Editor’s word: The Athletic 134 is a weekly rating of all FBS school soccer groups.
Week 1 is full, and we’ve lastly gotten a take a look at everybody in FBS. Nicely, not everybody (sorry it’s important to wait, Ball State).
After a weekend that gave us only some upsets however a number of mighty spectacular performances, the place does everybody transfer on this week’s version of The Athletic 134?
Welcome again to the highest spot, Georgia, for its 34-3 domination of Clemson. Welcome to the highest 25, Vanderbilt! The Commodores had been ranked ninety fifth within the preseason rankings, however after an time beyond regulation win towards fashionable ACC darkhorse Virginia Tech, why shouldn’t Vandy transfer up close to the highest 25 for now? It was probably the most surprising results of the season, towards a crew in my preseason high 25.
Free, every day sports activities updates direct to your inbox.
Free, every day sports activities updates direct to your inbox.
Signal Up
Penn State, Miami and Georgia Tech additionally moved up, whereas Florida State, Florida and others have dropped.
A reminder: The rankings shall be unstable early. Wins towards high quality and competent groups are rewarded and skewed. Groups could make massive jumps shortly with good wins. Groups that beat up on inferior competitors gained’t transfer a lot or may even “drop,” however that’s just because another person jumped with a notable win. Don’t fear. Chill out. It would take a couple of weeks for every part to kind out, as soon as everybody has performed no less than one sport of word. I attempt to emphasize outcomes, and it takes time for everybody to have one.
Right here is the Week 2 version of The Athletic 134.
1-10
I thought of shifting Notre Dame to No. 2 only for this week. I did. The 23-13 win at Texas A&M was higher than something anybody within the high six did exterior of Georgia. However Notre Dame isn’t the second-best crew within the nation, and everybody else appeared wonderful towards low-level competitors, so it’s a slight transfer up for the Irish for now. Don’t count on them to maneuver out of this space for some time with a positive schedule for the subsequent month. However this Notre Dame win might look higher because the season goes on, which might affect the rating.
Penn State, welcome to the highest 10. I used to be a preseason skeptic. I didn’t consider in Drew Allar, however Saturday’s 34-12 win at West Virginia was an entire bodily domination, and we noticed an offense prepared to throw the ball down the sphere and one which schemed these receivers open. It felt totally different than final yr’s sport. Possibly it’s a Week 1 overreaction, nevertheless it made me assume this isn’t only a crew that might make the School Soccer Playoff however one that might win a sport or two.
Michigan and Oregon practically dropped out of the highest 10 after too-close-for-comfort wins towards Fresno State and Idaho, respectively. Each groups had been in a one-score sport deep into the fourth quarter. However they gained, in order that they get some Week 1 advantage of the doubt, for now. Subsequent up is Texas and Boise State for every, so we’ll be taught shortly in the event that they’re for actual.
11-25
Rank | Workforce | File | Prev |
---|---|---|---|
11 |
1-0 |
10 |
|
12 |
1-0 |
11 |
|
13 |
1-0 |
14 |
|
14 |
1-0 |
15 |
|
15 |
1-0 |
33 |
|
16 |
0-1 |
13 |
|
17 |
1-0 |
18 |
|
18 |
1-0 |
19 |
|
19 |
1-0 |
20 |
|
20 |
1-0 |
21 |
|
21 |
1-0 |
22 |
|
22 |
1-0 |
25 |
|
23 |
0-1 |
16 |
|
24 |
1-0 |
62 |
|
25 |
1-0 |
95 |
Hey, USC. The overhauled protection appeared greater than competent, and Miller Moss appeared like a correct Lincoln Riley quarterback because the Trojans upset LSU 27-20 and now transfer as much as No. 15, whereas the Tigers drop to No. 16.
Clemson hangs on within the high 25 for now at No. 23. That is principally primarily based on my perception Georgia would do this to virtually everybody. Boston School’s 28-13 win at Florida State was extra dominant than the ultimate rating, because the Eagles leap from No. 62 to No. 24, and Vanderbilt’s time beyond regulation win at Virginia Tech strikes the Commodores to No. 25.
26-50
Georgia Tech rises to No. 26 after a 2-0 begin. The Yellow Jackets would’ve been within the high 25 till BC’s dominant win Monday evening made the win over FSU in Eire look much less spectacular. That’s how issues can change week to week.
