School soccer’s Week 12 outcomes made the playoff race a little bit bit clearer. Many applications have simply two video games remaining to lock up their spot or crumble below the stress.
Listed below are some knee-jerk reactions to Saturday’s motion:
The SEC will not be determined till the ultimate week
No. 12 Georgia’s 31-17 win over No. 7 Tennessee did not really feel like an upset. The Dawgs prolonged their historic dwelling win streak to 29 video games (third longest within the SEC) off a red-hot second-half efficiency. The Volunteers had been shut out within the ultimate two frames, with quarterback Nico Iamaleava stymied at 167 yards and a fumble.
The convention race is down to 6 groups with completely no signal as to who has the true inside observe. With simply two weeks remaining to resolve who will play in Atlanta, it is evident a minimum of 4 of the six contenders will clinch School Soccer Playoff berths, barring any collapses.
Texas has regressed to non-playoff contender type
The Longhorns offense was torpid from the leap, solely managing 10 factors in every half. Regardless of quarterback Quinn Ewers throwing for 2 touchdowns, it was the Texas protection that stored Arkansas’ comeback bid at bay.
The Razorbacks acquired as shut as 13-10 early within the fourth quarter earlier than Ewers engineered a stable drive to place the sport out of attain. However the efficiency was less than commonplace for the No. 3 staff within the nation nor that of a program with SEC and nationwide title expectations. Three of Texas’ final 4 video games have ended inside one rating.
The AAC champion is one Boise State stumble away from the CFP
No. 25 Tulane (9-2) and No. 24 Military (9-0) will face one another within the AAC Championship Recreation on Dec. 6, and the winner might very properly be headed to the School Soccer Playoff. It should, nevertheless, require No. 13 Boise State (9-1) to lose a minimum of as soon as extra.
As a result of the Broncos’ solely loss is to Oregon (now undefeated and No. 1), Military’s energy of schedule is a detriment no matter its document. If Tulane had been to drag the upset, it could have a ranked win and have a better likelihood at gaining the committee’s approval — supplied Boise State additionally has two losses.
The Heisman Trophy is now Travis Hunter’s to lose
It is onerous to make a case for anybody aside from Hunter to win the season’s most coveted particular person award at this level. With 55 receiving yards, a dashing landing and an interception on Saturday, Hunter turned the primary participant since 1996 to log such a stat line, per the Fox broadcast.
Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel put up a suboptimal efficiency in his staff’s 16-13 win over Wisconsin, failing to throw a landing move. Boise State operating again Ashton Jeanty’s 159 yards and three scores are admirable, however energy of schedule aids the Colorado star. Barring an harm, there’s nothing left to disclaim Hunter the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
Brian Kelly is the issue at LSU; Billy Napier just isn’t for Florida
After a 6-1 begin to the season, Kelly and the No. 22 Tigers have misplaced three straight contests by two or extra scores. And scenes like that of Kelly chewing out a receiver on the sideline usually are not indicators of well being within the locker room. Inversely, Napier’s squad has proven flashes of progress with freshman quarterback DJ Lagway below middle.
Florida has one thing to sit up for subsequent season, whereas LSU must look within the mirror and resolve if the Brian Kelly expertise in Baton Rouge has been price it after three years. No SEC titles nor playoff appearances is not what the varsity is paying him almost $10 million for.
South Carolina is the most effective non-playoff staff in school soccer
The No. 21 Gamecocks have gained 4 straight video games, together with two in opposition to ranked opponents. At 7-3, they will not qualify for the SEC title recreation, not to mention the School Soccer Playoff, however primarily based on how they’re taking part in, they’re on observe to be one of many first two groups outdoors the 12-team discipline.
Saturday’s 34-30 win over No. 23 Missouri was primed to be an in depth loss with simply over a minute remaining, however a clutch drive proved South Carolina might’ve been one of many nation’s finest applications had one or two performs gone their means firstly of the 12 months.
