As we are saying goodbye to Week 3 in school soccer, we check out the highs and lows of what we noticed from this previous weekend.
Georgia was knocked down a spot within the AP Top 25 ballot after a closer-than-expected victory over Kentucky, Group of 5 groups are displaying they'll compete in opposition to Power 4 packages early within the season, and SEC colleges are main the best way within the 12-team College Football Playoff race.
Can Georgia's offense get its gears rolling forward of its huge Week 5 matchup in opposition to No. 4 Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium? Will we see any extra Group of 5 upsets in opposition to ranked opponents this season? And with SEC matchups getting began, how may these outcomes have an effect on the long run of this CFP race?
Our school soccer specialists break down key takeaways from Week 3 performances.
The SEC is dominating the CFP race — for now
The SEC presently has 5 of the highest six spots in ESPN's Football Power Index (No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Alabama, No. 4 Tennessee, No. 5 Georgia and No. 6 Ole Miss). Missouri is No. 10. Beyond the assured spots for the 5 highest-ranked convention champions (which can clearly embrace an SEC group), there is no restrict to what number of groups from one convention can qualify for the brand new 12-team playoff. According to ESPN Analytics, the SEC has a 60% probability of getting 5 or extra groups into the College Football Playoff.
While three or 4 groups appear affordable, pump the brakes earlier than you deem this the SEC invitational. They nonetheless must play one another, and Georgia's powerful journey to Kentucky after watching LSU escape from South Carolina on Saturday is a reminder that something can occur — particularly on the street. The SEC will produce playoff groups with a number of losses. The query is that if the choice committee will reward extra of these groups than others which have fewer losses however performed a much less difficult schedule. — Heather Dinich
Pitt retains discovering a method
Pitt delivered one other unbelievable rally, roaring again from down 10 late within the fourth quarter to stun West Virginia and prevail 38-34 within the Backyard Brawl.
With simply over 3 minutes remaining and the Panthers going through second-and-30, quarterback Eli Holstein heaved a ball into the tip zone. Jumping over triple protection, Daejon Reynolds got here down with a 40-yard landing reception — his first catch of the season — to drag Pitt inside a subject purpose. After forcing a fast punt, Pitt got here proper again, and Derrick Davis Jr. scored the successful landing on a 1-yard plunge with solely seconds remaining.
With final week's 21-point comeback victory over Cincinnati, Pitt turned the primary FBS group since 2020 Tulsa to beat double-digit, fourth-quarter deficits to win in consecutive video games, in response to ESPN Research.
A group with this a lot resiliency may grow to be a shock issue within the wide-open ACC title race. — Jake Trotter
Cheers to the Group of 5
Broadly talking, the Group of 5 simply closed its most profitable weekend of this younger season. One week after Northern Illinois topped then-No. 5 Notre Dame, UNLV knocked off Kansas, Memphis piled onto Florida State's disastrous begin, Georgia State upset Vanderbilt and Toledo unleashed a 24-point beatdown on Mississippi State. Meanwhile, Texas State, Arkansas State, Miami (Ohio), UAB, Tulane, Troy and Louisiana Tech all spooked their respective Power 4 opponents in Week 3.
The 4 wins from Saturday account for two-thirds of the Group of 5's six victories this fall over opponents from the Power 4 plus Notre Dame. Through three weeks, 14 Group of 5 offenses rank inside the highest 50 nationally in complete offense, whereas 12 Group of 5 defenses sit prime 50 in complete protection. No. 23 Northern Illinois marked the Group of 5's lone consultant within the newest Associated Press Top 25, however 5 extra Group of 5 packages have been amongst these receiving votes this week.
As the hole grows between school soccer haves and have nots, we've to have a good time these Group of 5 victories. And with a College Football Playoff spot assured for the highest-ranked Group of 5 convention champion, the stakes will stay excessive among the many contenders, comparable to Boise State, Memphis, Northern Illinois, UNLV and Liberty. Keep an eye fixed on them, of us. — Eli Lederman
The ones who received away
I used to be in Fort Collins on Saturday night time watching firsthand what has made Colorado's Travis Hunter probably the most particular participant in school soccer. On the sector for 123 of 138 complete performs in a 28-9 win over Colorado State, Hunter electrified with 13 catches for 100 yards, 2 touchdowns, an interception, 5 tackles and a move breakup.
He was in every single place suddenly, or not less than it appeared that method, and afterward he sheepishly smiled and mentioned he was not drained however seemed ahead to an ice tub when the buses received again to Boulder.
I couldn't assist however suppose again to 2021, when Hunter delivered one of the most important signing day shockers and flipped his longtime dedication from Florida State to Deion Sanders, then at Jackson State (Hunter ultimately adopted Sanders to Colorado). It was one of a number of low factors early in Florida State coach Mike Norvell's tenure, a very devastating blow contemplating Hunter had been dedicated for over a 12 months, the Seminoles desperately wanted somebody like Hunter to assist jump-start this system and Hunter had spurned them for an FCS program.
Three years later, Hunter is poised to be a top-10 NFL draft decide and Florida State is off to an 0-3 begin.
