Key CFP video games left this school soccer season

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Eight video games over the following two weeks will resolve the Faculty Soccer Playoff discipline.

Because of No. 3 Oregon’s loss to Utah on Saturday night time, we will get rid of the Pac-12 from playoff rivalry as soon as once more. The 2021 season would be the fifth consecutive 12 months with out a Pac-12 workforce within the playoff since Washington made the sphere after the 2016 season.

The ACC gained’t be getting a playoff workforce both. Clemson, the convention’s perennial playoff workforce, ended any playoff hopes No. 10 Wake Forest had in a 47-28 win on Saturday.

With out the Pac-12 and the ACC within the combine, the playoff door is open for Cincinnati to be the primary non-Energy 5 workforce to make the playoff. The No. 5 Bearcats moved to 11-0 with a drubbing of SMU on Saturday. Because of Oregon’s loss, Cincinnati ought to be at No. 4 in Tuesday’s rankings.

No. 9 Oklahoma State ought to transfer up too. The Cowboys moved to 10-1 with a dominant win at Texas Tech on Saturday night time. OSU has an opportunity to make the playoff with wins over the following two weeks of the season and losses by groups forward of them.

With one week to go within the common season and convention championship weekend after that earlier than the playoff discipline is ready, we now have a fairly good concept of the video games that can immediately affect the Faculty Soccer Playoff image. If you happen to’re busy with family and friends due to the vacation season and may’t sit all the way down to binge on faculty soccer such as you’d like over the following two weeks, listed below are the eight video games you want to take note of earlier than the playoff discipline is ready.

Week 13

Taking part in on Friday is a superb alternative for Cincinnati to point out how good it may be prefer it did in opposition to SMU. After weeks of comparatively shut wins, Cincinnati completely destroyed SMU to point out it was the very best workforce within the AAC and worthy of playoff consideration. A blowout on Friday would go a protracted solution to solidifying Cincinnati’s playoff standing.

The stakes for this one are fairly easy. The winner heads to the Huge Ten title recreation because the winner of the East and might be one win away from a spot within the Faculty Soccer Playoff. It’s Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh’s likelihood to lastly get a win over Ohio State and put his workforce within the thick of the CFP image consequently. The Wolverines haven’t overwhelmed Ohio State since 2011. That’s the Wolverines’ solely win over the Buckeyes since 2003.

Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson, right, celebrates his touchdown against Michigan State with teammate Chris Olave during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson, proper, celebrates his landing in opposition to Michigan State with teammate Chris Olave throughout the first half of an NCAA faculty soccer recreation Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photograph/Jay LaPrete)

The Iron Bowl doesn’t have the luster it usually does this 12 months. Auburn is 6-5 after a loss to South Carolina on Saturday night time and is with out beginning QB Bo Nix after he suffered a season-ending ankle harm in opposition to Mississippi State in Week 11. However loopy issues typically occur at Jordan-Hare Stadium on this rivalry. An Alabama win retains the Crimson Tide within the prime three within the playoff standings forward of a monumental SEC title recreation.

It is a recreation we might see twice in two weeks. If Oklahoma wins, the Sooners and Cowboys will meet one another for the Huge 12 title on Dec. 4. If Oklahoma State wins, the Cowboys will face Baylor for the Huge 12 title. Oklahoma State has been an under-the-radar playoff contender all season lengthy because it’s been powered by top-of-the-line defenses within the nation. That protection stifled Texas Tech on Saturday night time and appears well-equipped to face Oklahoma.

Convention Championships

If Cincinnati beats East Carolina and beats Houston within the AAC title recreation it’s exhausting to see how the Bearcats are going to get omitted of the playoff. Houston entered the playoff rankings for the primary time this week and can keep within the prime 25 after a win over Memphis on Friday night time. The Cougars ought to care for enterprise in opposition to UConn within the remaining week of the common season and can give Cincinnati the chance to get one other win over a ranked workforce on the best way to a possible 13-0 season.

The winner of Ohio State and Michigan will probably face both Iowa or Wisconsin for the Huge Ten title. The Badgers are within the Huge Ten title recreation with a win over Minnesota whereas Iowa is in with a Wisconsin loss and a win over Nebraska. Whichever workforce emerges from the East could have a easy playoff situation. A win over the West champ ought to be sufficient to make the playoff.

