Faculty soccer’s Week 9 slate wasn’t dramatic or filled with upsets, however the outcomes majorly shifted the convention and playoff landscapes.
Listed below are some knee-jerk reactions to Saturday’s motion:
Ohio State hasn’t totally recovered from the loss to Oregon
Regardless of defeating Nebraska, a 21-17 remaining rating doesn’t mean the No. 4 Buckeyes took care of enterprise on Saturday. The Cornhuskers led 17-14 deep into the fourth quarter, requiring Ohio State quarterback Will Howard to give you a game-winning drive. Nonetheless, the protection nonetheless needed to survive a powerful concentrating on name that almost supplied Nebraska with a walk-off alternative. The offense was sluggish with a stalled working sport and can solely be exploited as Ohio State approaches key clashes with No. 3 Penn State (Nov. 2) and No. 13 Indiana (Nov. 23).
Notre Dame has its clearest path to the CFP
After bombarding No. 24 Navy 51-14 at MetLife Stadium, the Combating Irish appear like they’re all the way in which again after recovering from the early-season loss to NIU. No. 12 Notre Dame pressured six turnovers on Saturday towards a Navy squad that had solely given the ball up twice as much as that time. Granted, it wasn’t a Energy Convention opponent, but it surely was nonetheless a ranked win that can rely in the direction of Notre Dame’s seemingly inevitable inclusion within the 12-team playoff. Given its efficiency, Notre Dame seems to be primed to maintain enterprise in its remaining schedule, which incorporates No. 23 Military (Nov. 23) and USC (Nov. 30).
The Huge Ten race is down to 2 groups, Penn State is weak
After strolling away with a serious victory over Ohio State in Week 7, No. 1 Oregon wanted to show it deserved the highest rank. Smashing No. 20 Illinois 38-9 at house is one other spectacular notch within the Geese’ belt and gives little purpose to consider there’s anybody else remaining on its schedule that can threaten its path to Indianapolis. Assembly it there’s more likely to be the 8-0 Hoosiers. They did not simply survive an excellent Washington staff with out their beginning quarterback, they took care of enterprise by placing the Huskies down 31-17.
Coming into Week 9, Penn State would naturally be first on the listing of challengers to Oregon. However quarterback Drew Allar left Saturday’s 28-13 win over Wisconsin early with a knee harm, creating an air of panic in Completely happy Valley with how torpid Penn State’s offense was a majority of the sport. There’s an actual likelihood the Nittany Lions are on skinny ice for the ultimate month of the season (a chance Ohio State might exploit in Week 10).
Alabama is not out of the CFP race but
It was clear Saturday’s contest towards No. 21 Missouri can be an elimination sport for not solely the SEC title but additionally inclusion within the playoff. The Tigers have been embarrassingly shut out 34-0 in Tuscaloosa — dropping beginning quarterback Brady Prepare dinner late within the first half — leaving themselves no path again to the playoff bubble. No. 15 Alabama then again, simply reestablished itself as the most effective two-loss staff within the nation and has settled proper on the bubble with work nonetheless to be executed. We cannot be executed speaking in regards to the Crimson Tide as we enter the ultimate month of the season.
Texas, Quinn Ewers nonetheless look shaky regardless of win
The No. 5 Longhorns wanted a bounce-back sport after falling 30-15 to Georgia in Week 8, subsequently dropping its No. 1 crown. Every other 12 months Vanderbilt would’ve been that sort of sport but it surely was simply unfortunate for Texas to face the Commodores at their hottest (and ranked No. 25). Texas would get its much-needed win 27-24 however quarterback Quinn Ewers was not again taking part in at his greatest, throwing two picks which made the affair too shut for consolation. Head coach Steve Sarkisian must tighten his guys up if he nonetheless needs to threaten for the SEC title, doubtlessly getting a rematch with the Bulldogs in Atlanta.
BYU will characterize the Huge 12 within the CFP
At 8-0, the No. 11 Cougars have to be taken as significantly as different conference-leading groups. BYU is the actual deal on offense and protection, dispatching UCF 37-24 — a staff that was chalked as much as be a entice sport coming into Week 9. With 4 video games remaining, BYU seems to be to be in prime place to stroll into Dallas and declare the Huge 12 title with ease. Its solely different competitor, No. 10 Iowa State (7-0), has 5 video games remaining, with considered one of them towards No. 16 Kansas State (6-1), who might sneak into the convention title sport with a win over the Cyclones.
Marcel Reed is Texas A&M’s solely hope to win the SEC
The No. 14 Aggies (6-1) are actually the one undefeated staff remaining within the SEC, coming from behind at hand No. 8 LSU a crushing second loss 38-24. Texas A&M was 4-for-5 in scoring touchdowns on drives with backup quarterback Marcel Reed underneath middle Saturday, notching a discipline aim on the one that did not discover the endzone. Paired with its smothering protection, which picked off LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier 3 times and sacked him twice, Reed is the one possibility for the Aggies going ahead if it needs to make the most of the present state of the SEC.