The Seminoles did simply nice constructing this system again up with out Hunter, however the begin to this season brings into larger focus what has maybe been glossed over as Florida State made a run on the CFP. In every of the previous three years, Florida State misplaced its highest-rated dedication on signing day. In 2022, it was defensive finish Keldric Faulk, who flipped to Auburn.
Last December, driving excessive off a 13-0 season however coping with a playoff snub, Florida State misplaced defensive again KJ Bolden to Georgia. Those signing day losses have served to create a notion that Norvell can't seal the deal when it counts with recruits. Though all three conditions are actually completely different — Hunter, for instance, noticed a possibility to play for a coach he grew up admiring — Florida State has tried to construct by means of recruiting regardless of its repute as a grasp of the portal.
Florida State did want the portal early on to assist reverse a downward spiral. But its recruiting efforts have merely not maxed out on potential. Of 20 ESPN 300 prospects signed between 2020 and 2022, zero have developed into All-ACC gamers. Maybe those who received away would have helped. Maybe not. But watching a participant who received away develop right into a star has to harm. — Andrea Adelson
Washington State QB John Mateer has the “It” issue
Even as Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward helps Miami return to the nationwide stage, his substitute at Washington State, John Mateer, has loads of individuals in Pullman believing the Cougars may need backed into an improve. Mateer is the primary true dual-threat quarterback WSU has fielded in years and after setting a single-game faculty report for dashing yards in opposition to Texas Tech (197) on Sept. 7, he added dashing scores of 23 and 25 yards within the Apple Cup in opposition to Washington on Saturday.
As a passer, he accomplished 17 of 34 makes an attempt for 245 yards in opposition to what would possibly become the most effective protection the group will face all 12 months. He took some ill-advised possibilities as WSU held on — together with one almost-costly interception that was reversed on replay — however there is a Gardner Minshew-like confidence that's entertaining to look at, particularly for a participant who has made solely three begins. — Kyle Bonagura
Explosive performs will outline Kalen DeBoer's first Alabama group
Coaches typically speak in regards to the 5-7 performs that form the result of every recreation. Alabama is a group absolutely succesful of making them on each side of the ball. After spending time with the Crimson Tide this weekend in Madison, Wisconsin, I got here away impressed by the sheer quantity of playmakers on coach Kalen DeBoer's first group. Wisconsin was clearly overmatched from a expertise standpoint, however even when the Badgers did good issues, Alabama would strike proper again with a takeaway or a protracted achieve on offense.
The Tide are “a work in progress,” as DeBoer famous after a 42-10 win, however once they play cleanly, they're additionally arguably the nation's most explosive group. Quarterback Jalen Milroe has match the definition since he turned the starter, however others can gash defenses, together with freshman huge receiver Ryan Williams, switch wideout Germie Bernard and operating again Jam Miller. Alabama additionally had 4 completely different defenders pressure fumbles Saturday, and the employees is happy in regards to the arrivals of transfers Keon Sabb and LT Overton, to enhance established stars Deontae Lawson and Malachi Moore.
“We expect to make plays that are not supposed to be made,” Bernard mentioned. “That allows us to have the mindset to go out there to make the big plays whenever our number's called.”
The Tide may not be the nation's most full group, and they are going to want a wonderful effort in two weeks to beat Georgia. But their means to generate — and confidence to make — game-changing performs ought to preserve them firmly within the SEC race. — Adam Rittenberg
Slow begins must be a priority for Georgia offense
Should alarm bells be going off in Athens, Georgia? The Bulldogs hardly seemed just like the No. 1 group within the FBS of their closer-than-expected victory at Kentucky on Saturday night time, which is an enormous purpose Texas jumped them within the AP ballot the subsequent day.
Georgia had solely 262 yards of offense and 12 first downs. It went 5-for-13 on third downs and averaged 3.4 yards per dashing try. Even star quarterback Carson Beck struggled, finishing 15 of 24 passes for 160 yards.
It should not come as a lot of a shock. As good as Georgia has been underneath Kirby Smart, for some purpose his groups have struggled at Kentucky. Since 2020, the Bulldogs have been restricted to twenty factors or fewer, 3 times on the street. Each of these contests have been victories over the Wildcats: 14-3 in 2020, 16-6 in 2022 and 13-12 on Saturday.
It's not the primary time Georgia has struggled on the street in opposition to a lesser SEC opponent. Last 12 months, Georgia trailed Auburn 10-0 and did not go forward for good till Brock Bowers scored on a 40-yard landing with 2:25 left in a 27-20 victory. The 12 months earlier than, the Bulldogs wanted two touchdowns within the final 9:39 to place away pesky Missouri 26-22 on the street.
Georgia's offense has a lot to scrub up. It was the second time in three contests it did not rating a landing within the first half. The offensive line was pushed round by Kentucky's defensive entrance and dropping All-America guard Tate Ratledge to a leg harm within the second quarter did not assist. Tight finish Ben Yurosek, a Stanford switch, missed a pair of key blocks as effectively.
The excellent news for Georgia is that it'll have two weeks to heal and regroup earlier than its Sept. 28 showdown at No. 4 Alabama. With street video games left at No. 1 Texas and No. 5 Ole Miss as effectively, it may possibly't afford one other efficiency like Saturday night time. — Mark Schlabach
