Massive Ten Soccer Energy Rankings: Oregon Soars as Michigan Stumbles

Throughout the Massive Ten, the second week of the faculty soccer season introduced a captivating dichotomy in non-conference scheduling philosophy. There have been a handful of groups, like No. 15 Michigan and No. 11 Illinois, that challenged themselves with legit opponents. However many of the league spent its Saturday completely obliterating colleges from exterior the ability leagues, with 5 totally different applications successful by 50 factors or extra.  

One of the best victory of the weekend belonged to Illinois, which pulled away from Duke with an explosive second half in a lopsided 45-19 win, cementing head coach Bret Bielema’s squad as a legit Faculty Soccer Playoff contender. A fascinating showdown between the Illini and No. 23 Indiana looms on the finish of September. 

Elsewhere, highway stumbles by Iowa and No. 15 Michigan illustrated the potential ceilings for 2 groups introducing new, extremely anticipated quarterbacks this season. Each the Hawkeyes’ Mark Gronowski and the Wolverines’ Bryce Underwood struggled of their first vital assessments of the season. 

Right here’s our subsequent set of Massive Ten Energy Rankings following Week 2: 

The High 10

Outcome: 70-0 house win over Grambling State

Had been it not for the $1 million fee taken house by Grambling State, whose head coach, Mickey Joseph, all however conceded defeat throughout a midweek information convention, Saturday’s matchup would have been an entire farce in each sense of the phrase. Ohio State scored on eight of its first 9 possessions as sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin set a college report with 16 consecutive completions to start the sport. He tossed landing passes of 47 yards (tight finish Will Kacmarek) and 87 yards (huge receiver Jeremiah Smith) on the Buckeyes’ opening two possessions earlier than sitting the complete second half, having already thrown for 306 yards and 4 scores with solely a single incompletion — although his lone misfire was intercepted.

Even Sayin’s alternative, backup Lincoln Kienholz, who misplaced the quarterback competitors throughout fall camp, completed 6-of-7 for 71 yards and a landing earlier than giving solution to true freshman Tavien St. Clair for the ultimate 11 minutes.

The Buckeyes’ dashing assault proved simply as potent, with true freshman Bo Jackson (9 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD) spearheading a bunch that averaged higher than seven yards per try and located the top zone 4 instances. When the clock lastly expired, Ohio State had racked up 651 yards of complete offense and secured this system’s ninth victory by 70-plus factors.

Outcome: 69-3 house win over Oklahoma State

What may need regarded like a compelling non-conference matchup between colleges from the Massive Ten and Massive 12 rapidly devolved right into a laughingstock that showcased two groups heading in reverse instructions. On one finish of that spectrum is Oregon — a forward-thinking, cutting-edge program that has embraced its reference to Nike co-founder Phil Knight to place itself among the many leaders within the NIL area, with a talent-stuffed roster to show it. On the opposite finish is Oklahoma State — a once-proud program led by an entrenched head coach, Mike Gundy, whose tenure of 20-plus years with the Cowboys now faces rising challenges because the crew works to remain aggressive in right this moment’s evolving faculty soccer panorama.

The Geese scored prolonged touchdowns on two of their first three offensive performs as tailback Noah Whittington sliced via Oklahoma State’s protection for a 59-yard run, after which freshman wideout Dakorien Moore, the No. 1 recruit within the nation at his place, caught a 65-yard cross from quarterback Dante Moore, who completed 16-of-21 for 266 yards and three scores.

The onslaught from head coach Dan Lanning’s crew solely continued from there: Oregon led 20-0 on the finish of the primary quarter, 41-3 at halftime and 69-3 on the finish of the third, a stanza that included back-to-back interception returns for touchdowns. 

Outcome: 34-0 house win over Florida Worldwide 

For the second time in as many weeks, the ultimate rating looked like a complete victory for Penn State, which improved to 2-0 by a mixed margin of 80-11 in opposition to two groups from exterior the ability conferences. However as was the case throughout final week’s 46-11 win over Nevada, the Nittany Lions once more slogged via a specific amount of sloppiness in opposition to the Panthers earlier than discovering a groove late. A few of that may be attributed to the climate, which drenched Beaver Stadium with regular rain, particularly early. However a few of it mirrored subpar execution as Penn State had a area aim blocked and did not convert on two further fourth-down makes an attempt within the opening half, taking a modest 10-point lead into the break.

