comply with when it prioritized manufacturing over potential within the switch portal. Many of the gamers he introduced in had already performed dozens of video games, together with many from Cignetti’s final cease at James Madison.
Highlights of the Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. the No. 16 Indiana Hoosiers
Quarterback Kurtis Rourke has performed unimaginable soccer this season. At this level within the season, he could be my Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. He will not play subsequent week towards Washington after struggling a finger damage towards Nebraska, so hopefully the ailment does not sideline him for lengthy.
Indiana’s offense is actually enjoyable to look at and their offensive line is doing an excellent job. He dominated Nebraska’s entrance in Saturday’s recreation, scoring 5 speeding touchdowns towards a protection that had but to permit one this season.
Looking at Indiana’s schedule, the Hoosiers may realistically go 11-1 and make the primary 12-team playoffs. I’m actually impressed with Cignetti, particularly after assembly him and calling certainly one of his video games.
10. Miami (Florida) (Last week: 10)
Documentation: 7-0
Week 8 Result: Defeated Louisville, 52-45
Miami’s offense is implausible. Cam Ward he’ll clearly be a Heisman finalist and will win the award. But the protection scares me. I preserve leaving Miami as a result of you’ll be able to’t preserve taking part in with hearth like this. At some level, Ward can have a recreation the place he cannot be Superman.
Joel Klatt is FOX Sports’ lead school 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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