Faculty soccer Week 2 – Large take a look at for Kentucky-Florida, uncommon assembly for Alabama-Texas, familiarity in USC-Stanford
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After a wild Week 1 that featured 5 consecutive days of video games, starting from Appalachian State scoring 40 factors within the fourth quarter alone and nonetheless shedding to North Carolina to Iowa scoring seven factors (on two safeties and a area objective) in 4 quarters and profitable, what does the second full weekend of video games maintain for school soccer?
An SEC matchup that includes two ranked groups, the primary regular-season assembly between Alabama and Texas in a century, a well-known Pac-12 contest and those self same high-scoring Mountaineers taking up a a lot stingier protection in Texas A&M.
Here is a full rundown of the important thing matchups and most compelling storylines for the highest video games in Week 2.
No. 20 Kentucky at No. 12 Florida (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN App)
Even mentioning Kentucky’s title in context with the Prime 25 rankings or the SEC soccer race was at one time pure fantasy.
Come on, at a basketball college? Do not get soccer coach Mark Stoops began on that one, particularly this week, as his Wildcats tackle Florida within the Swamp, a sport that previously barely precipitated a ripple within the SEC. In spite of everything, Florida received 31 consecutive video games within the sequence earlier than the Wildcats lastly broke via in 2018.
However on Saturday, it will likely be the primary SEC matchup of the 2022 season pitting two nationally ranked groups towards one another. Coming into this season, most would have predicted that Kentucky could be the one group ranked among the many two. That is earlier than Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson went into full Cam Newton-mode final week within the Gators’ 29-26 upset of then-No. 7 Utah.
“It is robust to single out anyone factor,” Stoops mentioned of the best way to decelerate Richardson. “He has a proficient arm. Everyone goes to say what an athlete he’s, however he can rip it and throw the ball, as effectively.”
The quarterback matchup on this sport ought to be a deal with. Kentucky’s Will Levis is a projected first-round NFL draft choose, and with the Wildcats once more anticipated to be with out star operating again Chris Rodriguez Jr., Levis may need to hold a good heavier burden if Kentucky goes to beat Florida for the third time up to now 5 years. The Gators gave up 230 speeding yards to the Utes, and Levis is lots able to doing his personal harm on the bottom. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound Levis handed for twenty-four touchdowns and ran for 9 extra final season.
“When you might have that franchise quarterback, it adjustments every part,” Stoops mentioned.
Stoops has utterly modified the soccer panorama at Kentucky, to the purpose that he can cross Bear Bryant on Saturday as Kentucky’s all-time wins chief. That is one thing that will resonate for a very long time regardless of the opponent, however doing it on the highway towards Florida?
“Individuals underestimate how exhausting it’s to construct a program within the SEC from the underside,” mentioned Stoops, who’s 60-53 at Kentucky and has guided the Wildcats to 4 straight bowl victories. “There’s been lots of funding right here by lots of completely different individuals.”
And take a look at the return.
Kentucky has received 10 video games twice up to now 4 years. Previous to that, the Wildcats hadn’t received 10 video games in a season since 1977. Stoops’ potential to develop gamers, keep a employees that matches this system’s tradition and create a steely toughness that permeates your entire program are all components which have led to Kentucky’s sustained success.
“That is the principle factor, as a result of there’s no person taken with going backward on this league,” mentioned Stoops, the second-longest-tenured coach within the SEC, behind Alabama’s Nick Saban.
Over the previous 5 seasons (going again to the beginning of 2017), solely 4 SEC groups have received extra video games than Kentucky: Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M. With 42 wins, the Aggies have just one extra victory than the Wildcats throughout that stretch.
Stoops, who took over at Kentucky in 2013, has seen 22 head coaches pack up and depart the SEC since his hiring, and solely two of these left to take one other job. Stoops has had his personal alternatives to go away and would have been an actual risk at LSU final 12 months had Brian Kelly not determined to go away Notre Dame.
“I really feel very linked right here, very linked to this fan base. I really feel like there’s mutual respect as a result of we constructed it from the bottom up,” Stoops mentioned. “You aren’t getting that in every single place. And it doesn’t matter what college you are at or what degree, it is exhausting. You need to be someplace that you simply’re rooted. Have a look at Bob [older brother Bob Stoops] and the way rooted he was at Oklahoma.
