Early School Soccer Playoff questions after Week 1

Possibly, simply possibly, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields is that good. Possibly Auburn is able to one other particular season below coach Gus Malzahn, and Oregon is not the Pac-12’s greatest hope.

Or possibly it was all simply one other August mirage.

Week 1 ensures knee-jerk reactions and stuff you assume — however storylines do emerge, spotlighting gamers and groups that pique the curiosity of the 13 members of the School Soccer Playoff choice committee.

Sure, it is early. However guess what? It counts, from Tennessee’s mortifying residence loss in opposition to Georgia State to Boise State’s gorgeous 18-point comeback in opposition to Florida State to Auburn’s thrilling victory over Oregon to focus on Saturday. Keep in mind, the committee would not simply consider the playoff contenders; it scrutinizes their opponents, too (Iowa State wanted triple extra time to beat Northern Iowa, Mizzou misplaced to Wyoming and Ole Miss misplaced to Memphis 15-10).

We’ve not even seen the Massive 12 on the large stage but, however that may change Sunday when Oklahoma hosts Houston (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN App), and Texas hosts LSU in Week 2 (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC and ESPN App). Notre Dame at Louisville will formally punctuate Week 1 on Labor Day (eight p.m. ET, ESPN and ESPN App).

The guts of the season started Saturday, although, and these are the largest playoff questions that arose:

1 Associated

1. Does Ohio State have a championship-caliber quarterback? Fields, a switch from Georgia, seemed spectacular in his debut, accounting for 5 touchdowns — essentially the most in a participant’s first sport in Ohio State historical past — in a 45-21 win over Florida Atlantic.

Repeat: Florida Atlantic.

If Fields can duplicate that eye-popping success (he went 7-of-9 for 115 yards and three touchdowns within the first quarter, and his common cross went 17.7 yards) in opposition to the likes of Michigan State’s protection, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan, then the Buckeyes will wow us below Ryan Day. Fields actually has the supporting solid for one more Ohio State run on the high 4, however Day did not hesitate Saturday to record what the quarterback can enhance upon.

“Protections, reads, selections,” Day mentioned. “Tons to construct from off of right now. I believed general, although, sport administration was first rate. There was one time the place he scrambled out and took a sack; might have simply thrown it away. … So general so much to study from.”

Whereas Ohio State ought to beat Cincinnati subsequent weekend, do not underestimate the problem. The Bearcats will probably be feeling assured after holding UCLA to 62 dashing yards and forcing 4 turnovers in a 24-14 win.

“All points of my sport can get higher,” Fields mentioned. “I am simply going to get again within the movie room and see what errors we had and simply repair these and prepare for Cincinnati.”

2. Is the Pac-12 in for extra heartbreak? Washington. Stanford. Utah. Washington State. All ranked, all winners, however none going through the expectations and nationwide highlight like Oregon, which misplaced a 27-21 nail-biter to Auburn. Within the closing 16 seconds, Auburn freshman quarterback Bo Nix may need modified the trail of the Pac-12 with two unimaginable passes, the second a 26-yard, go-ahead landing with 9 seconds to go.

In its entirety, the league was hardly a failure in Week 1 — USC capped the evening with a 31-23 win over reigning Mountain West champs Fresno State — however there was a lot strain on Oregon to symbolize your complete convention that the one outcome looms bigger than the remaining. Whereas it would not knock the Geese or the league out of the playoff, it was a missed alternative to at the least earn extra severe consideration and respect.

“I feel our guys all acknowledge our objectives are nonetheless in entrance of us,” coach Mario Cristobal mentioned. “We’ve a extremely good group of leaders, and our program is constructed from the within out. … We construct it on the suitable stuff. So when conditions like this hit, you are ready to bounce again.”

Pac-12 groups are actually Zero-10 and have been outscored by a mean 15.5 factors of their previous 10 video games in opposition to ranked SEC groups, relationship to 2008.

Stanford’s 17-7 win over Northwestern, final season’s Massive Ten West champion, and Utah’s 30-12 win over rival BYU within the Holy Conflict ought to carry weight throughout the committee assembly room, however will not resonate as a lot as an Oregon victory over Auburn would have. Washington additionally left no room for doubt in its 47-14 win over Japanese Washington.

With nonconference video games in opposition to Hawai’i and BYU, although, Washington wants the remainder of the Pac-12 to be sturdy — together with Oregon.

three. Does the SEC should be apprehensive about energy of schedule? There isn’t any doubting the playoff energy of Alabama and Georgia, and Auburn’s win over Oregon was one other enhance for the SEC West — and the league wanted it. Tennessee actually did not assist with its loss to 25-point underdog Georgia State. The separation between the SEC heavyweights and the remainder of the league was evident on Saturday. Sure, Memphis is sweet, however Ole Miss ought to have been capable of muster greater than 10 factors in opposition to the Tigers. South Carolina additionally squandered a lead and misplaced to North Carolina 24-20 within the return of Tar Heels coach Mack Brown. Wyoming beat Missouri 37-31.

four. Is Boise State the brand new Group of 5 favourite? This was wild. The Broncos, thanks largely to a real freshman quarterback, battled again from an 18-point deficit to beat Florida State 36-31. It was a stellar efficiency by Boise’s Hank Bachmeier, who completed with 407 passing yards.

It was additionally an epic debacle by Florida State, which scored 31 factors within the first half after which nada within the second. The Noles had back-to-back fumbles and simply 68 yards within the second half. It was a devastating begin for embattled coach Willie Taggart, but it surely was precisely what Boise State wanted to enter the New Yr’s Six dialogue instantly.

The best-ranked Group of 5 convention champion is assured a spot in a New Yr’s bowl, and in keeping with ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index, the Broncos are favored to win every of their remaining video games.

Do not forget about Memphis, although, which additionally earned a Energy 5 victory Saturday, in opposition to Ole Miss. The one sport FPI offers the Tigers lower than a 50% probability to win is the regular-season finale in opposition to Cincinnati (46.2%).