Who will win the primary 12-team School Soccer Playoff nationwide championship? I imagine there are six groups which have the personnel, savvy and management to make a run and win all of it, dealing with high competitors because the margin for error will get smaller and the highlight will get a lot brighter.
I really like so many of those matchups as we recreation out the bracket. I’ve lengthy been trying ahead to this primary expanded Playoff, and I’m now downright giddy about what we’re about to see over the subsequent month and a half.
Listed here are my picks for the Playoff:
First spherical
(8) Ohio State over (9) Tennessee
8 p.m. ET | Saturday, Dec. 21 | Columbus, Ohio
I really like this opening-round matchup. The Vols can have the perfect protection the Buckeyes have performed, and younger Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava has been spectacular down the stretch, throwing 11 touchdowns and only one interception in 5 November video games. However I feel the Buckeyes’ protection would be the distinction in opposition to a shaky Vols O-line in a really hostile setting.
(5) Texas over (12) Clemson
4 p.m. ET | Saturday, Dec. 21 | Austin, Texas
Clemson, the ACC champ, has gained two nationwide titles beneath Dabo Swinney. However the Tigers are simply 2-3 in opposition to groups with successful information and 0-2 vs. the SEC, and now they head to Austin. It’s a really intriguing QB battle right here. Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, born in Austin, has been terrific and gotten higher because the season has gone on, whereas Quinn Ewers and the Texas offense have sputtered over the previous month.
However I’m nonetheless going with the Longhorns right here. I don’t assume Clemson’s protection is stout sufficient — it ranks No. 14 within the 17-team ACC in opposition to the run — to win on the highway in opposition to a crew as gifted as Texas.
GO DEEPER
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(7) Notre Dame over (10) Indiana
8 p.m. ET | Friday, Dec. 20 | South Bend, Ind.
Indiana doesn’t get a house recreation, however it gained’t should journey far to go to Notre Dame for the primary matchup between the in-state foes since 1991. The Hoosiers have been an incredible story this season, however Notre Dame’s protection can be an excessive amount of for IU. And regardless that the Hoosiers have the top-ranked run protection within the Large Ten, the Irish run recreation may be very harmful and able to inflicting issues.
(6) Penn State over (11) SMU
Midday ET | Saturday, Dec. 21 | State School, Pa.
SMU acquired into the Playoff with the final at-large bid regardless of dropping to Clemson on Saturday and faces Penn State in Completely happy Valley, the place there can be a raucous crowd. The Nittany Lions have an elite operating again tandem in Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen and ran throughout a very good Oregon protection. The Mustangs have been very good at shutting down the run, with solely Boston School averaging greater than 4 yards per carry in opposition to them this 12 months, they usually yield an ACC-best 2.74 yards a rush. SMU additionally protects its quarterbacks nicely (solely 15 sacks allowed in 13 video games).
However I’m not choosing in opposition to Penn State in Beaver Stadium. I really feel just like the Nittany Lions will construct off a powerful displaying by their offense within the Large Ten title recreation.
Quarterfinals
(1) Oregon over (8) Ohio State
5 p.m. ET | Wednesday, Jan. 1 | Rose Bowl | Pasadena, Calif.
This might be a enjoyable rematch. The Buckeyes nearly beat the Geese in Autzen Stadium at midseason, and now they will play once more within the Rose Bowl. I picked Ohio State to win all of it within the preseason. I nonetheless assume the Buckeyes are gifted sufficient to win the title, even after their dud efficiency in opposition to Michigan two weeks in the past, however it’s turn out to be obvious this squad is struggling beneath the strain it appears to be placing on itself now.
On the opposite facet, Dan Lanning’s guys at all times appear primed for no matter problem they get, and I feel the Geese have a major edge at QB with Dillon Gabriel.
(5) Texas over (4) Arizona State
1 p.m. ET | Wednesday, Jan. 1 | Peach Bowl | Atlanta
This matchup could be fascinating for quite a lot of causes, however begin with this: The Longhorns got here inside a play of being within the nationwide title recreation final 12 months, whereas the Solar Devils have been picked to complete final within the Large 12 within the preseason after going 3-9 in Kenny Dillingham’s first season. The Solar Devils are arguably the most popular crew within the nation proper now, successful six in a row. Working again Cam Skattebo has been a beast, and this ASU crew appears prefer it’s actually feeding off his vitality and his angle.
