2024 school soccer rankings: Joel Klatt’s prime 10 groups after Week 7

When the college football schedules have been made and set for this season, Oct. 12 was one of many dates all of us circled. We anticipated that day for months, and it actually delivered.

There have been thrilling finishes all weekend. Penn State got here again to win and stay undefeated following its journey to USC. LSU took down Ole Miss in time beyond regulation. Tennessee additionally wanted time beyond regulation to beat Florida, which was a little bit of a shock. 

In fact, the massive one was Oregon‘s thrilling win over Ohio State. The Geese performed their greatest sport of the yr of their greatest sport of the yr. Effectively achieved, Oregon. That was an amazing environment, and Ohio State traveled properly. The sport lived as much as the hype and delivered equally to the Georgia–Alabama sport simply a few weeks in the past.

It is laborious to argue with superconferences following video games like that, is not it? That stated, let’s get into my prime 10. 

1. Texas (Final week: 1)
Report: 6-0
Week 7 end result: Defeated Oklahoma, 34-3

I thought-about placing Oregon at No. 1, however the best way Texas performed Saturday was sufficient to maintain the highest spot. 

Texas’ win over Oklahoma was solely shut in the course of the first quarter, when quarterback Quinn Ewers was knocking off some rust in his return. Texas outgained Oklahoma by 170 yards. Texas has each the No. 1 scoring offense and protection within the nation. The latter could be a bit inflated based mostly on the timing of its sport towards Oklahoma and Michigan. 

Merely put, the Longhorns appear like the perfect workforce within the nation. 

2. Oregon (Final week: 4)
Report: 6-0
Week 7 end result: Defeated Ohio State, 33-32

The Oregon workforce we noticed Saturday was the model we anticipated to see all season. Oregon obtained off to a little bit of a sluggish begin, profitable a pair of video games to open the yr that have been nearer than they need to’ve been. 

Saturday was the sort of sport that Oregon introduced in QB Dillon Gabriel for, and he delivered. Dan Lanning should be thrilled. I’ve watched Gabriel for a very long time, and that was top-of-the-line video games he is performed. He was sensational. His downfield passing and talent to flee on a few of his runs have been great. 

What impressed me probably the most about Gabriel’s elite efficiency — 397 complete yards of offense and three complete touchdowns — was that he performed outdoors his strengths. I’ve stated for some time that he is a card supplier or a degree guard. Ohio State’s sport plan was designed to cease that. So, it was unbelievable to see Gabriel launch the ball down the sphere. Because of this, Gabriel additionally launched his Heisman marketing campaign. That is how good he was.

We additionally should give credit score to Oregon’s offensive line. That unit struggled within the first couple weeks of the season. Gabriel was pressured on roughly 40% of his dropbacks, however he wasn’t sacked. 

Gabriel and Oregon’s offense actually lit up Ohio State’s protection. Ohio State gave up 7.5 yards per play in Saturday’s sport, which is probably the most it gave up in a sport since late within the 2022 season. Oregon huge receiver Evan Stewart actually beat up Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke in one of many greater particular person matchups of that sport.

3. Ohio State (Final week: 2)
Report: 5-1
Week 7 end result: Misplaced to Oregon, 33-32

Ohio State solely fell a spot within the rankings after that shut battle, however one thing wants to vary with its protection. Once you watch the movie, it did not really feel like Ohio State gave up almost 500 yards of offense, 7.5 yards per play and 5 yards per carry. It felt like Ohio State performed some nice protection earlier than permitting a giant play on sure drives.

Why have been these massive performs taking place? There have been a couple of points with Ohio State’s protection. It wasn’t an excellent tackling night time. Nice defenses at all times sort out properly. That is amplified once you’re taking part in man protection like Ohio State largely did on Saturday. It is like throwing gasoline on a fireplace. 

One other factor I noticed on the movie was Ohio State operating subject protection typically, which implies that the defensive lineman that is thought-about a three-technique was to the huge facet of the sphere, predominantly. It did not observe the tight finish or power of the offense as a lot because it was known as to the huge facet of the sphere. Which means the one-technique defensive lineman is lined up over the middle whereas there was a three-technique lined up over the tackles. There was a gap within the B-Hole and Ohio State wasn’t defending that hole properly. Oregon was hurting Ohio State on short-side runs and the Buckeyes did not modify in time.

Lastly, Ohio State did not get sufficient stress on Gabriel. When you do not get sufficient stress on the quarterback, your defensive backs shall be crushed. There’s not a defensive again within the nation that may be capable of cowl for so long as Oregon was giving Gabriel to throw. 

