By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports activities
It’s about that point.
Daring predictions are my specialty, and this isn’t the second to again down.
From predicting a shock group to make the Mountain West Championship recreation to highlighting applications coming off three-win seasons, you’ve come to the fitting place.
The panorama of faculty soccer has dramatically modified. No one was predicting Arizona State’s run in 2024. Something is feasible. Dream huge.
Right here’s my record of the High 10 Shock Groups within the West for the 2025 season.
1. Utah
Like it or not, there are rising expectations surrounding Utah in 2025. The Utes misplaced 5 video games by single possessions final season and the Massive 12 ought to be extensive open as soon as once more.
Devon Dampier is a top quality quarterback, and new offensive coordinator Jason Beck was with him at New Mexico final season. The familiarity between the 2 ought to pay dividends in Salt Lake Metropolis.
If Utah’s protection is robust as soon as once more, the Utes might legitimately contend for a Massive 12 Championship. Dampier is that good.
2. San Jose State
Oken Niumatalolo will lead San Jose State to the Mountain West Championship Sport this 12 months. It might be characterised as a daring prediction, however in actuality it’s not.
The Spartans received seven video games in Niumatalolo’s first season and this system is on the rise. The Mountain West is begging for a constant No. 2 group behind Boise State and SJSU is it.
This system has been constructing new services and hiring competent coaches within the course of. 2025 is their 12 months.
3. UCLA
Tright here’s clear momentum brewing in Westwood. Recruiting is beginning to tick up and the Bruins completed final season successful 4 of their final six.
Tennessee switch quarterback Nico Iamaleava was introduced in, serving to to spice up UCLA’s switch class to No. 20 nationally, per 247Sports.
A bowl recreation is the minimal expectation for 2025. And don’t name me loopy, however an eight-win 12 months will not be out of attain.
4. Oregon State
The Beavers are being slept on. Maalik Murphy is a game-changer at quarterback that alters the trajectory of this system.
Momentum killed final season’s run. After Oregon State began the 12 months 4-1, the Beavs misplaced two-straight video games by single possessions and collapsed to complete 1-6 over their ultimate seven video games.
That received’t occur with Murphy below heart. His dynamic play-making skill ought to rally the group and makes OSU a sleeper decide within the West.
5. Washington
Washington shall be ranked within the High 25 at one level within the season. You heard it right here first.
Yr One of many Jedd Fisch period set the muse. The second season ought to include noteworthy progress. Demond Williams Jr. is the kind of quarterback {that a} program could be constructed round.
Mixed with Fisch’s offensive acuity, the Huskies shall be higher than some might imagine.
6. UTEP
UTEP solely received three video games in Scotty Walden’s first season in El Paso. However the Miners completed the 12 months successful two of their final three and went 3-3 within the second half of their season.
There’s clear momentum heading into Walden’s second 12 months and it exhibits in recruiting. UTEP has the No. 1 recruiting class in Convention USA and the No. 4 switch class, per 247Sports.
A six-win season is perhaps over-ambitious, nevertheless it’s a not exterior the realm of potentialities.
7. Arizona
Bhire Brennan needed to take motion after final season’s debacle. The Wildcats had been the most important flop of 2024 and far of the blame could be positioned on the offensive teaching workers.
To Brennan’s credit score, he went out and employed up-and-coming offensive coordinator Seth Doege to implement a brand new scheme. Adjustments had been made to the defensive workers, too.
Brennan reeled in Miami defensive position coach Joe Salave’a, an offseason coup that’s arguably as impactful as Doege’s addition. Combined with Noah Fifita’s management, the regained perception all through this system ought to present on the sector.
8. San Diego State
Sean Lewis’s first 12 months in San Diego was not nice. The Aztecs received simply three video games and ended the 12 months with six-straight losses. However the tide is popping.
SDSU has the No. 2 recruiting class within the Mountain West and the No. 6 switch class, per 247Sports. Lewis runs a stable offensive system and Yr 2 ought to see marked enchancment.
Discovering methods to persistently win single-possession video games might be the distinction in 2025.
9. California
The Bears had been just a few performs away from a nine-win season in 2024. However shut will not be adequate and this system went by a little bit of a reset.
Fernando Mendoza left for Indiana and Jaydn Ott transferred to Oklahoma. Bryan Harsin was employed as the brand new offensive coordinator and a slew of the remaining operating backs transferred out.
Nonetheless, Cal has the No. 7 switch class within the ACC, per 247Sports, together with UNLV extensive receiver Jacob De Jesus and BYU linebacker Harrison Taggart. Don’t overlook California this season.
10. Stanford
The Cardinal went by surprising modifications over the offseason that ought to show helpful in the long term. Troy Taylor was let go resulting from off-field points and Frank Reich was named the interim coach for the 12 months.
Taylor’s offensive system was overly predicated on quarterback runs and inefficient. Reich’s NFL background ought to produce a extra conventional offensive fashion that scores with higher consistency.
Don’t be shocked when Stanford upsets a group or two on The Farm.
Miller covers School Basketball and School Soccer in addition to Method 1 racing as a Senior Author and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports activities.
