The Massive 12 is slowly creeping up on Boise State within the School Soccer Playoff rankings, however it won’t be sufficient for the facility convention champion to safe a first-round bye.
In current weeks, the choice committee has made it clear the Massive 12 wants an emphatic, overwhelming champion to leapfrog No. 11 Boise State. It may occur, however it appears much less probably with every passing week.
With 9 groups nonetheless alive for the convention championship heading into the regular-season finale, the Massive 12 is a large number. The 2 highest-ranked groups — No. 16 Arizona State and No. 18 Iowa State — face one other concern that hasn’t gone unnoticed: Is the door open for No. 17 Tulane to win the AAC championship, bounce the Massive 12 and probably push the facility convention out of the 12-team discipline completely?
It is unlikely, certain, however price monitoring.
The Massive 12 wanted a BYU win at Arizona State final week. As a substitute, the Cougars fell on the street when a Hail Mary move was caught in need of the top zone on the 2-yard line. BYU entered final week at No. 14, simply two spots behind Boise State, however plummeted to No. 19 this week as Arizona State and Iowa State moved up. Kansas State additionally entered the rankings at No. 24.
There’s only one downside: Kansas State, which beat Tulane in New Orleans earlier this season, is ranked beneath the Inexperienced Wave. As soon as once more, it is clear the committee doesn’t view the Massive 12 in a positive gentle. Massive 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark went on the offensive Monday.
“Primarily based on the place we sit as we speak, I see no rationale for the Massive 12’s champion not getting a first-round bye,” Yormark informed Yahoo Sports activities. “The winner of our championship ought to obtain a bye. I’ve loads of belief within the choice committee and I am certain they will see it that manner. Simply take a look at the info. The info would not lie. From a strength-of-schedule standpoint, all 4 of our colleges on the high of the standings are ranked forward of Boise State.”
Concerning head-to-head schedules, the Massive 12’s contenders have the higher hand. Boise State’s power of schedule ranks 81st, 15 spots beneath Arizona State. The Solar Devils and Broncos even have a typical opponent in Wyoming. Arizona State defeated the Cowboys 48-7 in its season opener. Final week, the Broncos struggled to place them away in a 17-13 street win, which included a stretch with out Heisman Trophy hopeful Ashton Jeanty on the sector.
The Solar Devils additionally personal back-to-back wins in opposition to ranked groups heading into the ultimate week, whereas Boise State has none. America has fallen in love with Ashton Jeanty, however that should not overshadow the Broncos’ weaker résumé.
If two-loss Iowa State or one other lower-ranked crew like No. 25 Colorado, with three losses, wins the Massive 12 title, what occurs then? A primary-round bye is probably going off the board, however would Tulane bounce to the entrance of the pile because the fifth-highest-ranked convention champion? The Inexperienced Wave jumped 4 spots this week regardless of not taking part in, however their power of schedule is way worse than the Massive 12 contenders, coming in at No. 100. Once more, Kansas State stays beneath Tulane regardless of the head-to-head benefit.
In the meantime, the SEC is within the shadows, wringing its arms and sure devising a marketing campaign to push the committee to contemplate a fourth crew from the convention. Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina are on the skin, ranked No. 13-15, however the Gamecocks have a possibility to enhance their three-loss résumé with a visit to No. 12 Clemson this week. Alabama owns a head-to-head win in opposition to South Carolina.
Two weeks stay, and for yet another week, the choice committee will conduct its train of rating the 25 finest groups. Then comes the one which issues on Choice Sunday — and all bets are off after the fiasco of 2023, when Florida State was controversially dropped from the sector.
We toil for now, however like a pile of leaves on a windy fall day, the CFP rankings will once more blow away this weekend. And the committee will begin anew after yet one more unpredictable slate of video games.
