RJ Younger's 24-Staff Faculty Soccer Playoff Bracket Getting into Week 13

[ad_1] It would take a 24-team playoff to do what a century of unhealthy blood couldn’t — ship the Purple River Rivalry packing from Dallas to Norman, Oklahoma.

Texas and Oklahoma have made not only a behavior however a practice of enjoying their annual rivalry sport in Dallas on the Cotton Bowl. However in a 24-team CFP, Texas can be compelled to face the Sooners on the highway.

That might imply Oklahoma turns into one in every of 16 groups not solely able to internet hosting a house playoff sport, however able to drawing the Longhorns north of the Purple River for the primary time since 1922.

I’m salivating on the concept, particularly in a 12 months like this one, the place Texas' possibilities of making the 12-team CFP are accomplished — cooked — and OU’s alternative to return to the playoff for the primary time since 2019 hangs by a Missouri thread. That is precisely the form of matchup this expanded format was designed to ship: historical past being made, on the largest stage, with the stakes as excessive as they will get.

In August, the Huge Ten and others started "populating" the thought of an expanded Faculty Soccer Playoff of 24 or 28 groups. The 24-team mannequin, which appears to have essentially the most help in non-public circles, would come with:

4 automated qualifiers from every of the Energy 4 conferences (ACC, Huge Ten, Huge 12, SEC) Two automated qualifiers from the Group of 6 (American, Convention USA, MAC, Mountain West, Solar Belt and Pac-12) Six at-large picks to be made by the Faculty Soccer Playoff choice committee — the one picks the committee will get to make Which begs the query: How would the 24-team CFP look if the match started right now?

In my evaluation of a 24-team format, 35 Energy 4 packages — together with 10 from the Huge Ten, 9 from the SEC, eight from the Huge 12 and eight from the ACC — would nonetheless have a path to the postseason. And that’s earlier than factoring in Notre Dame or the Group of 6 contenders.

Heading into Week 13 of the season, groups which have confirmed themselves in convention play nonetheless have simply as a lot alternative to win all of it as No. 1 Ohio State. That’s an enormous win for the game. It creates a extra democratic system for figuring out the perfect group, with much less debate and extra certainty.

The scoreboard has extra company.

And followers have the perfect likelihood within the sport’s historical past to see their group play for — and win — a nationwide title.

This is the way it works:

This 24-team format options 18 automated qualifiers

I’ve set it as much as seem like what you’ll learn beneath and stand in to signify the Faculty Soccer Playoff choice committee.

The highest 4 groups from every of the Energy 4 conferences, primarily based on convention standings, routinely qualify for the CFP. The 2 highest-ranked Group of 6 groups — not essentially convention champions — additionally obtain automated bids. The remaining six at-large spots are crammed on the choice committee’s discretion.

Groups are seeded by the choice committee

Because the personification of the choice committee, I'm inspired to bear in mind head-to-head matchups, power of document, teaching, personnel and high quality of out-of-conference play when seeding groups.

Successful a convention championship is a robust indicator for a top-seeded group.

Successful a convention title doesn't routinely qualify a group for the next seed than a non-conference champion.

The 24-team playoff’s biggest power is the addition of two rounds of dwelling video games

My prime 25, which you'll learn right here, is the idea on which these seedings are assigned.

The primary two rounds of a 24-team playoff would characteristic two rounds of dwelling video games. The 4 groups that advance via the opening rounds will play their subsequent sport at a New Yr’s Six Bowl in a impartial web site semifinal.

Groups seeded No. 1 to No. 8 get a bye and a house playoff sport. Groups seeded No. 9 to No. 16 every open the match with a house playoff sport. Groups seeded No. 17 to No. 24 every should play on the highway twice to advance to the impartial web site quarterfinals.

I must summarize this, as a result of it’s the perfect side of the 24-team CFP: 16 completely different campuses host dwelling playoff video games.

With that, here's a have a look at the Week 13 24-team CFP bracket:

FIRST-ROUND BYE, SECOND-ROUND HOME GAME

1. Ohio State (10-0), Huge Ten

Ohio State is the one FBS group holding opponents to lower than 10 factors per sport (7.5). The Buckeyes have allowed 75 factors on the season, 50 fewer than the following closest group.