The Huge 12 title recreation is the potential wild card within the playoff combine. If Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma and beats Baylor for a second time this season the Cowboys might be at 12-1. Will a win over Oklahoma and two wins over Baylor be sufficient to leap into the highest 4 both forward of an undefeated Cincinnati or a two-loss Alabama? If Cincinnati loses certainly one of its remaining two video games, Oklahoma State might bounce Notre Dame and get into the playoff at 12-1.

Will the SEC get two groups within the playoff irrespective of if Alabama or Georgia wins? If Alabama beats Auburn after which beats Georgia, each groups are entering into the playoff at 12-1. If Georgia wins and drops Alabama to 11-2, the committee might transfer a one-loss workforce forward of Alabama into the highest 4 or make Alabama the primary two-loss workforce to make the playoff. The latter situation appears doable if the sport is shut. No recreation within the remaining two weeks of the season might hinge extra on the make-up of the playoff discipline than the SEC title recreation.

WINNERS

Ohio State: Ohio State is peaking on the proper time. The fourth-ranked Buckeyes demolished No. 7 Michigan State 56-7 on Saturday on the Horseshoe behind a monster efficiency from C.J. Stroud. Stroud, one of many favorites for the Heisman, threw for 432 yards and 6 touchdowns within the win. The Huge Ten East and a possible Faculty Soccer Playoff spot might be on the road when the Buckeyes sq. off with Michigan subsequent weekend in Ann Arbor.

Michigan: If there have been any worries that No. 6 Michigan would overlook Maryland with the Ohio State recreation looming, these have been shortly alleviated. The Wolverines trounced the Terps 59-18 in Faculty Park. The Wolverines threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns and in addition scored on a kickoff return and an interception return within the win. Michigan has now reached the 10-win 4 occasions throughout Jim Harbaugh’s tenure. Attending to 11 subsequent week could be large for the Michigan program.

Cincinnati: After a number of weeks of underwhelming play in opposition to lackluster opponents, Cincinnati lastly acquired the dominant efficiency it wanted. The Bearcats trounced SMU 48-14 at house on Saturday to enhance to 11-0 on the season. Within the win, Desmond Ridder threw for 274 yards and three TDs and in addition had a 40-yard speeding TD. The Bearcats have been No. 5 within the CFP rankings final week however now have the prospect to maneuver into the highest 4 following Utah’s win over No. 4 Oregon.

Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) runs the ball for a touchdown during an NCAA college football game against SMU, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 48-14. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)

Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) runs the ball for a landing throughout an NCAA faculty soccer recreation in opposition to SMU, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati gained 48-14. (AP Photograph/Aaron Doster)

Pittsburgh: Pitt is headed to the ACC title recreation because of Saturday’s victory over Virginia. With the 48-38 victory, the Panthers wrapped up the ACC Coastal Division. Within the win, Kenny Pickett threw for 340 yards and 4 touchdowns, all of which went to Jordan Addison. The Panthers are actually 9-2 headed into the common season finale at Syracuse subsequent week. Pitt hasn’t gotten to 10 common season wins since 1981, Dan Marino’s junior season.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma continues to be on observe to get again to the Huge 12 title recreation. The Sooners bounced again from final week’s loss to Baylor by knocking off Iowa State 28-21 on Saturday to enhance to 10-1 on the 12 months. Oklahoma is headed to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State subsequent weekend in what could possibly be a preview of the Huge 12 title recreation. The Sooners have gained six straight convention championships.

Wisconsin: Wisconsin has its subsequent star operating again in Braelon Allen. Allen, a 17-year-old freshman, rushed for 228 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-28 win over Nebraska on Saturday. That efficiency marked the seventh straight 100-yard efficiency for Allen, who now has 1,062 yards on the 12 months. With the win, Wisconsin maintained its benefit over Iowa within the Huge Ten West. If the Badgers beat Minnesota subsequent week, they’re headed to Indianapolis for the Huge Ten title recreation.

Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen (0) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Nebraska Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin won 35-28. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

Wisconsin operating again Braelon Allen (0) throughout the second half of an NCAA faculty soccer recreation in opposition to Nebraska Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin gained 35-28. (AP Photograph/Andy Manis)

Florida State: Florida State opened the season 0-4 with a loss to Jacksonville State, however Mike Norvell’s workforce stored preventing. Within the weeks since, the Seminoles have gained 5 of their subsequent seven and are actually in place to get to a bowl recreation. FSU improved to 5-6 by beating Boston Faculty 26-23 on the highway on Saturday. To get to a bowl, FSU must go to Gainesville and beat the reeling Florida Gators. UF can also be 5-6, so bowl eligibility might be on the road for each groups.