No. 27 NC State wanted to return again within the fourth quarter and maintain on towards Western Carolina. The identical for No. 29 Boise State towards Georgia Southern. The Wolfpack and Broncos keep put of their positions for now. North Carolina strikes up 10 spots to No. 36 after a win at Minnesota, due to a missed Gophers discipline aim, however the lack of quarterback Max Johnson for the season might be an issue.
Florida State drops from No. 9 to No. 46 after its dreadful 0-2 begin, and proper behind the Seminoles are the Florida Gators, two applications with followers going through existential crises.
Colorado strikes up a couple of spots and into the highest 50 after beating North Dakota State 31-26. The Buffaloes appeared loads like final yr’s crew, and a few questionable clock administration by Deion Sanders gave the Bison a shot on the finish, nevertheless it was nonetheless a strong victory towards a really profitable program with its share of FBS upsets. TCU sits at No. 49 after a 31-24 win at Stanford.
51-75
UNLV simply misses out on the highest 50 after a dominant 27-7 win at Houston that was practically a shutout. In case you thought final yr’s UNLV season was a fluke, the Rebels opened with a press release win, although considerations concerning the passing sport persist after Week 1.
Arizona State’s 48-7 win towards Wyoming may’ve been probably the most surprising margin of victory of the weekend, and ASU strikes all the best way up from No. 89 to No. 53. A Solar Devils program that completed 124th nationally in scoring final yr (17.8 factors per sport) put it on a Wyoming protection that’s often very strong.
South Carolina drops 9 spots and out of the highest 50, falling to No. 54 after coming again and barely holding on for a 23-19 win towards Outdated Dominion. The identical goes for Texas Tech, which falls to No. 57 after needing a two-point cease in time beyond regulation to flee an Abilene Christian crew that put up 615 yards of offense.
Coastal Carolina put it on Jacksonville State 55-27 in a surprisingly dominating efficiency to maneuver up 30 spots to No. 64. The Chanticleers have now gained seven of their final 9 below head coach Tim Beck.
76-100
Is it already time to consider in Jeff Choate’s Nevada? The Wolf Pack hung with SMU in Week 0 and confirmed it wasn’t a one-off with a 28-26 win at two-time defending Solar Belt champion Troy. Nevada rockets up greater than 50 spots to No. 76, after being lifeless for the previous two seasons.
Outdated Dominion and Georgia Southern transfer up regardless of their losses as they put in good performances with fourth-quarter leads. Why lean on a preseason rating in the event that they each performed higher than anticipated in defeat? North Texas’ strong win at South Alabama strikes the Imply Inexperienced as much as No. 93.
Sam Houston was my preseason Convention USA crew to observe, and the Bearkats made a press release with a 34-14 win at Rice to maneuver as much as No. 99. The Bearkats began final yr 0-8 however gained three of their final 4 and now begin 2024 at 1-0. Hawaii performed sloppy in a Week 0 win towards Delaware State however practically knocked off UCLA in Week 1, dropping on a last-second discipline aim. So the Rainbow Warriors transfer up a couple of spots to No. 98. We’ll see which is the actual Hawaii. Florida Atlantic moved up one spot into the highest 100 after an in depth (however sloppy) 16-10 loss at Michigan State.
101-134
Arkansas State wanted a last-second landing to beat Central Arkansas, so the Pink Wolves drop to No. 103. New Mexico is 0-2, however purchase that Bronco Mendenhall inventory whilst you can. The Lobos had a 17-point fourth-quarter lead towards Montana State in Week 0 and trailed Arizona by simply three at halftime in Week 1. New Mexico misplaced each of these video games, however the crew has extra of a pulse than we’ve seen shortly. Consequently, the Lobos transfer up six spots to No. 116. New Mexico State wanted a landing with lower than two minutes left to beat Southeast Missouri State, so the Aggies drop to No. 117.
There’s a new No. 134. Kennesaw State performed UTSA deep into the fourth quarter, so the Owls transfer out from the underside. In comes a distinct group of Owls. Temple turned the ball over six instances in a 51-3 loss to Oklahoma. Issues have been tough in Philly for the previous few years, and it didn’t look any higher Saturday.
The Athletic 134 sequence is a part of a partnership with Allstate. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Companions don’t have any management over or enter into the reporting or enhancing course of and don’t evaluation tales earlier than publication.
(Photograph of Kirby Sensible: Todd Kirkland / Getty Photos)