Sep 2, 2024; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (4) is tackled towards the Boston Faculty Eagles at Doc S. Campbell Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Melina Myers-Imagn Pictures With solely 12 common season video games on the schedule, each Saturday holds significance throughout the school soccer season.
The 2024 marketing campaign is 2 weeks outdated and after the third week, most applications shall be 1 / 4 of the way in which by way of their schedule.
The pattern dimension offers some perception, and the optimistic momentum is obvious for the most effective groups within the nation. Others are tripped up on their approach to the guts of the schedule in October and November, flying into hazard until they’ll flip issues round instantly.
10. Maryland
August 31, 2024; Faculty Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (9) passes throughout the second quarter towards the Connecticut Huskies at SECU Stadium ball. Obligatory Credit score: Daniel Kucin Jr.-USA TODAY Sports activities The primary sport at house towards a massively rebuilding MSU staff may function a springboard for Maryland. As a substitute, the Terps continued a troubling development of dropping convention video games by one level final season — in 2023, three of their 5 losses got here by touchdowns or much less.
It is time for the Terps to sweat. They’re within the early phases of a highway journey to Indiana subsequent, heading to USC on Oct. 19 and concluding in November with journeys to Oregon, Iowa and Penn State.
9.Michigan
July 25, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Sheron Moore speaks to the media throughout Massive Ten Soccer Media Day at Lucas Oil Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Robert Godin-USA TODAY Sports activities It is no shock that the defending nationwide champions will face appreciable roster modifications heading into 2024 – not the least of which is the alternative of head coach Jim Harbaugh. Contemplating the 2024 Longhorns have all of them again, dropping in a top-10 sport towards Texas, a 2023 Faculty Soccer Playoff staff, may not be that shocking.
Nevertheless, the Badgers suffered their worst defensive efficiency for the reason that 2022 season — a Michigan State Fiesta Bowl loss to TCU — and fell 31-12, a rating much more disparate than the ultimate rating. If the Massive Ten championship and the Faculty Soccer Playoff are nonetheless targets, Michigan cannot afford any extra losses.
8. Arkansas
September 7, 2024; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks defensive again Jaheim Singletary (15) at Boone Pickens Stadium intercepted Oklahoma State Cowboys vast receiver Rashod Owens (10) within the second quarter. Obligatory Credit score: William Purnell-Imagn Pictures Sam Pittman is coming off a 4-8 file and must get well to at the least be bowl-eligible in 2024. A troublesome benchmark to achieve.
A double-overtime choice (which occurred to Arkansas in Week 2) on the highway to a top-20 opponent is not a lot of a problem in a vacuum.
However because the Razorbacks squandered a two-touchdown lead towards the Cowboys, they let an important alternative slip by way of their fingers. Forward is a slew of harmful video games, together with Auburn on the highway, Texas A&M at a impartial website and Tennessee earlier than Arkansas’ bye.
These three video games may make or break Arkansas’ season, in addition to Pittman’s future in Fayetteville.
7. Notre Dame de Paris
August 31, 2024; Faculty Station, Texas, USA; Notre Dame Combating Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) throughout the first quarter towards the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Area Strive passing the ball. Obligatory Credit score: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Pictures Irish head coach Marcus Freeman described Notre Dame’s first two weeks as “from the very best level to the bottom level” following a 16-14 house loss to Northern Illinois. This stunning loss got here on the heels of a 23-13 win over Texas A&M.
Each video games precipitated concern in South Bend.
He might be in hassle straight away as quarterback Riley Leonard has but to throw a landing go.
What’s extra, Notre Dame’s upcoming schedule lacks the big-win alternatives so as to add to the Irish’s postseason resume — which is already in deep trouble after dropping to a MAC visiting staff from DeKalb.
6. Texas A&M College
September 7, 2024; Faculty Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies operating again Le’Veon Moss (8) scores a landing towards the McNeese State Cowboys within the first quarter at Kyle Area. Obligatory Credit score: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Pictures A troublesome schedule makes house video games notably vital.
The Aggies had home-field benefit and No. 12 assist, however misplaced their opener to Notre Dame.
