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We entered this much-hyped faculty soccer weekend able to study a variety of groups. Some flailed within the highlight whereas others got here by means of. However the greatest lesson we realized is that Florida State is actually again to being probably the greatest groups within the nation. After an time beyond regulation win at Clemson, the Seminoles transfer as much as No. 2 on this week’s version of The Athletic 133.
Sure, it was ugly early. Sure, Clemson missed a chip-shot subject aim late. However the truth these issues occurred highlighted how Clemson has fallen and the way the Seminoles have risen to take that place, ending a seven-game shedding streak within the rivalry. Clemson didn’t have a Keon Coleman-esque participant who made a play when the workforce wanted it most. As a substitute, it missed a subject aim with a late-addition kicker and made an ill-advised broad receiver display throw on third-and-1 in time beyond regulation.
Now Florida State sits at 4-0 with a blowout victory in opposition to LSU and a win at Clemson. The Seminoles have an argument to be No. 1. They’ve among the finest wins. They solely sit at No. 2 for me as a result of they wanted to flee Boston Faculty final week. Georgia doesn’t have the massive wins however it additionally hasn’t been in actual hazard.
On this precise date two years in the past, Florida State dropped to 0-4 after a loss to Louisville, two weeks after a loss to FCS Jacksonville State. FSU couldn’t afford to purchase out one other coach in lower than two years. It needed to let Mike Norvell determine it out. Now it sits right here as a nationwide championship contender. The Seminoles have figured it out. It’s a lesson in persistence, roster constructing and believing within the individuals you’ve got.
Right here is that this week’s version of The Athletic 133.
1-10
Fairly a little bit of change on this group. FSU jumps Texas as a result of it has two top-level wins. Ohio State strikes as much as No. 4 after beating Notre Dame with one second to play. Washington continues to wreck everybody and seem like the most effective workforce within the nation, however it gained’t play a top-level opponent till Oregon on Oct. 14.
Utah beat UCLA to maneuver to 4-0 and Cam Rising hasn’t even performed but, so look out for the Utes. Penn State overwhelmed Iowa 31-0 and slides up as effectively. Michigan slips to No. 8 not simply because the Wolverines haven’t performed anybody noteworthy, however as a result of they haven’t been all that spectacular, both. They’re 0-3-1 in opposition to the unfold, and that 31-7 win in opposition to Rutgers on Saturday was a 10-point sport deep into the third quarter. I don’t doubt the expertise on Michigan. We simply haven’t seen it but like we now have with Washington. Once we do, the rankings will react to it. Is that this contradictory to the Georgia rating? Possibly. However the two-time defending nationwide champions get that good thing about the doubt for now. All Michigan has to do is win its video games and it’ll be fantastic.
USC battled into the fourth quarter with an Arizona State workforce that Fresno State shut out final week, so the Trojans tumble. Oregon strikes into the highest 10 after a 42-6 win in opposition to Colorado, bringing the Buffs again all the way down to earth.
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11-25
Notre Dame solely falls to No. 11, for the reason that Irish have been a couple of inches away from beating Ohio State. LSU wanted a last-second subject aim to beat Arkansas and stays at No. 12. Alabama acquired by means of a brutal first half in opposition to Ole Miss to win 24-10 and type of get again on monitor, transferring as much as No. 15. Washington State beat Oregon State 38-35 in a sport that wasn’t as shut because the rating, and Wazzu strikes as much as No. 16.
Kansas is 4-0 for the second consecutive yr and strikes into the highest 25 after beating BYU 38-27. Kansas State beat UCF 44-31 and likewise strikes into the highest 25. TCU seems to be just like the TCU we anticipated this season after a 34-17 win in opposition to SMU, and Colorado hangs within the prime 25 for now due to that victory over TCU.
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26-50
Maryland is quietly 4-0 after taking good care of enterprise at Michigan State and is No. 26. UCLA actually struggled at Utah, however it was only a 14-7 last rating, so the Bruins solely drop to No. 27. Ole Miss and Clemson additionally fall out of the highest 25 after their losses.