UTSA: Miraculously, UTSA continues to be undefeated. The Roadrunners improved to 11-0 and clinched the Convention USA West Division with an exciting 34-31 win over UAB on Saturday. The Roadrunners trailed 34-31 with 1:06 to play, however they managed to drive 77 yards in seven performs with none timeouts to attain the profitable landing within the remaining seconds. The profitable landing got here when Frank Harris discovered Oscar Cardenas from the 1-yard line.

Louisville QB Malik Cunningham: Louisville clinched bowl eligibility in a Thursday night time victory over Duke. The Cardinals dropped 62 factors within the win and Malik Cunningham had an epic outing. Cunningham threw for 303 yards and 5 touchdowns and in addition rushed for 224 yards and two extra scores. This 72-yard landing run was top-of-the-line highlights of the weekend.

Georgia DL Jordan Davis: Jordan Davis is among the greatest defensive linemen within the nation, and he acquired an opportunity to hold the ball for Georgia on Senior Day. In a 56-7 win over Charleston Southern, the 6-foot-6, 340-pound Davis acquired a objective line carry and reached the tip zone in superb trend.

Southern Miss RB Frank Gore Jr.: Southern Miss has been hampered by accidents at quarterback this season, so the coaches acquired inventive. Frank Gore Jr., the workforce’s prime operating again, acquired to play QB in Thursday night time’s recreation in opposition to Louisiana Tech. Gore Jr. primarily simply operated the offense, however he did try eight passes. He accomplished 4 of them for 75 yards, together with two touchdowns, in a 35-19 highway victory. Gore additionally had a speeding TD within the win.

East Carolina: ECU beat Navy in dramatic trend on Saturday. The Pirates gained 38-35 on a last-second, 54-yard discipline objective by Owen Daffer. Daffer linked on three discipline targets within the win, however the 54-yarder as time expired clinched a profitable season for the Pirates, who are actually 7-4 on the 12 months.

LOSERS

Oregon: Oregon blew its likelihood to get to the Faculty Soccer Playoff with its efficiency in opposition to Utah on Saturday night time. The Geese have been dominated 38-7 by the Utes and fell to 9-2 on the 12 months. Utah manhandled Oregon up entrance because the Geese completed with solely 63 speeding yards on 23 carries. The Geese have been ranked No. 3 within the most-recent CFP rankings, however now will fall considerably. On prime of that, Oregon had an opportunity to clinch the Pac-12 North. As an alternative, the loss opened the door for Washington State and Oregon State. 

Michigan State: Although it was a prime 10 matchup, Michigan State was a giant underdog at Ohio State on Saturday. Even with that mentioned, no person anticipated a 56-7 loss that included a 49-0 halftime deficit. The Spartans have been flat-out dangerous on each side of the ball. The protection allowed 655 yards and 56 factors. The offense had simply 224 yards with Payton Thorne finishing simply 14-of-36 passes for 158 yards and the operating recreation accounting for simply 66 yards on 21 carries. With the loss, MSU has been eradicated from the Huge Ten race and the workforce’s playoff hopes have all however vanished.

Iowa State: Iowa State entered the season ranked within the prime 10 however now the Cyclones might doubtlessly end the 12 months 6-6. ISU had three turnovers and misplaced 28-21 to Oklahoma on Saturday to drop to 6-5 on the 12 months. A month in the past, the Cyclones have been 5-2 general and 3-1 in Huge 12 play and nonetheless firmly within the convention title race. Since then, ISU has misplaced three of its final 4 video games and needs to be thought of probably the most disappointing groups of the 2021 season.

Florida: Dan Mullen’s solely aggressiveness got here in time beyond regulation and it wasn’t sufficient. Simply have a look at how conservative Florida was throughout its 24-23 time beyond regulation loss to Missouri.  

Florida acquired the ball again with simply over a minute left on the Missouri 30 with the sport tied 16-16 after Missouri missed a go-ahead discipline objective. As an alternative of making an attempt to play for a win in regulation, Florida ran the ball 3 times and needed to punt to Missouri earlier than the clock expired. Whereas Florida ran Philly Particular on third all the way down to get a TD on its time beyond regulation possession, the Tigers scored a TD in two performs and acquired a two-point conversion to turn into bowl eligible and put Florida a loss away from a 5-7 season.