The offense started chugging to life within the third quarter with two prolonged scoring drives: a 60-yard march that produced a area aim and an 88-yard jaunt that reached the top zone when quarterback Drew Allar linked with wideout Devonte Ross. Penn State’s operating again tandem of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen mixed to hurry for 220 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries (7.6 yards per try) after neither participant might attain 50 yards in Week 1. The Nittany Lions have another tune-up in opposition to Villanova earlier than internet hosting No. 6 Oregon. 

Outcome: 45-19 highway win over Duke

In additional methods than one, this was a formidable victory for head coach Bret Bielema and his crew. Not solely did the Illini rating a non-conference highway win over an ascending ACC program that gained 9 video games final season, bolstering a résumé that shall be extremely scrutinized come November and December as a result of a good Massive Ten slate that doesn’t embrace Michigan, Penn State or Oregon. In addition they pulled away from the Blue Devils in spectacular style by outscoring them 31-6 within the second half and pairing an environment friendly, opportunistic offense with ball-hawking protection.

Quarterback Luke Altmyer accomplished 22 of 31 passes for 296 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions whereas persevering with to strengthen his reference to wideout Hank Beatty, who has topped 100 receiving yards in every of Illinois’ first two video games and is already inside a whisker of matching his 2024 season output. They benefited from a number of brief fields created by an aggressive Illinois protection that generated 5 turnovers — 4 fumbles, one interception — and solely surrendered 4 third-down conversions.

Via two video games, defensive coordinator Aaron Henry’s group is tied for fourth nationally and tied for first within the Massive Ten with six takeaways, which is almost one-third of the crew’s complete from final season. 

Outcome: 56-9 house win over Kennesaw State

If final week’s sluggish, 27-14 win over Previous Dominion left Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti mildly to reasonably irritated — and he admitted as a lot throughout his postgame information convention — then he must be feeling a lot better about how the Hoosiers carried out on Saturday in opposition to one other overmatched opponent. The offense rapidly discovered its groove with two landing drives within the opening 12 minutes to guide 14-0 on the finish of the primary quarter and 21-3 by the three:40 mark of the second.

Switch quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who labored via an uneven debut in Week 1, regarded sharp from the beginning. He accomplished 18 of 25 passes for 245 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions whereas creating wonderful chemistry with high receiver Elijah Sarratt, whose 9 catches for 97 yards included three scores.

The Hoosiers balanced their passing assault with an explosive operating recreation that churned out 316 yards and three touchdowns. 4 totally different gamers, together with one huge receiver, chipped in at the least 50 dashing yards on a day when Indiana averaged 8.3 yards per carry. The headliner was junior Lee Beebe Jr., who solely wanted 11 touches to provide 90 yards and a rating. Indiana outgained Kennesaw State 596-271 in complete offense. 

Outcome: 68-0 house win over Akron

The poor, poor Zips. After getting shut out by Wyoming, 10-0, to start the season, Akron traveled to Nebraska for what completed as an absolute evisceration that its head coach, Joe Moorhead, referred to as “an a– kicking of epic proportions in each side of the sport.” However at the least the Zips went house $1.45 million richer, such had been the phrases of this specific contract.

The whole lot Nebraska did labored to perfection on either side of the ball as head coach Matt Rhule’s crew recorded its most factors in a recreation since 2007, its most yards in a recreation since 2014 and posted its first shutout since 2009. Although the competitors was suspect at greatest, quarterback Dylan Raiola turned within the most interesting statistical efficiency of his profession by finishing 24 of 31 passes for 364 yards and 4 touchdowns, all of which went to totally different receivers.

When Raiola wasn’t gashing Akron via the air, tailback Emmett Johnson was slicing the Zips open for 10 yards per keep it up 14 makes an attempt, twice discovering the top zone on runs of 47 yards and 6 yards — to not point out his four-yard receiving rating. In complete, the Cornhuskers racked up 728 yards of complete offense and transformed eight of 10 instances on third down. Nebraska’s protection restricted Akron to only 62 passing yards on 9 completions.

