Why contenders from Huge 12, Pac-12 face steep highway to CFP

By Bryan Fischer
FOX Sports activities School Soccer Author

Enjoyable and leisure are what school soccer is all about, and it positive appeared like we received a double dose of each in Week 8, significantly within the Pac-12 and the Huge 12. 

Every had some marquee matchups that will assist form championship chases, and every had video games that both helped whittle the variety of unbeaten groups down to 6 or reduce the checklist of excellent convention data down to simply 13.

However there’s a distinction between having a enjoyable season and having one be nationally related — the crux each discover themselves approaching. And with each the Pac-12 and Huge 12 amid media rights negotiations, it’s very important for every to have some weight on the subject of the nationwide title dialogue.

Of the 2, the Huge 12 can take solace in the truth that they've a type of six unbeaten groups of their ranks, No. 7 TCU. The Horned Frogs had one other nervy outing in opposition to beforehand No. 17 Kansas State however ultimately took management within the second half of a 38-28 victory in Fort Value, guaranteeing Sonny Dykes was the second head coach in program historical past to win his opening seven video games.

TCU is undeniably a great staff and appears poised to nab that School Soccer Playoff berth that infamously eluded the varsity again throughout the inaugural version in 2014. Max Duggan stays one of the vital environment friendly passers within the nation, and the Frogs protection is opportunistic on the again finish even when not enjoying backup quarterbacks because it did in opposition to the Wildcats.

Can TCU make the CFP?

RJ Younger shares his ideas on TCU’s prospects because the Huge 12's greatest likelihood to have a staff within the CFP.

However put TCU below the microscope slightly additional, and also you may come to know why its path to certainly one of this 12 months’s semifinals will likely be closely reliant on operating the desk the remainder of the way in which in a league that has proved that just about each staff can beat one other.

A lot has been product of the Horned Frogs profitable 4 straight in opposition to ranked opponents, one thing that has solely been accomplished one different time in Huge 12 historical past. That’s a exceptional accomplishment, particularly contemplating it took back-to-back 17-plus-point comebacks so as to add that to the résumé. 

The difficulty is that neither Oklahoma nor Kansas are ranked anymore, and No. 22 KSU is on the verge of becoming a member of them as they host Oklahoma State this week. TCU will get some credit score for beating some first rate opponents (sure, we’re nonetheless saying that in regards to the Jayhawks), however the committee closely weighs wins amongst their present prime 25 and never the one which was in place weeks in the past.

On prime of this, TCU's non-conference schedule, which featured three groups with a mixed three FBS wins, won't assist. Add all of it up, and It’s fairly clear that the Horned Frogs could also be passing the attention take a look at now, however are destined to flunk the résumé take a look at in the event that they find yourself taking a loss.

Their greatest competitors within the Huge 12, Oklahoma State, is in largely the identical boat. The Cowboys' solely blemish was shedding in time beyond regulation in Fort Value, they usually’ve usually taken care of enterprise the remainder of the way in which, together with placing away Texas with a second-half comeback. Nonetheless, their non-conference schedule was lackluster (to place it mildly) and there’s the potential for Mike Gundy’s crew to roll into the convention championship sport with out a single top-25 win if the league retains beating one another up.

An undefeated TCU squad would probably make the playoff with no questions requested. However have been the Horned Frogs to endure a defeat, or if it’s OSU that runs the desk, then there’s little likelihood at a Huge 12 squad sneaking into the sphere over one-loss contenders out of the SEC and Huge Ten — plus Clemson — barring unprecedented chaos down the stretch. 

That’s to not rain on the parade of the Huge 12 being tremendously enjoyable and entertaining this season, however it's reflective of the present local weather in school soccer that has six robust contenders East of the Mississippi.

Sadly for Pac-12 contenders, they face the identical predicament. 

Oregon’s high-scoring victory over UCLA on Saturday in a sport that featured only one mixed punt meant that the convention of champions would as soon as once more characteristic a champion with at the very least one loss — the naked minimal historical past has proven for making the gold-plated invitational on the finish of the season.

Oregon takes down No. 9 UCLA

Joel Klatt reacts to Oregon's victory over UCLA and explains why the Geese may very well be thought of for a spot within the School Soccer Playoff.

The Bruins could have simply began to entertain lofty postseason ideas after they thumped Utah on the Rose Bowl two weeks in the past, however Chip Kelly’s prolonged rebuilding job in Westwood neatly will now eye a house sport on Jan. 2 as a way more practical and obtainable objective. For a staff that almost misplaced to South Alabama, that’s as clever as it's genuine.

