School soccer’s Week 9 slate wasn’t dramatic or stuffed 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 ultimate 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 tough targeting call that almost offered Nebraska with a walk-off alternative. The offense was sluggish with a stalled operating 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 to be they’re all the best way again after recovering from the early-season loss to NIU. No. 12 Notre Dame pressured six turnovers on Saturday in opposition to a Navy squad that had solely given the ball up twice as much as that time. Granted, it wasn’t a Energy Convention opponent, however it was nonetheless a ranked win that may depend in the direction of Notre Dame’s seemingly inevitable inclusion within the 12-team playoff. Given its efficiency, Notre Dame seems primed to deal with enterprise in its remaining schedule, which incorporates No. 23 Military (Nov. 23) and USC (Nov. 30).
The Large Ten race is down to 2 groups, Penn State is weak
After strolling away with a significant 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 motive to consider there’s anybody else remaining on its schedule that may threaten its path to Indianapolis. Assembly it there may be prone to be the 8-0 Hoosiers. They did not simply survive an excellent Washington group with out their beginning quarterback, they took care of enterprise by placing the Huskies down 31-17.
Getting 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 injury, creating an air of panic in Blissful Valley with how torpid Penn State’s offense was a majority of the sport. There’s an actual probability the Nittany Lions are on skinny ice for the ultimate month of the season (a possibility Ohio State might exploit in Week 10).
Alabama is not out of the CFP race but
It was clear Saturday’s contest in opposition to No. 21 Missouri could be an elimination sport for not solely the SEC title but in addition inclusion within the playoff. The Tigers have been embarrassingly shut out 34-0 in Tuscaloosa — losing starting quarterback Brady Cook late within the first half — leaving themselves no path again to the playoff bubble. No. 15 Alabama however, simply reestablished itself as the most effective two-loss group within the nation and has settled proper on the bubble with work nonetheless to be accomplished. We cannot be accomplished 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 shedding its No. 1 crown. Another yr Vanderbilt would’ve been that form of sport however it 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 enjoying at his finest, throwing two picks which made the affair too shut for consolation. Head coach Steve Sarkisian must tighten his guys up if he nonetheless desires to threaten for the SEC title, doubtlessly getting a rematch with the Bulldogs in Atlanta.
BYU will signify the Large 12 within the CFP
At 8-0, the No. 11 Cougars should be taken as severely as different conference-leading groups. BYU is the actual deal on offense and protection, dispatching UCF 37-24 — a group that was chalked as much as be a entice sport getting into Week 9. With four games remaining, BYU seems to be in prime place to stroll into Dallas and declare the Large 12 title with ease. Its solely different competitor, No. 10 Iowa State (7-0), has five games remaining, with certainly one of them in opposition to 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) at the moment are the one undefeated group remaining within the SEC, coming from behind handy 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 heart Saturday, notching a area 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 choice for the Aggies going ahead if it desires to benefit from the present state of the SEC.