“You do not ever escape how exhausting it’s to win, possibly for a honeymoon interval whenever you first depart, however that is it.” — Chris Low
No. 1 Alabama at Texas (Saturday, midday ET, Fox)
Texas and Alabama, two of faculty soccer’s greatest model names, will meet Saturday for simply the tenth time in historical past, and the sport has nearly all the time meant one thing enormous is on the road.
Take the 1965 Orange Bowl, the primary performed at night time and the primary stay nationwide community telecast of a school soccer sport in prime time. Texas handed a 21-17 loss to Bear Bryant’s Crimson Tide, who had been topped nationwide champs earlier than the sport was even performed.
However this time is completely different. For one, Alabama is No. 1 and Texas is unranked. It is also the primary time since 1922 the 2 have performed within the common season. There’s not a lot on the road aside from bragging rights for the longer term SEC rivals. The 2 applications have gone in numerous instructions since their final assembly on the conclusion of the 2009 marketing campaign, when Texas quarterback Colt McCoy was injured within the first quarter en path to a 37-21 loss as Nick Saban claimed his first nationwide championship at Alabama. Texas has been adrift with three head coaches since then.
The Longhorns have been 20-point underdogs as of Wednesday at Caesars Sportsbook, and they’re more likely to shut with their longest odds to win at residence because the 1978 FBS/FCS break up, based on ESPN Stats & Info. Coach Steve Sarkisian already has mentioned his focus is on making it to the Large 12 title sport on Dec. 3 and indicated this sport will not outline his progress of rebuilding the Texas program.
Sarkisian is aware of what he is up towards, arriving in Austin final 12 months after serving as Saban’s offensive coordinator for 2 seasons. Matching wits together with his previous boss can be a giant take a look at, however Sarkisian mentioned he’s extra involved with how Texas performs its personal sport.
“One factor we now have to watch out of is just not overanalyzing and overthinking it an excessive amount of,” Sarkisian mentioned Monday. “Typically you need to be like a pitcher and throw your finest pitch. We now have to throw our greatest pitches and see if it is adequate.”
With a redshirt freshman at quarterback in Quinn Ewers and in an effort to sluggish the Tide’s pass-rushers — fueled by Will Anderson Jr., who led the nation in pressures the previous two seasons — these pitches will seemingly contain loads of Bijan Robinson. The Longhorns’ stellar operating again ran for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 video games final season earlier than being sidelined by harm. He’ll seemingly take a look at the center of the Tide’s protection behind Texas’ younger offensive line after averaging 6.1 yards per carry and scoring seven of his TDs between the tackles final season, when Alabama allowed 4.0 yards per carry up the center.
The Longhorns are anxious to see how their protection has improved after permitting 31.1 factors per sport final 12 months, 99th nationally. And Alabama seemingly is simply too, with Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young coming off a 55-0 win over Utah State wherein he threw 5 landing passes and ran for 100 yards and one other rating.
Saban is 25-2 at Alabama towards his former assistants, with 23 of the wins coming by at the least 14 factors. However each losses have been final season, within the common season to Texas A&M and Jimbo Fisher and within the nationwide championship to Georgia and Kirby Sensible. Sarkisian mentioned Monday that this sport can be just like one from 2009, when Sarkisian’s upstart Washington squad upset then-No. 3 Southern California, coached by his former mentor Pete Carroll.
However Saban mentioned the familiarity works each methods.
“We have appeared to play a number of groups now that type of know us,” Saban mentioned Monday. “However you act like we do not know them. So simply because any person is aware of you once they play you doesn’t suggest they are going to beat you. And simply because you understand them whenever you play them doesn’t suggest you are gonna beat ’em both. It is gonna come right down to the way you execute.” — Dave Wilson
No. 24 Tennessee at No. 17 Pitt (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN App)
When Tennessee heads as much as Pittsburgh, it would mark the primary time in class historical past the Panthers will host a group from the SEC.
However these groups have familiarity with one another, after Pitt went on the highway final 12 months to beat the Vols 41-34 — a sport that set the early tone en path to an ACC championship season. But regardless of having just lately proved Pitt can beat Tennessee, the Vols enter the sport as favorites.
