Week 10 in faculty soccer is right here as we glance towards some thrilling convention video games.
Saturday will function a must-see matchup between No. 4 Ohio State and No. 3 Penn State at Beaver Stadium. Ohio State quarterback Will Howard is able to tackle the group he rooted for rising up in Pennsylvania, whereas Penn State quarterback Drew Allar is a game-time choice after sustaining a left knee harm. What modifications would the Nittany Lions need to make if Allar is unable to play?
No. 18 Pitt and No. 20 SMU face one another in an enormous ACC matchup Saturday night, with each groups getting into this recreation undefeated in convention play. Whereas each groups underwent some modifications within the offseason to assist them get thus far, how have these modifications affected their recreation this season?
Our faculty soccer consultants preview large video games, convention title contenders, and share quotes of the week forward of Week 10’s slate.
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Ohio State-Penn State | Convention title contenders | SMU/Pitt modifications
Quotes of the Week
What does every group must capitalize on to win?
If the Nittany Lions are pressured to go together with sophomore backup quarterback Beau Pribula, then Ohio State may have the prospect to use his relative inexperience. Both means, the Buckeyes need to do a greater job pressuring the passer than they did of their Oct. 12 loss at Oregon. In that 32-31 defeat, they did not sack Dillon Gabriel as soon as. Ohio State’s protection additionally did not drive a turnover. If the Buckeyes cannot drive Penn State’s quarterback — whoever it seems to be — into adverse performs, they may have a tough time popping out of State Faculty with a victory. — Jake Trotter
Penn State: No matter whether or not Allar or Pribula is at quarterback, Penn State must show artistic offense that provides large performs. Franklin employed offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki exactly for video games like this. The Lions averaged solely 3.5 yards per play with just one play longer than 20 yards in final yr’s 20-12 loss at Ohio Stadium. Kotelnicki can take some clues from Oregon, which actually challenged Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke and others with an aggressive recreation plan. He additionally has versatile items corresponding to tight finish Tyler Warren. Penn State’s protection additionally has an opportunity to regulate the road of scrimmage towards an Ohio State offensive entrance that has handled accidents and inconsistency, recording simply 64 rush yards final week towards Nebraska.
Abdul Carter (4 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss) could possibly be a big think about pressuring Will Howard, and the Lions would actually be helped if Dani Dennis-Sutton performs to supply a pleasant complement for Carter. Penn State additionally have to be aware of Tuimoloau, who delivered the very best single-game defensive efficiency I’ve ever witnessed stay two years in the past at Beaver Stadium, when he had two interceptions, two sacks, a pressured fumble, a fumble restoration and a tipped move that led to a different interception. He hasn’t had a recreation anyplace close to that good since, however Penn State cannot ignore him. — Adam Rittenberg
Who’s wanting like a convention title contender going into Week 10?
ACC: The ACC was recognized for Coastal Chaos — the annual lunacy in its Coastal Division that upended expectations and resulted in tiebreaker eventualities so difficult NASA must become involved. Now, the virus has unfold. SMU, Clemson and Miami all stay undefeated in ACC play — and none of them play towards one another. That leaves a really actual likelihood that every one three find yourself tied with solely two in a position to transfer on to the ACC title recreation. And that is not even mentioning Pitt, which is 7-0 (however does play SMU and Clemson over the following three weeks) with eyes on the title recreation, too. What does all of it imply? At this fee, maybe Virginia Tech (3-1 in ACC play) will find yourself successful all of it. — David Hale
Massive Ten: Oregon and Penn State are the 2 apparent solutions, and Ohio State nonetheless has arguably essentially the most star energy within the convention, regardless of some line-of-scrimmage considerations. However Indiana completely has displayed the look of a real contender. The Hoosiers have managed video games from the get-go, outsourcing their opponents 87-0 within the first quarter and 372-113 general. Sure, the schedule considerations are legitimate, however that sort of dominance in a Energy 4 league is not a fluke. Even final week with out beginning quarterback Kurtis Rourke, Indiana struck first towards Washington on D’Angelo Ponds‘ 67-yard interception return for a landing. The Hoosiers aren’t over-reliant on one participant or place group.
Rourke is not their solely efficient quarterback, whereas Justice Ellison is certainly one of a number of succesful backs and Elijah Sarratt is certainly one of six gamers with 15 or extra receptions. The offensive line, in the meantime, has been distinctive, tying for tenth nationally in fewest sacks towards. IU’s protection has particular person standouts corresponding to linebacker Aiden Fisher and finish Mikail Kamara, however the collective power of the unit — 13 gamers with two or extra tackles for loss, 15 with a minimum of a half a sack — persistently shines by way of. The Hoosiers in all probability shall be examined Saturday at Michigan State and within the coming weeks, however they show the qualities of a official contender within the Massive Ten. — Rittenberg
Massive 12: Let’s begin with the plain: BYU (8-0, 5-0 Massive 12) and Iowa State (7-0, 4-0) stay undefeated and wouldn’t play until they meet within the Massive 12 title recreation. If each handle to succeed in the end line with no loss, it is doable the winner would obtain the playoff bye with the loser nonetheless qualifying for the playoff. There are too many variables to grasp what would occur in that situation, nevertheless it’s in play. However contemplating the parity within the convention, it is in all probability untimely to look that far forward.
