The dash to the end of the 2026 faculty soccer common season is right here.
Week 11 options 5 video games between groups within the high 25 of the Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings and a bunch of different video games between ranked groups and opponents who aren't that far exterior the rankings. Right here's what you have to know forward of Saturday's slate.
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Duke at No. 7 Miami
We have been shocked to see the Blue Devils unranked in Tuesday evening's CFP rankings.
Sure, Duke's two losses are to Georgia Tech and North Carolina, and sure, their final two video games have been in opposition to Boston Faculty and NC State. However two wins by a mixed rating of 88-5 is spectacular, regardless of who the opponents are.
There are solely two energy convention groups who’re 7-2 and unranked within the CFP's rankings. Each are within the ACC. SMU can be 7-2.
Saturday's sport is the possibility for extra faculty soccer followers to find out about Nate Sheppard's greatness. The Duke operating again has 191 carries for 1,189 yards and 17 scores. And there are nonetheless three video games to go within the common season. After 4 consecutive video games with fewer than 100 yards, Sheppard had 18 carries for 217 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to NC State. He has eight dashing TDs over the previous two video games.
Miami is seeking to rebound after its loss to Notre Dame. It took some time for Cooper Barkate and Elija Lofton to emerge in opposition to the Preventing Irish as Darian Mensah had his worst passing sport of the season. Can the Hurricanes lean into the run sport greater than they did in opposition to Notre Dame? Javian Mallory had simply three carries for 14 yards, whereas Mark Fletcher rushed 13 instances for 57 yards.
If Miami will get the win, the Hurricanes will be on the point of the ACC title sport. Duke would have a 3rd ACC loss and Wake Forest will both have two losses or SMU can have a 3rd convention loss.
No. 18 USC at No. 9 Indiana
Can USC do one thing it's by no means executed in Lincoln Riley's time with the Trojans?
Riley's USC groups have by no means overwhelmed a ranked opponent on the street exterior of Los Angeles. Over Riley's four-plus seasons in LA, the one win over a ranked opponent on the street got here in 2022, when USC beat then-No. 16 UCLA 48-45 on the Rose Bowl. Exterior of these video games, USC is 0-7 because the visiting crew in opposition to a crew within the AP High 25.
Each the Trojans and Hoosiers are coming off bye weeks. Week 10 was USC's second of the season after it performed in Week Zero. By three journeys to the Central and Jap Time zones this season, USC is 2-1 with one-score wins over Rutgers and Penn State, and an unsightly 24-7 loss at Wisconsin.
In fact, USC rebounded after that Wisconsin sport to take down Ohio State and instantly soar again into the highest 25. Massive performs fueled that win and it's unlikely that USC can rely on replicating that method in opposition to an Indiana protection that's been among the finest within the nation — and might rush the passer higher than Ohio State has this season.
The Hoosiers may begin QB Grant Wilson after he took over within the second half for a banged-up Josh Hoover within the additional time win over Minnesota. Irrespective of who begins at quarterback, we anticipate Indiana to attempt to overpower a USC protection that's giving up practically 125 yards a sport on the bottom. Indiana's run sport continues to be among the finest within the nation regardless of the struggles by way of the air.
No. 2 Utah at No. 23 Arizona
May the Massive 12 title race get thrown into chaos on Saturday evening? Wins by Arizona and Oklahoma State may put an enormous wrench in a possible Utah vs. Texas Tech matchup in Arlington.
Because it stands getting into Saturday, Utah is atop the convention with a 6-0 file, whereas Texas Tech is 5-1. After them, there are 5 groups at 4-2: BYU, Houston, Arizona, Baylor and Oklahoma State. That group may improve to 6, and all of them could possibly be only a sport again of the Utes.
How a lot of a letdown spot is that this sport for the Utes, who’ve taken down two ranked opponents and a Cincinnati crew contemporary off a win over the Purple Raiders throughout the final three weeks? Within the greatest Holy Battle so far, Utah jumped out to a giant lead after which wanted to return again from a BYU comeback to beat the Cougars 28-20.
A win over Arizona and a robust sport from QB Devon Dampier can vault him into the Heisman dialog. Dampier has thrown for 20 scores and run for seven others whereas finishing 68% of his passes.
After a loss at Texas Tech, Arizona wanted some late-game wildness to beat an eight-point deficit within the fourth quarter to beat TCU 29-28. The Wildcats are nonetheless harmful, and Noah Fifita could possibly be one of the best quarterback the Utes have performed all season. He's finishing 73% of his passes and has thrown for over 300 yards in every of Arizona's previous 4 video games.
No. 6 Texas at No. 21 LSU
LSU's playoff hopes are formally gone with a loss to the Longhorns, whereas Texas seems to have the ability to stand up to a defeat and nonetheless make the postseason.
