No self-respecting faculty soccer program ought to ever want a bit of additional motivation heading into Rivalry Week. It’s the one recreation yearly the place data don’t matter, expertise disparity means even much less and intensely profitable head coaches discover themselves on the recent seat after a loss.
But for greater than a dozen groups this yr, the possibility to go from 5 wins to 6 wins and develop into eligible to play in a bowl recreation subsequent month ought to present all the additional juice earlier than Week 14 kicks off.
There are even two video games this weekend the place each groups enter with 5 wins. And what feels higher than beating your rival? Ending their season for good within the course of.
Listed below are the 16 groups to concentrate to on Saturday as bowl eligibility goes up for grabs one final time.
Oregon State (5-6) at Boise State (10-1), Friday, midday ET on Fox
Boise State has been the category of the Group of 5 conferences for the reason that season started. Oregon State has been in “survive and advance” mode for the reason that Pac-12 dissolved final season. The Beavers snapped a five-game dropping streak final week in opposition to Washington State. With yet another huge upset, Oregon State can go bowling and throw Boise State’s season into chaos.
Minnesota (6-4) at Wisconsin (5-6), Friday, midday ET on CBS
Paul Bunyan’s axe presently resides in Madison after a two-year stint with the Golden Gophers. Minnesota profitable it again this yr wouldn’t simply get this system to a minimum of seven wins for fifth time within the final seven seasons, it might additionally forestall Wisconsin from reaching a bowl recreation for the primary time since 2001.
Kansas (5-6) at Baylor (7-4), Saturday, midday ET on ESPN2
Arguably one of the best five-win group within the nation, the Kansas Jayhawks tackle Baylor after turning into the primary sub .500 group in faculty soccer historical past to defeat three consecutive ranked opponents (No. 17 Iowa State, No. 6 BYU and No. 16 Colorado). Kansas has been extraordinarily aggressive in each recreation this season, so the turnaround isn’t any shock. But a win on Saturday would ship the Jayhawks to a 3rd straight bowl recreation for the primary time in class historical past.
Louisiana (9-2) at UL Monroe (5-6), Saturday, midday ET on ESPNU
UL Monroe had a stable begin to the yr going 5-1, with a lone loss to No. 1 Texas, and spectacular wins over James Madison and UAB. Then it misplaced 5 straight to sit down at 5-6 heading into Rivalry Week. A victory over Louisiana could be a mightily spectacular approach to shut out Bryan Vincent’s first season main the Warhawks.
North Texas (5-6) at Temple (3-8), Saturday, midday ET on ESPN+
North Texas has boasted arguably one of the best offense amongst all non-Energy 4 colleges this season with a 493.7 yards per recreation common that sits third-best in all of FBS. Temple simply fired its head coach and has followers apprehensive about the college’s dedication to fielding a soccer program typically.
Japanese Michigan (5-6) at Western Michigan (5-6), Saturday, 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+
Considered one of two rivalry video games this week the place each groups want a win to develop into bowl eligible. Western Michigan snapped a four-game dropping streak on this recreation final yr and stays the favourite this time round.
Coastal Carolina (5-6) at Georgia State (3-8), Saturday, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+
All Coastal must do is get previous a Georgia State group that misplaced to Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, Outdated Dominion, UConn, James Madison and Arkansas State. And but the Panthers are favored on this one after dropping 55 factors in a win at Texas State final week.
Auburn (5-6) at Alabama (8-3), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
An Iron Bowl matchup the place Alabama can attempt one final time to bolster its playoff resume whereas Auburn seems to be to burn all of it down and attain a bowl recreation in consecutive seasons. That is, fairly actually, the sport Hugh Freeze was employed to win.
Rutgers (6-5) at Michigan State (5-6), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1
Michigan State has been to at least one bowl recreation since head coach Mark Dantonio left this system in 2019 — it misplaced the Peach Bowl in 2021. Jonathan Smith may have the Spartans enjoying in December as soon as once more in Yr 1. All he has to do is get previous Greg Schiano’s Rutger’s group at house.
NC State (5-6) at North Carolina (6-5), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Community
Mack Brown is out as the top coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, however he’ll be allowed to educate the common season finale in opposition to NC State. Beating your in-state rival to disclaim it a bowl recreation in your (seemingly) final look on the sidelines? That positive looks like one thing that Mack Brown would do.
TCU (7-4) at Cincinnati (5-6), Saturday, 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+
The Bearcats enter as a house underdog to a TCU group that’s rattled off wins in opposition to Texas Tech, Utah, Oklahoma State and Arizona — not precisely the Massive 12’s Assassin’s Row. It is a very winnable recreation for Cincy and it might be fairly a catastrophe to drop it.
App State (5-5) at Georgia Southern (7-4), Saturday, 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+
App State, admittedly, has endured a fairly bizarre season — even by App State requirements. It started the yr with blowout losses in opposition to Clemson and South Alabama, then rebounded late within the season with wins over Georgia State, Outdated Dominion and James Madison. This isn’t the Large Killer of a Mountaineers group we’re used to and Georgia Southern won’t be a pushover.
Virginia (5-6) at Virginia Tech (5-6), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET on ACC Community
Two rivals who completely detest one another and who every want a victory to achieve a bowl recreation. This one is in Blacksburg. We shouldn’t must say any extra.
New Mexico (5-6) at Hawaii (4-7), Saturday 11 p.m. ET
The final kickoff of the ultimate Saturday of the school soccer common season actually issues! New Mexico — and a Lobos’ offense ranked fourth within the FBS — heads to Hawaii as a slight favourite to win out and develop into bowl eligible.
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