Outcome: 24-13 highway loss to No. 18 Oklahoma

The marquee recreation of this week’s faculty soccer slate saddled Michigan with a disappointing defeat that unearthed loads of questions on whether or not the Wolverines are constructed to contend for a spot within the Faculty Soccer Playoff: Can this offensive line, which suffered a number of accidents in opposition to the Sooners and was already below scrutiny following a disappointing 2024 marketing campaign, maintain up in opposition to the trials of a Massive Ten schedule? Can these huge receivers, who proceed to look pedestrian at greatest, win sufficient one-on-one matchups to earn the respect of blitz-happy defensive coordinators? Can freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, who solely accomplished 9 of 24 passes for 142 yards, be trusted to push the ball downfield in massive moments? Can the Wolverines’ protection, which was dinged for 9 missed tackles and 5 penalties, play with sufficient self-discipline to beat elite competitors?

These are among the questions Michigan should reply within the subsequent few weeks as head coach Sherrone Moore serves a self-imposed, two-game suspension that bars him from even being within the crew’s facility for practices and conferences. A non-conference matchup with Central Michigan shouldn’t supply a lot of a take a look at subsequent weekend, however the highway recreation at Nebraska on Sept. 20 could possibly be fairly thorny primarily based on how the Wolverines carried out in opposition to the Sooners. 

Outcome: 59-20 house win over Georgia Southern

There was a novel emotional element to Saturday evening’s recreation, which introduced former USC head coach Clay Helton (2015-21) again to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum because the main man on the visiting sideline. Helton posted an general report of 46-24 and a Pac-12 mark of 36-13 throughout his time with the Trojans earlier than departing simply two video games into the 2021 season. What’s attention-grabbing about Helton’s dismissal is that his successful share at USC (.657) is almost equivalent to what Riley has managed via his first 4 years on the helm (.667).

However it was Riley and his high-powered offense that bought the final snigger this time round because the Trojans exploded for 755 complete yards and exceeded 50 factors for the second consecutive recreation. Quarterback Jayden Maiava, who now ranks fifth nationally in passing yards, accomplished 16 of 24 passes for 412 yards and 4 touchdowns, together with two long-range strikes of 60-plus yards to wideout Makai Lemon. Nonetheless, essentially the most thrilling improvement may need been the emergence of former JUCO tailback Waymond Jordan, who remodeled his 16 carries into 167 yards and a rating, setting a brand new program-high for dashing by a single participant within the Riley period. 

Outcome: 70-10 house win over UC Davis 

This was a banner efficiency for Washington tailback Jonah Coleman, who tied this system’s trendy report with 5 dashing touchdowns, matching the totals put forth by Corey Dillon in 1996 and Hugh McElhenny in 1950. Precisely one-third of Coleman’s carries resulted in touchdowns in opposition to the overmatched Aggies’ protection on Saturday evening as he rushed 15 instances for 111 yards general, shifting himself to 3rd nationally in dashing and first in dashing touchdowns for the season. However he wasn’t alone. Fellow tailback Adam Mohammed (14 carries, 95 yards), beginning quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (eight carries, 64 yards) and backup quarterback Kai Horton (three carries, 21 yards) all chipped in with dashing scores of their very own in a recreation when the Huskies discovered the top zone eight instances on the bottom, averaging seven yards per carry alongside the best way. There was additionally a 47-yard landing cross from Williams to wideout Dezmen Roebuck and a 78-yard punt return landing by wideout Denzel Boston to spherical out the near-constant scoring.

Washington completed with 628 yards of complete offense and transformed 13 of 15 instances on third- and fourth-down mixed, a staggeringly environment friendly charge. 

Outcome: 42-40 house win over Boston Faculty in 2OT

This was arguably essentially the most thrilling recreation of the weekend as Michigan State and Boston Faculty traded blows in a dizzying affair that featured six ties and eight lead adjustments, culminating in a double-overtime traditional. The 2 groups swapped touchdowns in each additional periods however had been separated by a profitable two-point conversion for the Spartans, who scored a walk-off victory when quarterback Aidan Chiles lofted a stunning cross to wideout Omari Kelly after the Eagles had beforehand did not convert.

Typically inconsistent, Chiles put forth arguably his greatest effort since becoming a member of Michigan State by finishing 19 of 29 passes for 231 yards and a career-high 4 touchdowns. He additionally carried the ball 12 instances for 39 yards and a further rating, accounting for all 5 of his crew’s touchdowns.

