Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) leaves the sector following the NCAA soccer sport in opposition to the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025. Ohio State gained 14-7. PHOTO USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES Week one of many faculty soccer season already had midseason vibes, with 4 completely different top-10 groups falling to start out the yr. This isn’t 2008 anymore; all of those groups might simply make the playoffs, however a number of confirmed critical considerations.
Which of those groups must be most assured shifting ahead, and who wants to scrub up their act in the event that they suppose they’ll be within the playoff image this yr?
Texas: Loss at Ohio State, 14-7
Earlier than this sport, should you instructed Texas it might have extra speeding yards, extra passing yards and solely hand over 14 factors to the defending nationwide champions, it might take that deal.
Properly, that’s exactly what occurred, but the Longhorns managed to lose in Columbus. Texas nonetheless seems to be a workforce with playoff upside, however there must be excessive ranges of concern in Austin.
Two phrases: Arch Manning.
Ohio State put out a sport plan to maintain Arch within the pocket and make him beat them together with his arm — and he completely couldn’t. Ohio State’s protection might very simply be the very best within the nation, however Manning had all day to throw, and the working sport regarded strong all through. If he can’t begin enjoying higher, Texas has a really low ceiling. Thankfully, the ground continues to be comparatively excessive because of an elite protection and a powerful run sport.
Alabama: Loss at Florida State, 31-17
Alabama soccer coach Kalen DeBoer throughout the NCAA faculty soccer sport in opposition to Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville. Tenn. PHOTO USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES After a troublesome loss at Florida State, everyone seems to be leaping ship on Alabama means too quick.
Most individuals, myself included, vastly underrated the Seminoles — and particularly quarterback Tommy Castellanos. The 2024 season would possibly’ve simply been a worst-case state of affairs for FSU, and now they’re proper again within the ACC title combine this yr.
Nonetheless, the offensive line and line of defense play must be very regarding for Kalen DeBoer and the Tide. Ty Simpson wasn’t a celebrity, however big-time drops and fixed stress made life troublesome in his first begin in a hostile setting.
In contrast to Manning, Simpson’s teammates actually let him down fairly than the quarterback lacking throws. Alabama’s O-line regarded tough, and on protection, Castellanos made the Tide’s go rush look silly on a number of large runs.
These kinds of points will be cleaned up because the season goes on, so don’t fall off Bama simply but.
Clemson: Loss vs. LSU, 17-10
Clemson Tigers vast receiver T.J. Moore (1) is tackled by LSU Tigers linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (7) and LSU Tigers security Tamarcus Cooley (0) Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025 throughout the NCAA soccer sport at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina. The excellent news for Clemson is that the protection is nearly as good as marketed. The dangerous information is that the Tigers may need uncovered their most vital weak point in a house loss to LSU.
Clemson is a workforce that lacks depth. When Brian Kelly began working tempo, that lack of depth up entrance confirmed. Since shifting from South Bend to Baton Rouge, this felt like the primary time Kelly outcoached one other family coach.
Cade Klubnik made some big throws on this one, however he was rushed all day. Clemson had zero means to run the ball, and Klubnik made a few pricey errors that LSU capitalized on.
In two weeks, Clemson heads to Georgia Tech to face a gritty however much less gifted opponent than LSU — which may be a nationwide contender. If the Tigers nonetheless can’t run the ball in that one, then it’s time to sound the alarms.
Notre Dame: Loss at Miami, 27-24
Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Combating Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions within the Orange Bowl at Onerous Rock Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Pictures Jeremiyah Love had 10 carries for 33 yards.
Miami went into the portal this offseason and rebuilt its defensive entrance, however that doesn’t imply Notre Dame shouldn’t be wildly involved with its incapability to run the soccer.
CJ Carr appears like a much more succesful passer than Riley Leonard, however this workforce’s id must revolve round working the ball. If that doesn’t occur, Notre Dame merely isn’t a contender.
Moreover, I used to be excessive on Carson Beck getting into this season. It’s laborious to say if Notre Dame’s go protection was the larger situation or if Beck — with extra weapons this yr — would possibly simply be a sneaky excellent participant.
The excellent news for the Irish: they’ve an enormous rebound alternative with Texas A&M coming to South Bend, and I’ve zero confidence the Aggies will probably be any good.