2. Indiana (11-0), Huge Ten

The Hoosiers have a degree differential of +215 in convention video games, the one FBS group to have a degree differential of over 200 towards convention opponents.

3. Texas A&M (10-0), SEC

The Aggies accomplished the biggest comeback in program historical past towards South Carolina (27 factors). Getting into Saturday, SEC groups have been 0-286 when trailing by 27-plus factors in convention play.

4. Georgia (9-1), SEC, Beforehand Ranked: 6

Since Week 8, Georgia ranks eighth amongst all energy convention groups in scoring at 35.8 factors per sport.

5. Oregon (9-1), Huge Ten

The Geese are one in every of simply three FBS groups to common over 39 factors per sport and permit fewer than 14 factors per sport, together with Indiana and Texas Tech.

6. Ole Miss (10-1), SEC, Beforehand Ranked 7

If the Rebels win the Egg Bowl, they are going to be 7-1 in SEC play for simply the second time since 2000. Ole Miss additionally ranks first amongst FBS groups in whole offense with 5,432 yards.

7. Oklahoma (8-2), At-Giant, SEC, Beforehand Ranked: 11

The Sooners are one in every of two FBS groups with 4 wins vs. ranked opponents, with the opposite one being Alabama — whom they defeated this previous week.

8. Texas Tech (10-1), Huge 12

Texas Tech is the one group within the nation to rank within the prime 5 amongst FBS groups in takeaways (24) and large performs (121). Huge performs: rushes of 10-plus yards and receptions of 20-plus yards

FIRST-ROUND HOME GAME

9. BYU (9-1), Huge 12

The Cougars is likely to be the second-best group within the Huge 12. With the 4 finest groups within the league every routinely qualifying for the 24-team CFP, they’d be a shoo-in. Nevertheless, the 12-team CFP may not have room for multiple Huge 12 group. It didn’t final 12 months, and two losses — particularly in the event that they’re each to Texas Tech — ought to disqualify BYU from a chance to play for its first nationwide title since 1984.

10. Texas (7-3), Huge 12, At-Giant

There’s no method the Longhorns make a 12-team CFP at this level. With three losses, together with two in SEC competitors, there’s no actual path for them to make the match as an at-large group. However on this format, wins towards Arkansas and Texas A&M would virtually definitely see them via.

11. Notre Dame (8-2), Impartial, At-Giant, Beforehand Ranked: 12

The Preventing Irish look match to return to the nationwide championship sport if their type towards Pitt and Navy is any indication. Notre Dame doesn’t play for a convention title, and that would assist the Irish climb into the elite tier if others forward of them falter.

12. Alabama (8-2), SEC, Beforehand Ranked: 4

Like Texas, a nine-win Alabama isn’t getting an invite to a 12-team CFP. It doesn’t matter that Ty Simpson is without doubt one of the finest quarterbacks within the nation, or that the Crimson Tide’s receiving corps and scoring protection have been distinctive this season. In a 24-team CFP, although, a two-point loss to an excellent Oklahoma group isn’t a nail coffin nail — it’s simply one other information level. The Tide would nonetheless have an opportunity to play their method into the match with wins to shut out the season.

13. Vanderbilt (8-2), SEC, At-Giant

The Commodores may not have the résumé to make the CFP, at the same time as a 10-win group. However that shouldn’t be the rationale we miss out on seeing Heisman candidate Diego Pavia on the game’s greatest stage. In a 24-team format, we wouldn’t.

14. Georgia Tech (9-1), ACC

I’m simply undecided the Yellow Jackets are nice anymore. After getting thumped by NC State and narrowly coming again to defeat Boston Faculty final weekend, Georgia Tech QB Haynes King and firm have lots to show. They usually’ll get Georgia on the schedule to shut out 2025.

15. Michigan (8-2), Huge Ten, At-Giant

The Wolverines' complete id has been round defeating Ohio State in every of the final 4 conferences. They usually’ll must as a way to make the CFP. With out star RB Justice Haynes, freshman phenom Bryce Underwood can have much more work to just do to get Michigan the requisite 10 wins for consideration.