With two losses, the Utes can have the identical mindset of specializing in native issues, with the nationwide implications all however unachievable. Kyle Whittingham’s staff will nonetheless face the tall activity of needing to knock off the Geese in Eugene come late November to even get able to do this, too.

That largely leaves simply two choices in Oregon and fellow one-loss facet USC to hold the Pac-12 banner into the CFP for the primary time in six years. 

Oregon often is the favourite the remainder of the way in which and will find yourself 12-1 after getting the convention title in Las Vegas that they missed out on a 12 months in the past. It could be a formidable accomplishment for Dan Lanning in his first season and would say loads about what route this system is trending.

The issue is that little ol’ one within the unsuitable column, although. No person — together with the Choice Committee — will neglect a 49-3 shellacking by the hands of Georgia. It won't even be introduced up throughout voting classes, however it doesn’t assist the Geese' case that Bulldogs coach Kirby Good primarily stated that Oregon does not have the gamers to compete on the identical stage as his personal program.

Between the precise end result and people biting phrases, there’s no shot for Oregon to move even a one-loss, non-SEC champion Georgia below just about any circumstance.

Such a battle received’t be a problem at USC, despite the fact that the Trojans will, like TCU, need to lean closely on the attention take a look at. Lincoln Riley has undoubtedly gotten this system to return to prominence forward of schedule after a 4-8 marketing campaign in 2021, however for all of the turnovers their protection has pressured or as flashy because the transfer-fueled offense is, there’s not a ton of meat on the bone.

Ought to USC be sitting there at 12-1 with a convention title in its pocket, the Trojans can have an opportunity. However they’ll even have simply two top-25 wins and must hope that enterprise will merely care for itself past the West Coast. 

Being able to depend on losses elsewhere isn't a enjoyable place to be for any of the contenders within the Pac-12 or Huge 12. Nevertheless it additionally shouldn’t dampen the quantity of leisure we expertise from both league transferring ahead.

RJ Younger's Week 9 Prime 25: Ohio State stays at No. 1

Oregon strikes up within the rankings after the Geese' large win over UCLA.

2022 Mid-Season All-Individuals 

Now that we’re throughout the halfway mark for each FBS staff and the overwhelming majority have additionally had per week off, it’s time to mirror on the standout gamers from the primary half of the season. As a longtime voter on the FWAA All-American panel, that is by no means a simple course of and sometimes ends in good gamers simply lacking the reduce or getting bumped down a staff for the slimmest of margins. 

Nonetheless, right here’s who caught my eye earlier than the stretch run towards bowl season.

Quarterback

1st staff: Tennessee's Hendon Hooker

2nd staff: Ohio State's C.J. Stroud

Freshman: North Carolina's Drake Maye

Working backs

1st staff: Michigan's Blake Corum/Illinois' Chase Brown

2nd staff: Alabama's Jahmyr Gibbs/Pitt's Israel Abanikanda

Freshman: Ole Miss' Quinshon Judkins/Baylor's Richard Reese

Extensive receivers

1st staff: Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr./Tennessee's Jalin Hyatt

2nd staff: Previous Dominion's Ali Jennings III/SMU's Rashee Rice

Freshman: Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan/Coastal Carolina's Jared Brown

Tight finish

1st staff: Georgia's Brock Bowers

2nd staff: Notre Dame's Michael Mayer

Freshman: Ball State's Tanner Koziol

Offensive line

1st staff: Ohio State's Paris Johnson Jr./Michigan's Olu Oluwatimi/Northwestern's Peter Skoronski/USC's Andrew Vorhees/NC State's Chandler Zavala

2nd staff: TCU's Steve Avila/Oregon's Alex Forsyth/Alabama's JC Latham/Clemson's Jordan McFadden/Florida's O'Cyrus Torrence

Freshman: Texas' Kelvin Banks/Florida's Austin Barber/LSU's Will Campbell/Clemson's Blake Miller/Washington's Roger Rosengarten

Defensive position

1st staff: Kansas State's Felix Anudike-Uzomah/Troy's T.J. Jackson/Michigan's Mike Morris/USC's Tuli Tuipulotu

2nd staff: Clemson's Myles Murphy/Illinois' Jer'Zhan Newton/

Freshman: Stanford's David Bailey/Previous Dominion's Denzel Lowry/Alabama's Jaheim Oatis/Kentucky's Deone Walker

Linebackers

1st staff: Alabama's Will Anderson Jr./Iowa's Jack Campbell/Cincinnati's Ivan Tempo Jr.