I feel ASU provides Texas a recreation … for a half, earlier than the Longhorns’ expertise takes over.
(2) Georgia over (7) Notre Dame
8:45 p.m. ET | Wednesday, Jan. 1 | Sugar Bowl | New Orleans
Notre Dame’s O-line, which was such a query mark early within the season, has held up very nicely, permitting simply 15 sacks in 12 video games. However Georgia’s entrance seven is frightening — simply ask Ewers and Texas, whose strong O-line the Dawgs have overwhelmed twice. I do assume the Irish’s protection is sweet sufficient to maintain this one shut, however the Georgia athleticism comes at you in waves. The Bulldogs will drive a giant turnover or two within the second half to drag away.
(6) Penn State over (3) Boise State
7:30 p.m. ET | Tuesday, Dec. 31 | Fiesta Bowl | Glendale, Ariz.
Penn State misplaced to Ohio State at dwelling and Oregon within the Large Ten title recreation, but it acquired a extra favorable draw than both of them. In SMU and now Boise State, the Nittany Lions face two groups that have been each G5 packages final 12 months.
Whereas this isn’t an incredible Penn State run protection — USC averaged nearly 8 yards a keep it up PSU and Oregon simply ran for 183 yards on it — and Ashton Jeanty is a significantly better again than both of these groups have, the Nittany Lions have sufficient athletes to not let the Boise State famous person run wild. Anticipate this one to be shut. Jeanty in all probability goes for round 200 yards, however the Nittany Lions’ mixture of tight finish Tyler Warren and two elite operating backs in an excellent system comes up huge down the stretch.
GO DEEPER
Penn State has probably the most favorable path by way of the School Soccer Playoff
Semifinals
(1) Oregon over (5) Texas
7:30 p.m. ET | Friday, Jan. 10 | Cotton Bowl | Arlington, Texas
Gabriel has seen loads of Texas from his Oklahoma days. He beat a very good UT crew final 12 months with the Sooners and didn’t play within the 2022 recreation when the Horns blew out the Sooners. His legs can be a key right here; he ran for 113 yards on Texas final 12 months.
(2) Georgia over (6) Penn State
7:30 p.m. ET | Thursday, Jan. 9 | Orange Bowl | Miami Gardens, Fla.
Georgia’s offense has been actually inconsistent, however so long as its entrance seven is wholesome, the Bulldogs current huge issues. Profitable two Playoff video games is a step in the best route for James Franklin’s Nittany Lions. However I don’t see them dealing with the Dawgs, who’re simply greater and extra bodily than the primary two CFP opponents Penn State acquired.
Nationwide championship
(1) Oregon over (2) Georgia
7:30 p.m. ET | Monday, Jan. 20 | Atlanta
Dan Lanning in opposition to his previous boss Kirby Sensible within the title recreation is a candy subplot. The Geese are constructed so much like Sensible’s squad. They’ve lots of those self same elite huge gamers — possibly not fairly as lots of them within the entrance seven — they usually even have higher ability expertise and the sting at quarterback, particularly given Carson Beck’s harm questions.
To me, Oregon has the highest QB on this complete area in Gabriel. He’s very skilled and correct and has a fast launch and A-plus management abilities. Take into account this: Gabriel has a 22-to-3 TD-to-INT ratio in opposition to ranked opponents over the previous three seasons. The man appears to be at his finest when the highlight will get hotter and the competitors will get higher, and this recreation is as huge as it will possibly get. Nike founder and Oregon booster Phil Knight, at 86, lastly will get his faculty soccer nationwide title.
GO DEEPER
Oregon goes unbeaten (with swagger) in first Large Ten season. And the Geese aren’t completed
(Prime illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; pictures: James Black, Aaron J. Thornton, James Gilbert / Getty Pictures)