Texas moved up a spot to No. 6 after beating Missouri and the Tigers remained within the CFP's rankings. That's vital, as Texas can now boast 4 wins over groups on this week's high 25. A fifth win Saturday evening virtually assures Texas of a playoff spot even when the Longhorns lose to both Arkansas or Texas A&M over the ultimate two weeks of the season.
LSU, in the meantime, is on the point of lacking the playoff in Lane Kiffin's first season and, should you actually wish to be pessimistic, is nearer to 7-5 than it’s to creating the postseason. We're fascinated to see how aggressive Kiffin is in opposition to an excellent Texas protection after his fourth-down failures in opposition to Alabama. LSU was 0-of-4 on fourth-down makes an attempt within the loss to the Crimson Tide. Will he be dissuaded, particularly if he faces an early fourth-down resolution?
The Longhorns may have Cam Coleman again after he sat out the Missouri sport and may have a more healthy Colin Simmons. The star edge rusher tried to offer it a go in his first sport again from an ankle harm, however ended up sitting out the second half in opposition to Mizzou. No opposing offense has averaged over 6 yards a play in opposition to LSU all season, and not one of the Tigers' final three opponents have collected over 300 yards.
But LSU has additionally compelled only one turnover in that span. The Tigers may have a pair from Arch Manning to get the win.
No. 12 Texas Tech at No. 25 Oklahoma State
We're ready for a second straight Texas Tech sport to have over 100 whole factors.
In Week 10, Texas Tech took down West Virginia 53-48 due to a late security on a sack of Mountaineers QB Michael Hawkins. Oklahoma State, in the meantime, had 49 factors within the first half because it beat Kansas State 66-28.
This isn’t the Texas Tech protection we watched a 12 months in the past. Whereas Jacob Rodriguez completed fifth within the Heisman voting and Tech allowed 11.8 factors per sport final 12 months, the Purple Raiders are giving up 24 factors per sport and 5.6 yards a play in 2026. Tech ranks sixty fifth in opponent factors per sport.
Former Florida State and Boston Faculty QB Thomas Castellanos has rushed for over 100 yards in every of his two begins since taking on for Will Hammond as Texas Tech's quarterback. Castellanos rushed 23 instances for 102 yards and threw for 362 yards and 5 touchdowns in opposition to WVU.
The OSU protection is best than West Virginia's — although that's damning with faint reward. Oklahoma State is 93rd within the nation in scoring protection at 27.2 factors per sport. But when it could actually gradual Castellanos and RB J'Koby Williams down sufficient, OSU's offense can take benefit.
QB Drew Mestemaker is sneaking up the Heisman odds and has thrown for 29 TDs and practically 3,000 yards. RB Caleb Hawkins has rushed for 1,081 yards and has added 424 yards receiving. Each WR Wyatt Younger and WR Justin Bowick have over 750 receiving yards.
Since scoring simply 10 factors in Week 1 in opposition to Tulsa, Oklahoma State hasn't scored fewer than 32 over its final eight video games. Texas Tech has given up at the least 25 factors in its final 4 video games. The components are very a lot there for a shootout.
Different video games to look at
No. 13 Wake Forest at SMU (-1.5) (Midday ET, ESPN): A win for Wake Forest places the Demon Deacons in prime place for the ACC title sport forward of video games vs. Georgia Tech and Duke. SMU isn't out of the ACC title image both, and has No. 5 Notre Dame in Week 12. The Mustangs bounced again from a Halloween loss at Syracuse with a dominating Friday evening win over Virginia Tech in Week 10.
Northwestern at No. 20 Ohio State (-12.5) (Midday ET, Fox): You need to return to the 2011 season when Ohio State completed 6-7 to seek out the Buckeyes' final three-game dropping streak. Northwestern's Aidan Chiles missed the Wildcats' loss to Iowa and his presence could also be paramount to Northwestern's hopes of an upset. Northwestern had simply 286 yards of offense on 69 performs in opposition to the Hawkeyes.
No. 8 Tennessee (-2.5) at Texas A&M (3 p.m. ET, ESPN): Sure, Texas A&M is simply 1-5 in SEC play and nonetheless lower than a subject objective underdog to a top-10 opponent. That's how the SEC has gone this 12 months. It wouldn't be shocking within the slightest to see the Aggies get the win as Tennessee is coming off an enormous residence win over Kentucky.
No. 22 Missouri at No. 1 Georgia (-15.5) (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC): The Tigers have been nonetheless in some way ranked after dropping at residence to Texas and wish wins over Georgia, Kentucky and Oklahoma to also have a hope of creating the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Georgia appears to be like just like the clear high crew within the convention after its demolition of Ole Miss following a simple win over Florida.
Florida at No. 11 Kentucky (-3.5) (6:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): The Wildcats are the final crew provisionally within the playoff after their loss to the Volunteers. Florida, in the meantime, has misplaced 4 of its final 5 video games after a 4-0 begin. The Wildcats have gained the final three matchups in opposition to the Gators in Lexington, together with a 38-7 win in 2025.