A&M opens SEC play in Week 3, visiting a determined Florida staff in want of an excellent consequence at house. This begin displays the Aggies’ total schedule, which options easier-to-beat opponents like Florida State, South Carolina and Auburn on the highway, and big-name opponents at Kyle Area — Missouri, LSU and Texas. Texas.
5. Auburn
July 21, 2022; Atlanta, GA, USA; Auburn Tigers helmets seem on stage throughout SEC Media Days on the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame. Obligatory Credit score: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports activities Auburn controversially employed Hugh Freeze in hopes that he may reinvigorate its long-troubled offense. Earlier than his exit amid scandal at Mississippi State, Freese led a once-moribund program’s meteoric rise into an offensive juggernaut that helped change the face of the SEC over the previous decade.
The Tigers are averaging 26.2 factors per sport in 2023, however are holding 21 factors or much less towards seven energy convention opponents. This development of scoring towards good opponents after which struggling towards more durable defenses continues: Auburn scored 73 factors towards Alabama A&M, however in Week 2 Scored simply 14 factors in a loss to UC Berkeley.
4. North Carolina
September 7, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Wolfpack quarterback Grayson McCall throughout the second half of the Dukes Mayo Basic at U.S. Financial institution Stadium (Grayson McCall) (2) ran the ball and was defended by Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman Tire West (42) and defensive lineman Caleb Herring (31). Obligatory Credit score: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Pictures The Wolfpack struggled within the opener, beating Southern Convention rival Western Carolina earlier than dropping to Campbell the subsequent week. NC State’s shocking defensive points towards Catamount pale compared to final week’s poor efficiency towards Tennessee.
The Wolfpack gave up 460 yards within the 51-10 loss whereas averaging 6.9 yards per sport. Whereas NC State is unlikely to see an offense as prolific as Tennessee the remainder of the way in which, the schedule is not letting up: Clemson and instantly related Northern Illinois — and sure, the Huskies Former NIU coach Dave Doeren shall be fired as much as beat NIU — the top of September is coming.
3. Florida
August 31, 2024; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) runs with the ball throughout the second half towards the Miami Hurricanes at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Pictures A pivotal 12 months for the Florida program began with a bang below coach Billy Napier. The Gators’ 41-17 loss to Miami in Week 1 could have made Napier’s destiny inevitable.
Nevertheless, the upcoming 5 video games will decide whether or not the 2024 season gives some hope in Gainesville or turns into a traditionally unhealthy season.
The Gators will host Texas A&M in Week 3 on a non-conference date with in-state bragging rights and a visit to Mississippi State in between. Any rating worse than 2-1 may lead to Florida State being relegated to beneath .500 once more.
2. Colorado
November 11, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) throughout the first half towards the Arizona Wildcats at Folsom Area. Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports activities Colorado’s 28-10 loss to Nebraska in Week 2 was much more lopsided than the ultimate rating, which noticed Colorado drop to 2-9 since a 3-0 begin and top-25 rating final 12 months. The preliminary hype surrounding Deion Sanders’ arrival as head coach and subsequent undefeated begin into 2023 has changed into palpable malaise.
If a program has completed above .500 simply as soon as per full season over the previous 18 years, simply attending to a bowl sport is welcome. The identical points that plagued the scalps throughout Sanders’ first season, a 4-8 file, have been nonetheless evident the next 12 months. The plight of potential first-round picks like Hunter, then the long-term-short-term outlook for this system is bleak.
1. Florida
9 months in the past, the Seminoles entered hazard zone with a collection of misfortunes triggered by their exclusion from the Faculty Soccer Playoff. After a 60-point loss to Georgia within the Orange Bowl, the roster modified fairly a bit. The brand new lineup is 0-2 after lackluster offensive performances in Week 0 towards Georgia Tech and Week 1 towards Boston Faculty.
Including insult to damage, FSU’s first two losses got here in convention play. The Seminoles don’t have any room for error within the ACC.
Florida State’s offense was lackluster and confirmed no indicators of life. Switch quarterback DJ Uiagalelei accomplished 40 of 69 passes for 465 yards; no ball service was capable of rush for 50 yards by way of eight quarters, and the choices for his alternative have been bleak.
