2025 Faculty Soccer Rankings: Alabama, Vanderbilt Climb; Miami, Texas Tech Slide

[ad_1] The Ohio State Buckeyes are the most effective crew in America, and it’s not shut.

It’s not simply that Julian Sayin is finishing 80% of his passes, or that the projected WR1s within the subsequent two NFL Drafts — Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith — are shredding secondaries. It’s that Matt Patricia’s protection has allowed simply 41 complete factors by way of seven video games.

In every week when three top-25 groups misplaced to unranked opponents — and with just one unbeaten crew remaining in every of the Energy 4 conferences — the Buckeyes have by no means appeared extra like favorites to repeat as nationwide champions.

Nonetheless, even when Ohio State finishes October undefeated and rolls by way of its subsequent 4 video games like a cakewalk on the county honest, there’s nonetheless one looming impediment: Michigan. Ryan Day hasn’t crushed the Wolverines since 2019.

With that, here is a have a look at my High 25 rankings following Week 8 of the faculty soccer season:

Week 8 end result: Defeated Wisconsin 34-0

Julian Sayin threw for 393 yards and 4 touchdowns whereas finishing 85.7% of his passes. Wideouts Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith mixed for 15 catches, 208 yards, and two scores. The Buckeyes have now pitched two shutouts in seven video games — and look a reduce above the remainder of the game.

2. Indiana (7-0) Week 8 end result: Defeated Michigan State, 38-13

Fernando Mendoza threw for 332 yards and 4 touchdowns, finishing 85.7% of his passes in one other double-digit win for the Hoosiers — who, by way of eight weeks, look like the one crew able to competing with Ohio State in 2025.

Week 8 end result: Defeated Arkansas, 45-42

The Aggies survived a high-scoring affair to earn their seventh win this season and their first 7-0 begin since 1994. Texas A&M stands alone as the one undefeated crew left within the SEC. Quarterback Marcel Reed accounted for 335 complete yards with 4 complete touchdowns within the win.

Week 8 end result: Defeated Tennessee, 37-20

Alabama joined Texas A&M because the final remaining undefeated groups in SEC play with a decisive win over Tennessee in Tuscaloosa.

The Tide protection scored eight factors within the first half — together with a 99-yard interception return for a landing and a security — serving to propel Alabama to a 6-1 begin and its twenty second consecutive season of bowl eligibility.

Week 8 end result: Defeated Rutgers, 56-10

The Geese led Rutgers 42-3 at halftime. For perspective, that was the rating in Ohio State’s win over Minnesota.

Dante Moore bounced again after a disappointing efficiency final week in opposition to Indiana. The redshirt sophomore QB accomplished 15 of 20 passes for 240 yards, 4 touchdowns and an interception. Oregon put up 750 yards of complete offense within the victory.

Week 8 end result: Defeated Ole Miss, 43-35

The Dawgs survived an early storm — permitting Ole Miss to attain on its first 5 drives — earlier than rallying to defeat the Rebels at Sanford Stadium. Quarterback Gunner Stockton accomplished 26 of 31 passes for 289 yards and accounted for 5 complete touchdowns. Georgia’s floor sport was dominant, speeding for 221 yards in opposition to Mississippi.

Week 8 end result: Misplaced to Georgia, 43-35

The Rebels scored all 35 of their factors within the first three quarters however had been shut out 17-0 within the fourth quarter, struggling their first lack of the season. Ole Miss struggled to run the ball, gaining simply 88 yards on 24 carries (3.7 yards per try).

Week 8 end result: Defeated LSU, 31-24

Not solely did the Commodores beat LSU for the primary time since 1990, however additionally they improved to 6-1 — their greatest begin since 1950 — with Diego Pavia extending his streak of scoring a landing (passing or speeding) to 25 straight video games.

The win marked one other historic milestone: 2025 is the primary season through which Vanderbilt has defeated a number of top-15 opponents.

Week 8 end result: Misplaced to Alabama, 37-20

The Vols misplaced management early when quarterback Joey Aguilar threw a goal-line interception that was returned for an Alabama landing — a 14-point swing in what had been a tightly contested sport. A second expensive mistake — an intentional grounding penalty by Aguilar that resulted in a security — additional damage Tennessee’s probabilities of incomes its first win in Tuscaloosa since 2003.

10. BYU (7-0) Week 8 end result: Defeated Utah, 24-21

LJ Martin carried the ball 26 instances for 122 yards to guide the Cougars to their seventh win of the season. Freshman QB Bear Bachmeier threw for 166 yards and a landing, whereas additionally including 64 yards and a rating on the bottom.

Week 8 end result: Defeated Duke, 27-18

Is Georgia Tech this yr’s Indiana? Following a school-record 95-yard fumble-return-for-touchdown by security Omar Daniels to assist Tech dispatch the Blue Devils, it feels that means.

At 7-0 for the primary time since 1966, Georgia Tech seems like this system greatest positioned to win the convention title and make its first-ever journey to the Faculty Soccer Playoff.

