This season marks the inaugural 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff.
And after weeks of video games, and hypothesis, we’ve got our first official Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings of the 2024 season.
Tuesday started with a number of undefeated groups within the AP Prime 25 rankings, together with Oregon (No. 1), Miami (No. 4), and a trio of upstarts in Indiana (No. 8), BYU (No. 9) and Military (No. 18).
These groups have been featured prominently within the first version of the Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings, and their Prime 25:
1 . Oregon Geese
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
3. Georgia Bulldogs
4. Miami Hurricanes
5. Texas Longhorns
6. Penn State Nittany Lions
7. Tennessee Volunteers
8. Indiana Hoosiers
9. BYU Cougars
10. Notre Dame Preventing Irish
11. Alabama Crimson Tide
12. Boise State Broncos
13. SMU Mustangs
14. Texas A&M Aggies
15. LSU Tigers
16. Ole Miss
17. Iowa State Cyclones
18. Pittsburgh Panthers
19. Kansas State Wildcats
20. Colorado Buffaloes
21. Washington State
22. Louisville Cardinals
23. Clemson Tigers
24. Missouri Tigers
25. Military Black Knights
The preliminary 12-team bracket was not launched as we speak, however following the CFP rankings and the way the bracket is about, right here’s what it might seem like after the preliminary rankings:
Prime 4 Seeds: No. 1. Oregon Geese (Huge 10 Champion) , No. 2. Georgia Bulldogs (SEC Champion) , No. 3. Miami Hurricanes (ACC Champion), No. 4 BYU Cougars (Huge 12 Champion)
First Spherical:
No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 12 Boise State Broncos (Group of 5 Champion)
No. 6 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide
No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions vs. No. 10 Notre Dame Preventing Irish
No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers vs. No. 9 Indiana Hoosiers
Whereas it’s necessary to see the place groups stand within the opening rankings, their rating now received’t be set in stone. With so many huge video games nonetheless left on the schedule all the pieces is open to alter. For groups like Oregon, their path is evident. As the present primary seed, all they should do is win out and so they solidify not solely a spot within the playoff, however the high spot. Miami may want just a little bit extra assist to maneuver up the rating because of the lack of true high quality wins, however making (and profitable) the ACC title sport ought to shore up lots of these points.
The opposite two spots, effectively let’s simply say we’ll see. On this model of the CFP, the very best ranked Energy 4 convention winners get the highest 4 spots. So on this case, Oregon and Miami are shoo-ins. The SEC is presently going via just a few issues, however Georgia is presently on the high in order that they have the present bye. They nonetheless have video games towards Ole Miss and Tennessee left on their schedule, however they nonetheless are within the high spot within the hardest convention. Following them is…no matter is going on within the Huge 12. BYU is presently on the high, however man it hasn’t appeared fairly. They want just a few extra convincing wins to essentially hold their odds excessive.
The Group of 5 spot feels all however locked up at this level. RB Ashton Jeanty and Boise State look like they’ll get the G5 playoff bid, however I wouldn’t depend out Military simply but. Video games towards Tulane, Notre Dame and Navy may assist their case much more, however because the Black Knights’ schedule will get more durable, Boise’s will get simpler.