BYU was a play away from shedding to winless Oklahoma State (0-5 Massive 12), so it could be foolish to really feel assured about the results of any convention recreation left on the schedule. With just one loss every, Kansas State (4-1) and Colorado (4-1) are very a lot within the combine and it would not be a shock, at this level, if both performed its option to the title recreation. These look like the 4 main contenders, however 5 others sit at two convention losses — TCU, Texas Tech, Cincinnati, West Virginia and Arizona State — which implies their hopes aren’t useless. — Kyle Bonagura
SEC: Followers throughout the league are already arising with eventualities that might produce a four-way tie within the SEC heading into the convention championship recreation. There are some very intriguing prospects, too, with so many groups within the combine enjoying every each other over the following 5 weeks. However the group that appears to be hitting its stride, getting effectively and enjoying its finest soccer at simply the proper time is Georgia, which is coming off a bye week after beating up on then-No. 1 Texas 30-15 two weeks in the past in Austin. It is Kirby Good time, which implies he has been exceptionally good at getting his groups to play their finest within the video games that imply essentially the most. The Bulldogs have received six of their previous seven top-five matchups. In addition they had this previous week to relaxation up and get wholesome, and Good is hopeful his finest offensive lineman, senior proper guard Tate Ratledge, will have the ability to play Saturday towards Florida after sitting out the previous 4 video games due to a excessive ankle sprain that required surgical procedure.
On protection, having Mykel Williams again and wholesome has made an enormous distinction, particularly in terms of speeding the passer. Now, opposing offenses need to account for Jalon Walker and Williams, who mixed for 5 sacks within the win over Texas. It will not be a simple path for Georgia. After the rivalry recreation towards Florida in Jacksonville, the Bulldogs journey to Ole Miss the following week after which come dwelling to face Tennessee. There’s nonetheless quite a bit to kind out within the SEC, however the prime Dawg seems to be the identical one we have seen over a lot of the previous three years. — Chris Low
In what methods have SMU/Pitt modified from final season to take care of a prime 25 spot?
SMU: SMU’s protection has been the story of this season, residing by the previous adage that stopping the run and successful the turnover battle will win you some ballgames. The Mustangs’ run protection has been stout, giving up 88.4 yards per recreation and a couple of.72 yards per carry, each fifth finest nationally. They’re tied for ninth within the nation with 17 turnovers, and have 4 video games with a minimum of three takeaways, tied for essentially the most. The result’s they’re giving up simply 21.4 factors per recreation, together with a exceptional stand final week by which the SMU offense misplaced six turnovers and the protection gave up zero factors off these, with Duke reaching SMU territory 11 instances and got here away with solely 27 factors.
The Mustangs have sought to beef up the protection lately and it has paid dividends: A pair of Miami transfers, Elijah Roberts and Jahfari Harvey, are tied for the group lead with six tackles for loss, and lead the group in hurries with 9 for Roberts and 7 for Harvey, whereas including three sacks every. Then Harvey blocked a 30-yard subject aim try by Duke on the final play of regulation to avoid wasting a 28-27 win. — Dave Wilson
Pitt: After final season’s 3-9 distress, Pat Narduzzi determined he wanted wholesale modifications on offense. He introduced in Kade Bell to run a tempo system, which is usually anathema to defense-minded coaches like Narduzzi. To date, the outcomes have been what one may’ve anticipated: Pitt has scored extra, however the protection has been on the sphere a ton on account of the velocity at which the offense strikes (the Panthers are 133rd in time of possession). The miracle for Pitt is that every one of these performs for the protection have not appeared to matter. Pitt picked off Kyle McCord 5 instances on this previous weekend’s win over Syracuse, and the protection has held its floor regardless of enjoying extra performs per recreation (76.3) than another group within the nation. — Hale
Quotes of the week
“I am stoked, I am stoked, I can’t wait. It is going to be a homecoming for me. I grew up a Penn State fan. I wished to go there my complete life, they did not suppose I used to be adequate. I assume we’ll see (Saturday) if I used to be.” — Ohio State QB Will Howard, who grew up in Downingtown, Pennsylvania
“I am wanting ahead to taking place to Dallas and seeing what they have down there. I’ve by no means performed SMU. It is a type of video games you by no means performed at, so totally different stadium. Rising up, Eric Dickerson in these goggles, that is type of what I grew up in, that period. That man was a dude, watching him run down there. It is homecoming. We’re a homecoming group, so perhaps I am going to get to fulfill Eric Dickerson on the 50-yard line or one thing like that.” — Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, on making buddies in new convention stops.
“We attempt to focus on one recreation, and that is the following one. I do not know that it advantages us to type of look out forward and speak concerning the prospects of a season. A very powerful factor is to assault the week and attempt to get ready for the upcoming recreation, which is what we’re doing on this one. There’s sufficient emotion and sufficient at stake on this recreation. … Our guys know, they usually’re mature sufficient to know what’s on the market if we are able to proceed to have success, however there’s not a extra essential recreation on our schedule than this one.” — Military coach Jeff Monken, whose Black Knights (7-0, 6-0) are ranked No. 21 within the AP ballot and vying for the Group of 5’s spot within the Faculty Soccer Playoff and a second straight Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy.