This was an vital victory for second-year head coach Jonathan Smith after the Spartans misplaced to Boston Faculty final yr and solely defeated Florida Atlantic and Prairie View A&M exterior the Massive Ten. It was Michigan State’s first non-conference win in opposition to a Energy 4 opponent since knocking off then-No. 12 Pittsburgh within the Peach Bowl 4 years in the past. 

The Relaxation

Outcome: 66-0 house win over Northwestern State

What makes this last rating much more preposterous is that the sport was reduce brief within the fourth quarter as a result of extreme climate with greater than six minutes nonetheless to play. Each side had been doubtless nice with the abbreviation because the Gophers had scored 5 touchdowns within the opening quarter to guarantee themselves of a victory a number of hours earlier. 9 totally different gamers reached the top zone for Minnesota. 

Outcome: 42-10 house win over Center Tennessee

The Badgers entered this recreation with out beginning quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who sprained his knee within the opener in opposition to Miami (Ohio). His alternative, sophomore Danny O’Neil, a one-time Colorado commit who in the end enrolled at San Diego State, performed pretty nicely by finishing 23 of 27 passes for 283 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Wisconsin performed its first penalty-free recreation since a win over Iowa in 2016.  

Outcome: 16-13 highway loss to No. 16 Iowa State

A second consecutive ugly offensive efficiency — albeit in opposition to a proficient Iowa State protection — is a legit trigger for concern at Iowa, the place switch quarterback Mark Gronowski continues to battle in his bounce from FCS soccer to the massive leagues. Gronowski was held to below 100 passing yards for the second consecutive week and solely managed 37 dashing yards on 16 punishing makes an attempt. The dearth of expertise among the many Hawkeyes’ receivers and tight ends is alarming. 

Outcome: 20-9 house win over Northern Illinois

There’s no doubting how a lot head coach Mike Locksley trusts true freshman quarterback Malik Washington after the best way this recreation unfolded. Locksley stored his offense on the sphere for a essential fourth down throughout a one-score recreation within the fourth quarter, trusting Washington to make a play along with his arm. Washington responded by connecting with wideout Shaleak Knotts for a 42-yard landing that put the sport out of attain. 

Outcome: 45-17 house win over Miami (Ohio)

Regardless of a climate delay, this was a comparatively simple win for Rutgers, whose offense seems a lot improved in back-to-back victories over opponents from the Mid-American Convention. One week after quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis accomplished 18 of 23 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns in opposition to Ohio, he carried out even higher in opposition to the RedHawks by ending 26-of-36 for 259 yards and 4 scores. Via two video games, Kaliakmanis is tied for tenth nationally and tied for first within the Massive Ten with six landing passes. 

Outcome: 34-17 house win over Southern Illinois

Two video games, two wins for first-year head coach Barry Odom. The Boilermakers overcame a rocky defensive begin — they allowed 14 factors within the opening quarter — to stifle Southern Illinois over the ultimate 45 minutes to earn a cushty victory. Purdue out-rushed the Salukis 214-81 general on the energy of a superb day for tailback Devin Mockobee, who carried 32 instances for 126 yards and two touchdowns.  

Outcome: 42-7 house win over Western Illinois 

This was fairly a bounce-back efficiency for quarterback Preston Stone, the extremely touted SMU switch. Stone was appalling within the season-opening loss to Tulane, having thrown zero touchdowns and 4 interceptions amid a dispiriting loss. However he responded nicely in opposition to the Leathernecks by finishing 21 of 29 passes for 245 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. 

Outcome: 30-23 highway loss to UNLV

Issues are getting ugly in a rush for second-year head coach DeShaun Foster, whose Bruins fell behind 23-0 late within the second quarter to an opponent from exterior the ability conferences. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava did his greatest to mount a fourth-quarter comeback, in the end marching down the sphere for what may need been a game-tying drive, however his bid fell flat when a tipped cross was intercepted by the Rebels with 52 seconds remaining. 

Michael Cohen covers faculty soccer and faculty basketball for FOX Sports activities. Observe him at @Michael_Cohen13.

Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports activities account, and comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised publication every day!

Get extra from the Faculty Soccer Observe your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra