Projecting this week’s Faculty Soccer Playoff Rankings

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10 weeks of school soccer have come and gone in 2021 and though loads of the preseason favorites have performed at or shut sufficient to their preseason expectations to be within the thick of the race (taking a look at you Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, and Ohio State) for the Faculty Soccer Playoff, a number of haven’t (what’s up Clemson, Florida, Iowa State, and loads of others?)

What’s going to the second week of the Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings seem like after eight ranked groups fell this previous weekend?

Kirk Herbstreit shared his new top-six on Sunday and regardless of ESPN’s Faculty Gameday being at Cincinnati this previous weekend for his or her homecoming recreation, Herbstreit dropped them from his top-six after he ranked them fifth per week in the past.

That’s just one man’s opinion but it surely looks like Cincinnati was one of many largest losers of the weekend regardless of being victorious. With all of that in thoughts right here is my finest guess at what the subsequent set of rankings will seem like after they’re revealed on Tuesday evening:

25-21:

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Projection:
25. Purdue
24. San Diego State
23. Penn State
22. Kentucky
21. Mississippi State

Minnesota (beforehand 20) and Fresno State (23) fall out and are changed by a pair of Huge Ten groups as a result of, why wouldn’t they be? Purdue has two wins over ranked opponents to their names after knocking off Michigan State and them being ranked additionally helps the committee justify Ohio State’s rating in a while. As does Penn State who reenters after bettering to 6-3 with a win over Maryland. UTSA needs to be ranked as they’re now 9-0 but when they weren’t final week why ought to I believe they are going to be this week?

20-16:

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Projection:
20. Pitt
19. Iowa
18. Auburn
17. Wisconsin
16. NC State

Wisconsin began simply 1-3 however has gained 5 in a row since, together with this week’s drubbing of Rutgers. The Badgers have improved considerably and the committee takes discover. Auburn falls after getting it handed to them at Texas A&M however my guess is they continue to be within the top-20, as a result of, SEC, why wouldn’t they? NC State creeps nearer to the highest 15 after a street win at Florida State and transferring to 7-2.

15-11:

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Projection:
15. Baylor
14. BYU
13. Wake Forest
12. Ole Miss
11. Texas A&M

How far does Baylor fall? With it being shut and on the street I’m guessing not a ton. They’re not a challenger for the CFP at 15 this week however they nonetheless get acknowledged within the second as a powerful win if Oklahoma stays unbeaten after they meet this week. I solely had Wake Forest falling 4 spots with their loss being so shut however they’re a wild card as I may see the committee burying them within the late teenagers for shedding to an underachieving North Carolina squad. I’m additionally ready for the committee to bump Texas A&M over Oklahoma State and Notre Dame earlier than for much longer so as to promote Alabama’s defeat higher.

10. Oklahoma State

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A simple street win in opposition to West Virginia did nothing to hurt the Cowboys. They get rewarded with a high 10 spot as Wake Forest will fall out.

9. Notre Dame

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Notre Dame gained simply in opposition to Navy to maneuver to 8-1 and strikes up due to that Wake Forest loss however nonetheless requires the planets to align so as to make the CFP.

8. Michigan State

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Michigan State has a win over Michigan and so long as each sit with one loss I really feel the winner of their matchup needs to be ranked larger. The important thing phrase there’s ought to and I’ll guess the Spartans fall behind Michigan because of that loss coming to a three-loss Purdue workforce, even when the Boilermakers do find yourself ranked this week.

7. Oklahoma

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Oklahoma had their bye week this week and I’m guessing they get the advantage of the doubt and go Michigan State this week after the Spartans disappointing displaying at Purdue.

6. Michigan

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Michigan was ninth final week and so they gained simply in opposition to now 3-6 Indiana. I’m not saying I might transfer them up this excessive, I wouldn’t as I’m nonetheless ready on a solution for the great workforce they’ve overwhelmed (apart from themselves in opposition to Michigan State), however I actually wouldn’t be shocked in the event that they’re even ranked forward of Cincinnati this week.

Heck, Kirk Herbstreit already did as a lot.

5. Cincinnati

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I don’t suppose the committee would be the full Grinch to Cincinnati this week and retains them at six with Michigan State’s loss, however none of us ought to actually be shocked in the event that they do, both.

Once more, I’d personally have Cincinnati in my top-four as they’re undefeated and their big win got here in opposition to a top-10 workforce that’s in any other case unbeaten, and simply so occurs to be a workforce that has performed in two of the final three CFP.

4. Ohio State

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It wasn’t fairly, but it surely was a win in opposition to Nebraska. Loads of groups can say that this yr and the Buckeyes transfer up with the Michigan State loss.

3. Oregon

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Once more, it was hardly attractive but it surely was a street win in a troublesome place to play (often). Oregon isn’t getting punished for that and takes over for Michigan State at three.

2. Alabama

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Would another one-loss workforce with slim escapes in opposition to a pair of groups which have mixed to go 8-10 get the advantage of the doubt and the quantity two rating? That’s Alabama this week and I’d guess my left hand they keep at two regardless of an unimpressive displaying in opposition to a struggling LSU squad.

1. Georgia