As for Will Howard, he performed tremendously for many of the sport. In reality, Ohio State’s offense was extra environment friendly all through the sport. However there have been a few moments the place Howard did not play properly, and everybody will do not forget that. He had a dropped snap on a snap late within the third quarter, and he missed WR Jeremiah Smith on the sticks on a third-down throw on Ohio State’s penultimate drive. In fact, there was additionally the ultimate play, the place he did not understand how a lot time was on the clock to get down and set his workforce up for a subject objective. 

That was an exceptional sport, although. I am unable to wait to see these groups play once more. However Ohio State might need to run the desk within the common season to get to the Big Ten title sport now.

4. Georgia (Final week: 3)
Report: 5-1
Week 7 end result: Defeated Mississippi State, 41-31

I am nonetheless using with Georgia, nevertheless it’s obtained some warts. We would need to be a bit involved in regards to the Bulldogs, although. Whereas QB Carson Beck threw for over 400 yards on Saturday, Georgia hasn’t been nice on the bottom. It had a nice floor assault towards Mississippi State, however the Bulldogs are a one-win workforce. Georgia has rushed for lower than 4 yards per carry in half of its video games to date. 

We’ll know all the things we have to find out about Georgia after Saturday’s sport towards Texas. I believe Kirby Sensible could have the Dawgs prepared for that one. 

5. Penn State (Final week: 5)
Report: 6-0
Week 7 end result: Defeated USC, 33-30 (OT)

This felt like a large, monumental win for James Franklin. USC wasn’t ranked coming into this matchup, however I believe it is higher than its 3-3 file suggests. We all know that Penn State has come up quick in these types of moments over the previous few years. If Penn State misplaced that sport, it will’ve gotten hit the “standard Penn State tag.”

PSU QB Drew Allar ought to obtain some credit score for this win. He did not play his greatest sport, however he was nice in massive moments. He had two big fourth-down conversions and threw for 391 yards, bouncing again from the three interceptions he threw to ship some unconscious moments late in that sport. WR Julian Fleming and TE Tyler Warren stepped up in big moments, which I believe was the largest a part of that win. In the event that they turn into constant threats, that’d actually spherical out an already well-rounded workforce. We all know PSU’s run sport and protection are good, so that may be a serious growth for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State comes again from a 14-point deficit to beat USC in time beyond regulation

6. Clemson (Final week: 7)
Report: 5-1
Week 7 end result: Defeated Wake Forest, 49-14

I have been on the Clemson bandwagon for not less than a couple of weeks. Some folks won’t wish to hear it after this workforce was blown out by Georgia in Week 1, however they’ve developed offensively and are much better now than what they have been at the beginning of the yr. The Tigers had one other sport the place they have been near scoring almost 50 factors. With the best way QB Cade Klubnik and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley are rolling, I consider Clemson goes to win the ACC.

7. Alabama (Final week: 6)
Report: 5-1
Week 7 end result: Defeated South Carolina, 27-25

What was that sport on Saturday, Alabama? Are we panicking, Alabama followers? The protection did not play nice after it went up 14-0 towards South Carolina. If this workforce performs a workforce that is any good, they will need to play completely on offense and can possible must win in a shootout. In the event that they play a workforce that they need to beat, they’ll possible win by a major margin, except QB Jalen Milroe and the offense do not play properly. 

That is what occurred on Saturday. Alabama’s protection hasn’t gotten any higher throughout this season. We’ll see if head coach Kalen DeBoer can get Alabama locked in on a week-to-week foundation like Nick Saban did for almost twenty years.

8. LSU (Final week: Unranked)
Report: 5-1
Week 7 end result: Defeated Ole Miss, 29-26 (OT)

LSU is in an excellent place transferring ahead after Saturday’s win. I am LSU’s sport towards Texas A&M on Oct. 26 as a sport that’s wanting prefer it may decide one of many spots within the SEC Championship Recreation. QB Garrett Nussmeier was terrific towards Ole Miss.

9. Iowa State (Final week: 10)
Report: 6-0
Week 7 end result: Defeated West Virginia, 28-16

Is that this an overrank? Perhaps. However I belief Matt Campbell’s squad. That is a extremely sound soccer workforce. It performs high quality protection, and I believe its offense is best than folks understand. 

No. 11 Iowa State Cyclones vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Highlights

10. Miami (Fla.) (Final week: 8)
Report: 6-0
Week 7 end result: Idle

I simply do not belief the Hurricanes proper now, not less than not with how the wins over Virginia Tech and Cal performed out. Miami is in my prime 10 due to QB Cam Ward, however solely No. 10. 

Joel Klatt is FOX Sports activities’ lead school soccer sport analyst and the host of the podcast “The Joel Klatt Show.” Observe him at @joelklatt and subscribe to the “Joel Klatt Show” on YouTube.

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