2nd staff: USC's Eric Gentry/UCLA's Laiatu Latu/Arkansas' Drew Sanders

Freshman: Illinois' Gabe Jacas/Indiana's Dasan McCullough/LSU's Harold Perkins Jr.

Defensive backs

1st staff: Utah's Clark Phillips III/Iowa's Quinn Schutle/Georgia's Christopher Smith/Illinois' Devon Witherspoon

2nd staff: Mississippi State's Emmanuel Forbes/Penn State's Joey Porter Jr./Florida State's Jammie Robinson/Wisconsin's John Torchio

Freshman: Alabama's Terrion Arnold/Cal's Jeremiah Earby/South Carolina's Nick Emmanwori/Georgia's Malaki Starks 

Kicker

1st staff: N.C. State's Christopher Dunn

2nd staff: Stanford's Joshua Karty

Freshman: Wake Forest's Matthew Dennis

Punter

1st staff: San Diego State's Jack Browning

2nd staff: Iowa's Tory Taylor

Freshman: Boise State's James Ferguson-Reynolds

Make It Make Sense

There have been a pair of top-10 FCS matchups on Saturday within the Huge Sky that actually lived as much as the hype and each got here right down to the wire. However one particularly received’t be forgotten anytime quickly as Weber State misplaced 43-38 to Montana State due to setting an FCS file with 4 — 4! — safeties off excessive punt snaps.

Saturday Superlatives

Greatest Participant: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State

Crew of the Week: Oregon

Coach of the Week: Duke’s Mike Elko

Goat of the Week: BYU’s Kalani Sitake

Heisman 5: 1. Hendon Hooker (Tennessee), 2. C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), 3. Blake Corum (Michigan), 4. Bryce Younger (Alabama), 5. Caleb Williams (USC)

Projected Playoff: 1. Georgia, 2. Ohio State, 3. Clemson, 4. Michigan

Tweet of the Week

Tremendous 16

Right here’s how I voted within the FWAA/NFF Tremendous 16 Ballot this week.

1. Tennessee
2. Ohio State
3. TCU
4. Michigan
5. Georgia
6. Alabama
7. Clemson
8. Oregon
9. Oklahoma State
10. Penn State
11. USC
12. Wake Forest
13. UCLA
14. Utah
15. Syracuse
16. Illinois

Simply missed the reduce: Tulane

Better of the remainder: North Carolina, LSU, Ole Miss, Kansas State, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Maryland, Liberty

Pre-Snap Reads

No. 2 Ohio State at No. 13 Penn State (Saturday, Midday ET; FOX and the FOX Sports activities app)

If there’s one staff that has traditionally performed the Buckeyes shut (irrespective of how extremely considered they're), it’s PSU in Blissful Valley. Iowa’s first half supplied a little bit of a defensive sport plan for James Franklin, however he’ll have to maximise the power to run the soccer and chew up some clock. This seems like it is going to be shut into the third quarter earlier than the Huge Ten favorites break it open.

No. 9 Oklahoma State at No. 22 Kansas State (3:30 p.m. ET; FOX and the FOX Sports activities app)

A whole lot of this sport is basically going to come back right down to which quarterback is ready to go for the Wildcats. If Adrian Martinez is totally wholesome, the Wildcats have an opportunity given the way in which they shorten video games and pressure opponents to play off rhythm. Backup Will Howard appeared first rate in opposition to TCU however simply isn’t the identical caliber so it may very well be a a lot simpler path to a win for the Cowboys as they preserve tempo within the Huge 12. 

No. 8 Oregon at Cal (3:30 p.m. ET; FS1 and the FOX Sports activities app)

It’s not the best of slates arising this weekend, which often portends a little bit of chaos. Control this one because the Geese are in prime letdown territory happening the highway for what needs to be a sleepy 12:30 p.m. PT kick. The Bears have received two of the final three in Berkeley and Justin Wilcox may make life slightly depressing for his alma mater earlier than Oregon pulls out the victory.

Learn extra:

Bryan Fischer is a university soccer author for FOX Sports activities. He has been masking school athletics for practically 20 years at retailers corresponding to NBC Sports activities, CBS Sports activities, Yahoo! Sports activities and NFL.com amongst others. Observe him on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.

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