By Benjamin Ross ’28 and Elliott Gomes ’28
And we’re again. The school soccer season is nicely underway, and now we’re getting in on the motion. Final week, Indiana whooped Illinois, exhibiting the nation that they’re after a spot within the playoff. Oklahoma proved to the nation that they’re a top-10 staff with a win over Auburn. Headed into this week, we’ve bought numerous questions, and we wish solutions. Who’re this yr’s juggernauts? Is the Dabo Swinney period over? Can Notre Dame win out, or will they miss the playoff a yr after shedding within the nationwide championship? There’s just one method to discover out…
#4 LSU @ #13 Ole Miss, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS
Keys for the Tigers: LSU are off to their finest begin because the Joe Burrow period. The query is, will they proceed this scorching begin, or falter in opposition to a robust opponent? Led by the most effective gamers within the nation in Harold Perkins Jr., LSU might want to shut down the explosive Ole Miss offense and put collectively a robust offensive efficiency behind NFL-Prospect Garrett Nussmeier.
Keys for the Rebels: Ole Miss have began scorching once more, with wins over two stable SEC groups. The story this season, nonetheless, has been the QB. Splitting time between QBs Chambliss and Simmons, Lane Kiffin has selected Chambliss to steer the Rebels into their greatest recreation of the season to date. They’ll must generate on offense in opposition to a stellar LSU protection, and hopefully the home-field benefit can propel them on.
#6 Oregon @ #3 Penn State, Beaver Stadium, College Park, PA
Keys for the Geese: Oregon is off to a scorching begin, however this journey to College Park is the primary problem for the Geese all yr. QB Dante Moore has been productive, and the guests are going to wish extra of that in the event that they wish to survive the whiteout. Sturdy defensive performances have been plentiful this season, averaging 9.25 factors allowed per recreation. Behind Boettcher and Uiagalelei, they’ll be hoping to close down the Penn State offense.
Keys for the Nittany Lions: Penn State. James Franklin. They’ve struggled in massive video games. Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan. One other massive recreation rolls round, this time at residence, this time a whiteout, this time a rematch of final yr’s B1G Championship. Drew Allar might want to put collectively a very good efficiency after a lackluster begin to the season, and the Nittany Lion protection might want to begin scorching to take care of a productive Oregon offense.
#17 Alabama @ #5 Georgia, Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA
Keys for the Crimson Tide: Pleasure. That is the Alabama Crimson Tide. They’ve had a tough begin this yr, and a tough begin to the Kelen DeBoer period. For Alabama, it’s about delight. Marching into Sanford Stadium, Alabama really has nothing to lose, and after final yr’s shootout, something can occur. Let’s see if they’ll do it.
Keys for the Bulldogs: Georgia are coming off their bye, following an enormous win over Tennessee in extra time away from residence. Georgia confirmed their prowess, they usually have one other probability to do the identical. Georgia will likely be focusing on WR Zachariah Department for one more explosive recreation, and we will solely guess what may occur on this showdown.
Drew Allar
A disappointing postseason end in opposition to Notre Dame final yr has Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions able to reestablish their standing as a real contender. In six video games in opposition to ranked groups in 2024, Allar threw solely six touchdowns with 4 interceptions in addition. With an additional offseason’s value of expertise below his belt, Allar is in search of to show that he has what it takes to steer his staff in opposition to high quality competitors. It’s early within the season, however their Huge 10 matchup in opposition to 6-ranked Oregon will possible have main playoff implications for each groups with reference to securing a coveted bye. Each groups want the win right here, and look to Allar to play a clear recreation of successful soccer even when his numbers aren’t gaudy.
Garrett Nussmeier
After the leap Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels took of their respective second campaigns with LSU, Garrett Nussmeier has been saddled with excessive expectations for his 2025 season. And ever since a dormant first half within the Tigers’ opener, Nussmeier has performed nicely sufficient to steer his staff to a 4–0 begin to the season. Week 3’s win over Florida was extra as a result of a lights-out defensive efficiency than something on the offensive facet of the ball, nonetheless. Look out for a bounceback recreation by Nussmeier in opposition to the always-dynamic Lane Kiffin offense if he desires to reside as much as the hype because the SEC’s premier signal-caller.
Jordan Tyson
Arizona State and TCU are headed right into a convention matchup that appears to be a fairly even ballgame: Arizona State is presently a 3.5 level favourite at residence. With Arizona State placing up about 30 factors per recreation and TCU scoring a little bit over 40, this recreation appears to be a shootout. TCU has a middling (Seventy fifth-ranked) go protection in opposition to comparatively weak competitors to date within the season. Control Tyson to have an enormous recreation as the point of interest of the Solar Devils’ offense.
#4 LSU @ #13 Ole Miss – O/U 57.5 – Explosive offense is the secret, and we’ve seen it from Ole Miss time and time once more. Contemplating the truth that Lane Kiffin’s potential son-in-law performs for LSU, I really feel fairly assured that he’ll be doing something he can to hold 50 on the Tigers.
#8 FSU (-6.5) @ Virginia
#25 BYU (-6.5) @ Colorado