16. Utah (8-2), Huge 12, Beforehand Ranked: 17

Since shedding to Texas Tech, the Utes have scored 42 factors or extra in each sport they’ve performed besides their loss to BYU. Even so, the third-best group within the Huge 12 has little likelihood of creating a 12-team CFP. In a 24-team format, although, the Utes grow to be precisely the form of postseason group nobody needs to face — a harmful squad enjoying its finest soccer on the proper time.

ON THE ROAD

17. Virginia (9-2), ACC, Beforehand Ranked: 18

at Utah

The Cavaliers might want to win the ACC Championship to make their first CFP this season, however after taking 9 of their first 11 video games — and matching the 11 whole wins from Tony Elliott’s first three years — "Why not Virginia?" looks like a battle cry with actual benefit.

18. Miami (Fla.) (8-2), ACC, At-Giant Bid, Beforehand Ranked: NR

at Michigan

The Hurricanes would have you ever consider the ACC is each bit as powerful to win because the SEC or Huge Ten. The choice committee clearly disagrees — and its Week 12 rankings made that apparent. However in a 24-team format, the committee’s opinion wouldn’t matter practically as a lot, as a result of Miami remains to be one of many 4 finest groups in its Energy 4 convention.

19. USC (8-2), Huge Ten

at Georgia Tech

The Trojans will want an enormous win over Oregon in Autzen this weekend to maintain their hopes of creating their first journey to the CFP alive.

20. North Texas (9-1), Group Of 6

at Vanderbilt

The Imply Inexperienced have the most explosive and high-scoring offenses within the nation with 45.3 factors per sport.

21. Navy (8-2), Group of 6, Beforehand Ranked: NR

at Alabama

No academy has ever accomplished what the Midshipmen may do: Make the CFP and do it with a convention title in tow.

22. Houston (8-2), Huge 12, Beforehand Ranked: NR

at Notre Dame

Houston hasn’t been adequate to contend for a nationwide title since Heisman-winning QB Andre Ware commanded the offense in 1989. That would change with a CFP bid. And whereas it’s unlikely in 2025, a 24-team playoff would give Houston a postseason path — and an actual shot on the nationwide title.

23. Pittsburgh (7-3), Huge 12, Beforehand Ranked: 16

at Texas

The Panthers have a soccer legacy that’s typically neglected — from Heisman winner Tony Dorsett to Johnny Majors main Pitt to the nationwide title in 1976. Given the expertise this system has produced since — from Dan Marino to Larry Fitzgerald to Aaron Donald — it will be thrilling to see Pat Narduzzi put Pitt again able to achieve these heights once more.

24. SMU (7-3), ACC, Beforehand Ranked: 23

at BYU

The Mustangs have been ACC killers since they joined the convention. They're 13-1 towards ACC opponents since 2024.

Above is how the CFP would look if it ended right now, however there will likely be adjustments and groups not included within the bracket that also have an opportunity to earn entry into the match.

Groups on the bubble have taken on losses, however not sufficient losses for them to not crawl into the highest quarter of their convention, and, with 10 and even simply 9 wins within the common season, may discover themselves into an automated qualifier spot.

Each sport issues. Rivalry video games matter extra.

Nobody in Columbus, Ohio, must be reminded that the Buckeyes haven’t gained "The Sport" since 2019, and a win for a Michigan group that has gained eight video games heading into "The Sport" this season may virtually definitely imply the Wolverines can be within the CFP.

Texas A&M, which hasn't gained a convention title this century or a nationwide title since 1939, must stare down their arch nemesis, Texas, with what could possibly be a spot within the SEC Championship on the road for the Aggies, and a spot within the CFP for the Longhorns.

Good, Previous-Customary Hate. The rivalry between Georgia Tech and Georgia this 12 months makes it conceivable {that a} loss to the Yellow Jackets may see the Dawgs not noted of the CFP for the primary time in three years.

The 24-team CFP takes on the perfect facets of the November rivalry: dwelling and away video games performed on campuses throughout the nation the place ambiance, emotion and pageantry are unmatched.

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

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