We’re now roughly midway by way of the school soccer season, a crossroads the place each win is a step in the best path and each loss is scrutinized like an elimination recreation.
Listed below are some knee-jerk reactions to the Week 6 motion:
Alabama did not should be ranked No. 1
Shedding is one factor, however to surrender 40 factors to Vanderbilt in a recreation that Alabama by no means led is downright unacceptable for the supposed No. 1 staff within the nation. The 40-35 rating line marked essentially the most factors the Commodores have ever scored in opposition to an AP No. 1 foe and the fourth time in school soccer historical past that the top-ranked staff has misplaced to an unranked program per week after beating a top-two opponent, per the SEC Community broadcast. Do not be shocked if the Crimson Tide tumble so much farther down than the place No. 5 Georgia at the moment resides.
Missouri was not who we thought they had been
The No. 9 Tigers appeared to be an actual risk after beginning 2-0 and outscoring opponents 89-0. However the two following weeks featured one-score wins that the staff barely squeaked out, resulting in suspicions that the staff’s explosive offense will not be sustainable within the SEC. On Saturday, Missouri’s sizzling hype was extinguished by hungry No. 25 Texas A&M, which held the Tigers offense to simply 10 factors in a 41-10 beatdown. Tigers quarterback Brady Prepare dinner was held to a season-low 186 yards and an abysmal 25.3 QBR, tied for a career-worst since turning into the full-time starter.
Tennessee has misplaced all its momentum
It is truthful to say the No. 4 Volunteers had their humbling second Saturday, falling 19-14 to unranked Arkansas. Discovering the tip zone simply twice after blowing out earlier opponents by a mixed rating of 216-28 doesn’t instill confidence in those that purchased into Tennessee’s candidacy to win the SEC and compete for a nationwide title. The one factor going for UT is the truth that no person however Texas is undefeated within the SEC any longer. The Volunteers face Alabama in two weeks and a win might be essential to remain within the School Soccer Playoff race.
Indiana is the (second) finest Huge Ten staff
The No. 23 Hoosiers are one among simply three groups within the FBS to have by no means trailed by way of six weeks and are the primary staff to turn into bowl-eligible this season at 6-0. They’re additionally lucky to evade Penn State, USC and Oregon on their remaining schedule. Nonetheless, bouts with Michigan (Nov. 9) and Ohio State (Nov. 23) nonetheless stay late within the yr. If a type of is Indiana’s solely loss on the yr, a visit to Indianapolis for a crack on the Huge Ten title and a stamped ticket to the School Soccer Playoff is on the horizon.
Michigan and USC are all however eradicated from playoff rivalry
Talking of the Huge Ten title, the No. 10 Wolverines and No. 11 Trojans each earned their second losses of the season and made their respective paths to the School Soccer Playoff extremely slim. USC is worse off because of its loss to Michigan two weeks in the past and never having Indiana, Oregon or Ohio State on its remaining schedule as marquee possibilities to bolster its resume. Michigan, whereas on the surface trying in for the foreseeable future, has each Indiana and Ohio State left to doubtlessly upset (the latter being particularly unlikely) and sneak into an at-large bid.
Undefeated Military and Navy deserve extra respect
The 2 premier service academies ought to, on the very least, be incomes votes on this week’s AP ballot after defeating convention foes by a mixed rating of 83-14. Each applications stay undefeated for the primary time since 1945, per FOX Sports activities. And do not be stunned if Military-Navy turns into a de facto School Soccer Playoff play-in recreation. Not the annual recreation in December (that can at all times be a non-conference recreation). But when each are nonetheless undefeated after the common season, they might discover themselves opponents within the American Athletic Convention championship recreation earlier than dealing with off once more for the Commander in Chief Trophy. There is a vital probability the winner might earn a berth because the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion.
Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty will break Barry Sanders’ 1988 season dashing file
With 186 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to Utah State on Saturday, Jeanty eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark (1,031) after simply 5 video games. On the identical juncture throughout his 1988 Heisman Trophy-winning season, Barry Sanders had 1,002 yards. Jeanty is averaging 206.2 yards a recreation and is on tempo for a 2,474-yard season. (Sanders completed with 2,628.) With No. 21 Boise State working up the rating so early in contests, Jeanty hasn’t performed a whole 5 video games. So, if the teaching workers continues to bench him with profitable leads to hand, that may very well be the one factor that hampers his file quest.
