Week 13 of the school soccer season will reveal the reality about who’s for actual and who’s not. Take No. 5 Indiana, for instance. The Hoosiers have blown previous most of their opponents this season, are 10-0 for the primary time in class historical past and first-year head coach Curt Cignetti has already signed a brand new contract. How will they deal with the stress of dealing with No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus? Can they pull off an enormous upset?
Then, there’s No. 16 Colorado, which is using a four-game successful streak and controls its personal future in successful the Massive 12. Standing in its means this week is unranked Kansas, which has sneakily crushed two ranked opponents in consecutive weeks. Will the Buffs be the Jayhawks’ subsequent sufferer?
In the meantime, No. 19 Military stays undefeated and takes on its first ranked crew of the season in No. 6 Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium. Can the Black Knights hold their excellent streak going?
With that, listed here are the highest 5 video games to look at this weekend:
No. 5 Indiana at No. 2 Ohio State (12 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities app)
Indiana is without doubt one of the most nice surprises of the 12 months. In the course of the preseason, the Hoosiers have been ranked close to the underside of the Massive Ten. However new coach Curt Cignetti has impressed a crew stuffed with transfers, and now Indiana has an enormous alternative on Saturday. One of many knocks on IU, nevertheless, is the truth that it has but to play a ranked opponent. Groups can solely play the groups on their schedule. It isn’t the Hoosiers’ fault they did not draw Oregon or Penn State and that defending-champion Michigan is not the crew it was final 12 months.
Now they’ve an opportunity to make one of many largest statements of the season vs. No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus, with convention championship and Faculty Soccer Playoff stakes galore for each side. For the Buckeyes, it is why so many star gamers determined to remain in class yet another 12 months earlier than going to the NFL.
This season has been nationwide title-or-bust for Ryan Day’s crew, and the Buckeyes have already got one loss to Oregon on their résumé. Even when OSU loses on Saturday, it ought to nonetheless make the CFP as a two-loss crew, however the Buckeyes would favor to not entertain that concept.
No. 9 Ole Miss at Florida (12 p.m. ET)
Florida began the season 1-2 with blowout losses to Miami and Texas A&M at residence. Because the season went on, the Gators improved some, however struggled to beat ranked opponents. After a 34-20 loss to rival Georgia on Nov. 2, nevertheless, athletic director Scott Stricklin introduced that coach Billy Napier would return subsequent season. Florida responded to that information by getting beat up by Texas the next week, however turned issues round final Saturday when it upset then-No. 22 LSU, 27-16. Are the Gators discovering their confidence? They should win their last two video games in opposition to Ole Miss and Florida State to develop into bowl eligible, creating a way of urgency.
Nevertheless, this can be a scorching Ole Miss crew touring to The Swamp. The 2-loss Rebels are on the point of making the 12-team playoff and may’t afford any missteps. Earlier this week, coach Lane Kiffin stated he believes his crew is “peaking on the proper time,” which actually appears to be the case after knocking off then-No. 2 Georgia, 28-10, on Nov. 9. There’s so much at stake for each groups on this SEC showdown, and neither can afford to stumble.
No. 14 BYU at No. 21 Arizona State (3:30 p.m. ET)
BYU suffered its first lack of the season final week when it was upset 17-13 by Kansas at residence. Now, Saturday’s matchup vs. Arizona State is a must-win for the Cougars in the event that they need to hold their Massive 12 title and CFP hopes alive. With a loss, they’d nonetheless have a shot at making the convention championship recreation. On the identical time, the Massive 12 is so murky proper now with different two-loss groups ready for somebody forward of them within the standings to make a mistake, so successful would simply make issues simpler.
There are two weeks left within the common season, and BYU, Colorado, Arizona State and Iowa State all have an opportunity to make the convention title recreation. Solar Devils coach Kenny Dillingham was requested about all the assorted eventualities earlier this week, and advised reporters what he advised his gamers: “Do not get misplaced within the sauce.” ASU hasn’t performed in a recreation of this magnitude shortly. And after beating then-No. 16 Kansas State final week, they’re in higher form to contend for a Massive 12 title in the event that they win on Saturday.
No. 16 Colorado at Kansas (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports activities app)
Talking of the messy Massive 12, Colorado and Kansas shall be enjoying concurrently BYU and Arizona State. CU is tied with BYU on the high of the convention at 6-1. If each groups win out, they will see one another in Arlington, Texas on Dec. 7. The Buffaloes seemed sturdy final week on their approach to a 49-24 win over Utah. QB Sheduer Sanders overcame a shaky begin to throw for 340 yards and three touchdowns, whereas Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter made play after play, together with scoring a landing and making an interception.
The Buffs are feeling assured proper now and are so near the Massive 12 championship and CFP that they’ll style it. Nevertheless, Kansas has gotten into the behavior of pulling off upsets. In reality, the Jayhawks beat ranked opponents (then-No. 17 Iowa State adopted by then-No. 6 BYU) in consecutive weeks for the primary time in program historical past. Is Colorado subsequent? After beginning the season 2-6, KU is now 4-6 and may develop into bowl eligible with wins over Colorado and Baylor to complete the common season. So the Jayhawks have one thing to play for right here, too.
No. 19 Military at No. 6 Notre Dame (7 p.m. ET)
In case you forgot, there are solely three unbeaten FBS groups left. Oregon, Indiana and … Military. The Black Knights are on a 13-game successful streak courting again to final season and are hoping to beat the Combating Irish for the primary time since 1958. An upset right here would then thrust the CFP into chaos by way of what number of Group of 5 groups probably make the 12-team area. If Military stays undefeated and wins the American Athletic Convention and Boise State wins out and turns into the Mountain West champion, issues may get attention-grabbing for the choice committee.
To not get too far forward of ourselves, however the level right here is that Military has an opportunity to dramatically shake issues up. It will not be straightforward, nevertheless, because the Irish have the sting on the subject of expertise and physicality. They’re additionally decided to complete the season sturdy as a result of in the event that they stumble, they will be eradicated from playoff competition due to a Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois. Each groups have stingy defenses, ranked first (Military) and third (Notre Dame) in scoring protection, holding opponents to 10.3 and 11.4 factors per recreation, respectively. Stopping the run and taking good care of the ball will decide who wins.
Laken Litman covers school soccer, school basketball and soccer for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand wrote for Sports activities Illustrated, USA In the present day and The Indianapolis Star. She is the creator of “Robust Like a Lady,” printed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Comply with her at @LakenLitman.
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