Kentucky, at No. 33, dealt with itself in opposition to Vanderbilt and hosts Florida this upcoming weekend for a giant matchup. Syracuse is 4-0 and No. 36 after beating Military and finishes undefeated in nonconference play for the primary time for the reason that Orange joined a convention in 1991. Fresno State can also be 4-0 after taking good care of Kent State and inches as much as No. 37.
Iowa and Auburn drop into the 40s after ugly offensive performances in opposition to Penn State and Texas A&M, respectively. No. 46 James Madison held on to beat Utah State, No. 47 Wyoming returned a block subject aim within the last minutes to beat Appalachian State, and West Virginia beat Texas Tech to leap into the highest 50.
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51-75
No. 51 Ohio continues to do what it must and beat Bowling Inexperienced 38-7. This workforce is perhaps undefeated if Kurtis Rourke didn’t get damage within the opener in opposition to San Diego State. Georgia Tech jumps as much as No. 53 after a cushty 30-16 win at Wake Forest. Fellow Atlanta resident Georgia State is 4-0 after a 30-17 win at Coastal Carolina to place the Solar Belt on discover and transfer as much as No. 54. Marshall beat Virginia Tech 24-17 and seemed like the higher workforce from the beginning, and the Herd make a giant leap to No. 55 due to it.
Texas Tech misplaced to West Virginia and misplaced quarterback Tyler Shough to a damaged fibula. A Large 12 darkish horse has turned downward very quick, all the way down to No. 60. Rutgers performed Michigan robust for greater than a half and the Scarlet Knights do look improved, inching as much as No. 57. USF appears to have one thing underneath Alex Golesh, after a 42-29 win in opposition to Rice, and strikes as much as No. 69. Troy held on to beat Western Kentucky 27-24 and strikes to No. 58. Boise State beat San Diego State 34-31 for a giant Mountain West highway win to maneuver as much as No. 64.
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76-100
Texas State continues to win however slip a bit as a result of Baylor continues to fall, and due to Texas State’s loss to UTSA. South Alabama, one week after blowing out Oklahoma State, misplaced 34-30 to Central Michigan in a stunner and dropped to No. 83. UNLV is 3-1 underneath Barry Odom after a cushty 45-28 win in opposition to UTEP, transferring as much as No. 85.
Minnesota slides dramatically down these rankings to No. 90 after blowing a 31-10 fourth-quarter lead and shedding to Northwestern in time beyond regulation. Indiana wanted a missed subject aim and 4 overtimes to flee Akron, so the Hoosiers drop to No. 91. Jacksonville State and RichRod are 3-1 and transfer as much as No. 94 after a 21-0 thumping of Japanese Michigan. Stanford performed Arizona shut however misplaced 21-20, dropping to No. 96. Colorado State beat Center Tennessee 31-23 and strikes into the highest 100.
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101-133
Virginia Tech and Virginia drop to this group. The Hokies are 1-3 after a loss to Marshall. The actual fact they have been underdogs to start with says quite a bit. Virginia rallied however misplaced to NC State on a last-second subject aim to stay winless.
Hawaii continues to indicate enchancment, beating New Mexico State at dwelling to maneuver as much as No. 115. UMass continues to fall since beating NMSU in Week 0, shedding to New Mexico in time beyond regulation and dropping to No. 119. Arkansas State beat Southern Miss for Butch Jones’ first Solar Belt win over a workforce that isn’t ULM and strikes as much as No. 123. That’s a win that might be a wanted signal of progress this yr.
UConn misplaced 41-7 to Duke and seems to have taken an enormous step again this yr, falling to No. 128. Sam Houston lastly scored a landing, however has simply 10 factors by means of three video games, so the Bearkats drop to No. 132. Buffalo stays on the backside after a 45-38 loss to Louisiana.
(Picture: Michael Reaves / Getty Photos)