Wake Forest: It’s exhausting to make Clemson’s offense look good, however Wake Forest did simply that. Clemson hadn’t scored greater than 30 factors in a convention recreation this season earlier than it hosted the Demon Deacons on Saturday. Towards Wake Forest, Clemson put up 48 factors and 543 yards of offense. Within the 48-27 win, Clemson rushed for 333 yards and stored its hopes of profitable the ACC Atlantic alive. Wake Forest might have gained the division with a win. Wake wants a win over Boston Faculty subsequent week to get to the ACC title recreation.

CLEMSON, SC - NOVEMBER 20: Dave Clawson head caoch of Wake Forest during a college football game between the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the Clemson Tigers on November 20, 2021, at Clemson Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Wake Forest allowed 48 factors in a loss to Clemson on Saturday. (Photograph by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)

Texas: The Longhorns have now misplaced six consecutive video games after a loss to West Virginia on Saturday. Texas QBs Hudson Card and Casey Thompson mixed to go 14-of-30 for 152 yards and a TD and an interception within the 31-23 loss that dropped Texas to 4-7 on the season. The struggles of Thompson and Card within the second half of 2021 spotlight the necessity for a star QB in Austin as one-time hometown commit Quinn Ewers acquired enjoying time late in Ohio State’s blowout win over Michigan State. The six-game dropping streak is Texas’ longest since 1956 and will stretch to seven in opposition to a 7-4 Kansas State workforce within the remaining week of the season.

Georgia Tech: Issues aren’t going nicely for Geoff Collins and Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets dropped to 3-8 with a depressing 56-0 loss to Notre Dame on Saturday. That’s proper: 56-0. Georgia Tech had simply 224 yards of offense, was 3-of-15 on third down and turned it over twice within the loss. In three years underneath Collins, Georgia Tech has a 9-24 general file with only a 7-18 mark in ACC play. Subsequent on the schedule is a visit to Athens to face No. 1 Georgia. Collins might have just one extra 12 months to get this factor circled.

Washington: Washington misplaced 20-17 to Colorado regardless of the Buffs gaining solely 183 yards on offense. Washington turned the ball over 4 occasions within the loss, together with a pink zone fumble that was returned 88 yards for a Colorado landing. The sport was the primary for UW for the reason that firing of head coach Jimmy Lake. Now 4-7 on the 12 months, the Huskies will miss out on a bowl recreation for the primary time since 2009.

Washington quarterback Dylan Morris warms up before an NCAA college football game against Colorado, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Washington quarterback Dylan Morris warms up earlier than an NCAA faculty soccer recreation in opposition to Colorado, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photograph/David Zalubowski)

Nebraska: The Cornhuskers misplaced an in depth recreation once more. Nebraska fell 35-28 to Wisconsin on Saturday after Braelon Allen rushed for a 53-yard TD with lower than 4 minutes to go. Nebraska is 5-19 in one-possession video games in Scott Frost’s tenure with the college. Seven of these losses have are available in 2021. Frost could have one other crack at issues in 2022. And it’s inconceivable that Nebraska can lose seven video games by one rating subsequent season … proper?

USC: The Trojans have been completely dominated by UCLA on Saturday in a 62-33 thumping. USC led 10-7 on the finish of the primary quarter after which gave up a number of scores in every of the ultimate three quarters as UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw for 349 yards and 4 touchdowns and rushed for 2 different scores. USC now must beat BYU and Cal over the ultimate two weeks of the season to get to a bowl recreation. That’s in all probability not going to occur.

Indiana: It’s been a nightmare season for the Hoosiers. Indiana gave up 21 factors within the second quarter on the best way to a 35-14 loss to Minnesota. The Gophers scored 35 consecutive factors earlier than Indiana lastly scored once more. The Hoosiers are actually 2-9 forward of their annual rivalry recreation in opposition to Purdue. The Boilermakers might be favored in that one and if Purdue wins, Indiana will lose 10 or extra video games for the primary time since 2011.

Stanford: The Cardinal have been flat out embarrassed in a 41-11 loss to Cal in The Huge Sport. Cal took a 14-0 lead within the second quarter and led 27-3 after the third in the very best offensive efficiency ever within the rivalry recreation. 

The Cardinal look destined for a 3-9 season with a recreation in opposition to Notre Dame to complete the season. Three wins could be the fewest in any season for Stanford since 2006. That is unacceptable for a program paying its coach large cash like Stanford is. David Shaw is the third-highest paid coach within the nation in keeping with USA Immediately’s wage database.

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