Editor’s notice: The Athletic 134 is a weekly rating of all FBS faculty soccer groups.
“You could possibly not stay with your individual failure. The place did that convey you? Again to me.”
When Nick Saban retired, many puzzled whether or not Alabama would take a step again. It needed to, proper? The best coach within the historical past of the game was gone. Absolutely the times of the Alabama dynasty had lastly ended. Georgia had emerged as the brand new Alabama.
However like Thanos, Bama could also be inevitable. After a 41-34 win in opposition to Georgia, the Tide have returned to the No. 1 spot within the Athletic 134 rankings.
It’s Alabama’s first time atop these rankings because the 2022 preseason. That yr, Georgia took over one week in after plastering Oregon, and the Tide haven’t been again to No. 1 since then.
Nevertheless it seems while you let head coach Kalen DeBoer scheme up some stuff for elite-level expertise, he can do quite a bit. Jalen Milroe seems to be like the very best quarterback within the nation. After the wild swings of the Recreation of the 12 months, I don’t precisely know really feel about each groups. Alabama had a 28-0 lead and likewise blew a 28-0 lead. Georgia overcame that deficit on the street. However ultimately, it’s the very best win of the season for any crew, so Alabama strikes up from No. 7 to No. 1.
Georgia falls to No. 3, and never solely due to this consequence. The Week 1 blowout of Clemson seems to be higher with every week. The Bulldogs’ schedule doesn’t get simpler, nevertheless, with a visit to No. 2 Texas only a few weeks away.
GO DEEPER
If Alabama is No. 1, how far ought to Georgia fall? Behind the AP High 25 poll
Right here is the newest version of The Athletic 134.
1-10
I’m conscious the SEC has the highest 4 spots right here. I don’t anticipate that to be the case by the tip of the season. However to this point, Alabama beat Georgia, Texas beat Michigan, Georgia beat Clemson and Tennessee beat NC State and Oklahoma. In order that’s how it’s proper now. Ohio State’s large video games are developing, and the Buckeyes will transfer up in the event that they win.
Miami slips to No. 8 after needing an overturned Hail Mary to beat Virginia Tech, and Penn State beat a ranked Illinois crew to maneuver as much as No. 7. I don’t assume the ceiling could be very excessive for Michigan after it held on to beat Minnesota, however the Wolverines’ win in opposition to USC final week means they’re going to remain round right here till one thing modifications.
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Stewart Mandel’s 12-team Playoff projections after Week 5
11-25
| Rank | Group | File | Prev |
|---|---|---|---|
|
11 |
3-1 |
13 |
|
|
12 |
5-0 |
16 |
|
|
13 |
3-1 |
17 |
|
|
14 |
4-0 |
14 |
|
|
15 |
3-1 |
15 |
|
|
16 |
4-1 |
21 |
|
|
17 |
4-1 |
9 |
|
|
18 |
4-1 |
22 |
|
|
19 |
5-0 |
24 |
|
|
20 |
4-1 |
5 |
|
|
21 |
4-1 |
26 |
|
|
22 |
4-1 |
19 |
|
|
23 |
4-0 |
27 |
|
|
24 |
3-1 |
30 |
|
|
25 |
4-1 |
36 |
BYU jumps as much as No. 12 after beating Baylor, however its earlier win in opposition to SMU continues to look higher after the Mustangs moved to 4-1 with a 42-16 beatdown of Florida State. (Final weekend’s Okay-State win seems to be higher, too). Clemson is as much as No. 13 and nonetheless rolling since Week 1 after a 40-14 win in opposition to Stanford.
Utah drops from No. 9 to No. 17 after a 23-10 loss to Arizona. It’s actually laborious to put the Utes as a result of we don’t know when (or if) injured quarterback Cam Rising will come again. Notre Dame inches as much as No. 18 after beating Louisville. The loss to Northern Illinois continues to look worse, however the wins in opposition to Louisville and Texas A&M assist. Indiana continues to roll, as much as No. 19 after a 42-28 win in opposition to Maryland.
Ole Miss drops from No. 5 to No. 20 after a 20-17 loss to Kentucky. The Rebels simply don’t have any good wins to offset the loss and make a case for a better rating. They’ve crushed Furman, Center Tennessee, Wake Forest and Georgia Southern. Oklahoma is again into the highest 25 after a comeback win at Auburn. Undefeated UNLV is again in after beating Fresno State 59-14, and Boise State enters the highest 25 after beating Washington State 45-24.