Week 8 end result: Defeated Auburn, 23-17

This was Missouri’s first highway check of the season — they usually handed. After permitting an opening-drive landing, the protection clamped down, holding Auburn to only 10 factors the remainder of the way in which.

Ahmad Hardy carried the ball 24 instances for 58 yards and two touchdowns because the Tigers bounced again from a house loss to Alabama.

Week 8 end result: Defeated South Carolina, 26-7

The Sooners lastly discovered a constant run sport — and never with quarterback John Mateer main the cost. True freshman Tory Blaylock rushed for over 100 yards, and Brent Venables’ protection racked up six sacks on South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers to safe an important win forward of what is perhaps the hardest five-game stretch in school soccer.

All 5 of Oklahoma’s remaining opponents had been ranked within the prime 16 of the AP High 25 heading into Week 8.

Week 8 end result: Defeated Miami, 24-21

The Cardinals earned their first win over an AP top-2 crew since 2016, when Lamar Jackson led Louisville to a 63-20 rout of Florida State. This time, Jeff Brohm’s squad pulled off the upset as double-digit underdogs.

Week 8 end result: Misplaced to Louisville, 24-21

Miami QB Carson Beck threw 4 interceptions — another than he’d thrown all season — within the Hurricanes' loss to the Cardinals, who gained with out scoring a single level on their 4 takeaways. Miami had gained 10 straight video games at Arduous Rock Stadium earlier than the loss.

Week 8 end result: Defeated USC, 34-24

Jeremiyah Love rushed for a career-high 228 yards and a landing, whereas Jadarian Worth added 87 yards and a rating of his personal within the win.

After dropping their first two video games of the season, the Preventing Irish have gained 5 in a row whereas outsourcing their opponents by a median of 25.8 factors per contest.

Week 8 end result: Defeated Florida Atlantic, 48-13

Byrum Brown accomplished 14 of 24 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns, whereas including one other 111 yards and a rating on the bottom.

The Bulls piled up 522 yards of offense whereas holding the Owls to only 23 speeding yards on 30 carries. They now be part of Tulane and Navy as the one groups nonetheless undefeated in AAC play.

Week 8 end result: Misplaced to Arizona State, 26-22

The Purple Raiders grew to become the third undefeated crew in two days to fall to an unranked opponent, becoming a member of Miami and Memphis. With beginning quarterback Behren Morton sidelined by damage, Will Hammond made his first profession begin on the highway. He accomplished 22 of 37 passes for 167 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, however was outplayed by an Arizona State crew that held Texas Tech to only 267 complete yards and 6-of-16 on third downs.

Week 8 end result: Idle

Week 8 end result: Defeated Oklahoma State, 49-17

Brendan Sorsby threw for 270 yards and three landing passes, whereas additionally working for a rating because the Bearcats beat Oklahoma State for his or her sixth straight victory.

Cincinnati and BYU are the one remaining unbeaten groups in Huge 12 play after Arizona State's win over beforehand unbeaten Texas Tech.

Week 8 end result: Defeated Kentucky, 16-13

Steve Sarkisian gained his thirtieth sport within the final three seasons, however this one was removed from fairly. The Longhorns solely managed 179 yards of complete offense and reached the tip zone simply as soon as, a 1-yard run from Quintrevion Wisner that got here halfway by way of the second quarter.

Arch Manning solely accomplished 12 of 27 passes for 132 yards within the win. He has been held to below 200 passing yards in 4 of the Longhorns' seven video games this season.

Week 8 end result: Defeated Washington, 24-7

Earlier than their loss to Michigan, the Huskies had been averaging greater than 39 factors per sport, and quarterback Demond Williams Jr. had thrown only one interception all season. However on Saturday, Washington reached the tip zone solely as soon as, and Williams was picked off thrice in a sport dominated by the Wolverines’ protection and run sport.

With Justice Haynes unavailable, Jordan Marshall stepped up, speeding for 133 yards to assist preserve Michigan’s Faculty Soccer Playoff hopes alive.

23. LSU (5-2) Week 8 end result: Misplaced to Vanderbilt, 31-24

The Tigers hadn’t misplaced to the Commodores in 35 years, till Saturday. The defeat drops LSU to 2–2 in SEC play and places them on the surface wanting in with the Faculty Soccer Playoff choice committee rankings simply weeks away. LSU couldn't set up a constant run sport in opposition to the nation’s No. 16 scoring protection with simply over 22 minutes in time of possession.

Week 8 end result: Defeated Washington State, 22-20

Virginia’s Kam Robinson and Hunter Osborne stuffed Kirby Vorhees for a game-winning security because the Cavaliers remained unbeaten in ACC play.

Chandler Morris accomplished 15 of 25 passes for 179 yards, serving to Virginia grew to become bowl eligible for the primary time below head coach Tony Elliott.

25. USC (5-2) Week 8 end result: Misplaced to Notre Dame, 34-24

Jayden Maiava accomplished 22 of 42 passes for 328 yards and two touchdowns whereas additionally including two interceptions within the Trojans' loss to Notre Dame.

RJ Younger is a nationwide school soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports activities. Comply with him @RJ_Young.

Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, observe leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized e-newsletter day by day!