This season marks the inaugural 12-team School Soccer Playoff.
And after weeks of video games, and hypothesis, now we have our first official School Soccer Playoff rankings of the 2024 season.
Tuesday started with a number of undefeated groups within the AP High 25 rankings, together with Oregon (No. 1), Miami (No. 4), and a trio of upstarts in Indiana (No. 8), BYU (No. 9) and Military (No. 18).
These groups had been featured prominently within the first version of the School Soccer Playoff rankings, and their High 25:
1 . Oregon Geese
2. Ohio State Buckeyes
3. Georgia Bulldogs
4. Miami Hurricanes
5. Texas Longhorns
6. Penn State Nittany Lions
7. Tennessee Volunteers
8. Indiana Hoosiers
9. BYU Cougars
10. Notre Dame Combating Irish
11. Alabama Crimson Tide
12. Boise State Broncos
13. SMU Mustangs
14. Texas A&M Aggies
15. LSU Tigers
16. Ole Miss
17. Iowa State Cyclones
18. Pittsburgh Panthers
19. Kansas State Wildcats
20. Colorado Buffaloes
21. Washington State
22. Louisville Cardinals
23. Clemson Tigers
24. Missouri Tigers
25. Military Black Knights
The preliminary 12-team bracket was not launched at the moment, however following the CFP rankings and the way the bracket is ready, right here’s what it could appear to be after the preliminary rankings:
High 4 Seeds: No. 1. Oregon Geese (Massive 10 Champion) , No. 2. Georgia Bulldogs (SEC Champion) , No. 3. Miami Hurricanes (ACC Champion), No. 4 BYU Cougars (Massive 12 Champion)
First Spherical:
No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 12 Boise State Broncos (Group of 5 Champion)
No. 6 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide
No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions vs. No. 10 Notre Dame Combating Irish
No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers vs. No. 9 Indiana Hoosiers
Whereas it’s essential to see the place groups stand within the opening rankings, their rating now received’t be set in stone. With so many large video games nonetheless left on the schedule every little thing is open to vary. For groups like Oregon, their path is obvious. As the present primary seed, all they should do is win out and so they solidify not solely a spot within the playoff, however the prime spot. Miami would possibly want slightly bit extra assist to maneuver up the rating as a result of lack of true high quality wins, however making (and profitable) the ACC title sport ought to shore up lots of these points.
The opposite two spots, effectively let’s simply say we’ll see. On this model of the CFP, the very best ranked Energy 4 convention winners get the highest 4 spots. So on this case, Oregon and Miami are shoo-ins. The SEC is at the moment going via a couple of issues, however Georgia is at the moment on the prime in order that they have the present bye. They nonetheless have video games towards Ole Miss and Tennessee left on their schedule, however they nonetheless are within the prime spot within the hardest convention. Following them is…no matter is going on within the Massive 12. BYU is at the moment on the prime, however man it hasn’t seemed fairly. They want a couple of extra convincing wins to essentially maintain their odds excessive.
The Group of 5 spot feels all however locked up at this level. RB Ashton Jeanty and Boise State appear to be they’ll get the G5 playoff bid, however I wouldn’t rely out Military simply but. Video games towards Tulane, Notre Dame and Navy may assist their case much more, however because the Black Knights’ schedule will get more durable, Boise’s will get simpler.