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Vannini: Alabama-Georgia did not have stakes due to the CFP? Suppose once more
26-50
Texas A&M’s win in opposition to Arkansas strikes the Aggies as much as No. 29. Navy’s 41-18 win at UAB slides the Midshipmen as much as No. 31. Rutgers strikes as much as No. 32 after beating Washington on Friday night time, and Arizona is as much as No. 33 after the win in opposition to Utah. It’s Arizona’s 31-7 loss to Kansas State a couple of weeks again that retains the Wildcats from being increased for now.
Oklahoma State tumbles from No. 20 to No. 37 after a 42-20 loss to Okay-State. The Cowboys are 0-2 in Large 12 play and wanted a late comeback to beat Arkansas. Kentucky’s win in opposition to Ole Miss strikes the Wildcats as much as No. 39, however Week 2’s blowout loss to South Carolina retains the Wildcats behind the Gamecocks for now.
Colorado jumps from No. 67 to No. 44 after a 48-21 win at UCF, simply probably the most spectacular efficiency of the Deion Sanders period.
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Mandel’s Last Ideas: Do not blink! Bama-Georgia simply one other NIL-era traditional
51-75
No. 55 NIU is now 0-2 since its Notre Dame upset, however the Huskies stayed shut in a 24-17 loss to NC State, which strikes as much as No. 54. Virginia Tech really ticks up two spots to No. 56 after its overturned Hail Mary loss to Miami, given the character of that end. Military is 4-0 and as much as No. 62 after its third consecutive win in opposition to an Owls crew (FAU, Rice, Temple).
Sam Houston jumps from No. 91 to No. 68 after a 40-39 win in opposition to Texas State to maneuver to 4-1. Since an 0-8 begin as an FBS program final yr, the Bearkats are 7-2 of their final 9 video games.
76-100
Kansas drops to No. 80 after falling to 1-4. The Jayhawks entered the weekend with three consecutive one-score losses, however their newest setback was a 38-27 loss to TCU. Florida State tumbles once more all the way down to No. 81 after a blowout loss at SMU.
Louisiana strikes as much as No. 84 after beating Wake Forest, which drops to No. 88. UConn makes a giant leap as much as No. 86 after a dominant 47-3 win in opposition to Buffalo. The Huskies are undoubtedly trending up over the past three weeks. Georgia State drops out of the highest 50 to No. 85 after dropping to Georgia Southern, dampening the worth of the win in opposition to Vanderbilt. USF could also be beat up after a troublesome nonconference schedule, dropping to No. 87 after a 45-10 loss to Tulane.
East Carolina beat UTSA 30-20 to maneuver as much as No. 92. Purdue and Mississippi State saved it shut with Nebraska and Texas, respectively, within the first half, however they continue to be the lowest-ranked Energy 4 groups at No. 98 and No. 99. Purdue fired offensive coordinator Graham Harrell on Sunday.
GO DEEPER
School Soccer Playoff 2024 projections: Alabama rising, Notre Dame again in bracket
101-134
ULM is as much as No. 101, now 3-1 after beating Troy. That’s already an enchancment on final season’s 2-10 file for first-year coach Bryant Vincent. Bowling Inexperienced competed properly with Penn State and Texas A&M however drops to No. 105 after dropping to beforehand winless Outdated Dominion. Wyoming additionally acquired its first win of the season, over Air Power, to maneuver as much as No. 119, whereas Air Power drops to No. 120 with Navy developing subsequent.
San Diego State falls to No. 112 after a last-second area purpose loss to Central Michigan. Charlotte beat Rice in a wild end to maneuver to 2-3 and rise up to No. 124.
We’re down to simply three winless groups, and so they make up the underside three. Additionally they every have losses to FCS packages, after Kennesaw State misplaced 24-13 to UT Martin. Kent State stays at No. 134. The Golden Flashes performed Japanese Michigan shut within the field rating, however 4 turnovers led to a 52-33 loss.
The Athletic 134 sequence is a part of a partnership with Allstate. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Companions haven’t any management over or enter into the reporting or enhancing course of and don’t assessment tales earlier than publication.
(Picture: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Photos)