When requested how the Panthers could possibly be underdogs on this sport, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi mentioned in a telephone interview with ESPN.com on Wednesday, “They have gamers, and I suppose everyone’s saying we do not have Kenny Pickett, so Kenny Pickett should have been the distinction final 12 months within the win.”
Narduzzi then pointed to the turnover margin: Pitt had three takeaways to zero for Tennessee. Pitt additionally received the turnover margin in a 38-31 win over West Virginia the earlier week, however the protection didn’t play in addition to Narduzzi wished. West Virginia gained 190 yards speeding — the very best whole Pitt has given up because the remaining regular-season sport in 2019 — and its greater receivers usually had success towards the smaller Pitt defensive backs.
That is likely one of the greatest keys to look at on this sport, as Tennessee wideouts Bru McCoy (6-3) and Cedric Tillman (6-3) each have dimension benefits. Narduzzi additionally identified Jalin Hyatt and his pace, particularly. When requested about this matchup, Narduzzi mentioned, “I really feel good; in any other case, I would forfeit the sport and never play. There’s all the time going to be challenges. We now have to play nice protection, that is for positive. It is not going to be simple.”
Then there may be Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker, who got here into their matchup a 12 months in the past in reduction of Joe Milton III and almost rallied Tennessee for the win. As soon as Hooker entered the sport, Tennessee averaged 6.2 yards per play, as in comparison with 4.2 with Milton behind heart.
There may be extra than simply their sport final 12 months that gives familiarity. Narduzzi’s Panthers performed towards Tennessee coach Josh Heupel when Heupel coached UCF, and Pitt confronted Hooker when Hooker was the beginning quarterback at Virginia Tech in from 2019 to 2020. — Andrea Adelson
Appalachian State at No. 6 Texas A&M (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPN App)
App State heads to Faculty Station to face Texas A&M coming off of arguably Week 1’s most fun sport, a 63-61 loss to North Carolina wherein the Mountaineers scored 40 factors within the fourth quarter. Quarterback Chase Brice led App State with 361 yards passing for six touchdowns with one choose.
Texas A&M, then again, shut out Sam Houston State 31-0 in its opener. It is not a dangerous wager to say that App State will not be placing up 40 factors in 1 / 4 this week, however who is aware of after the opening week we simply noticed in school soccer?
Throughout his Monday information convention, Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher praised Brice, saying, “He is aware of ball, and he performed nice there final 12 months. He can throw the ball down the sector, can create performs together with his legs and he is acquired a … savviness to him. Simply physique language, and throw the ball right here, and flip the ball there. Man, he can simply actually play the sport.”
Fisher added that his protection should proceed to play disciplined to have success on Saturday.
Offensively, Fisher was requested about placing extra emphasis on operating the soccer this week in apply and mentioned, “That is what we do. We’ll run the soccer.”
Texas A&M going up towards an App State protection that gave up 6 yards per rush towards the Tar Heels can be a matchup to regulate Saturday afternoon. The Aggies had simply 110 yards and three.4 yards per carry towards Sam Houston State.
Requested Monday for his overview on Texas A&M’s offense, App State coach Shawn Clark replied with a smirk and left it at “good.”
Defensively, Clark mentioned, “They recruit on the highest degree in school sports activities. … They’ve nice playmakers. They’ve an distinctive offense, protection; schematically, they provide you lots of robust conditions on each offense and protection. We now have our work minimize out for us, however the guys are excited to get down there to Faculty Station.” — Harry Lyles Jr.
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Calen Bullock, Shane Lee and Ralen Goforth discover pay dust on every interception to increase the Trojans’ lead.
USC at Stanford (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN App)
If beating Rice 66-14 due to 4 interceptions was the appetizer to open USC’s season, then touring to Stanford feels just like the Trojans sitting down on the dinner desk for the beginning of their essential course. The Cardinal aren’t precisely anticipated to be a drive this 12 months, however the early-season matchup is sort of all the time a barometer for what sort of marketing campaign USC can put collectively. Over the previous 10 years, USC is 3-5 towards Stanford within the month of September, together with 1-3 in Palo Alto.
Like many issues he has modified since he arrived, Trojans coach Lincoln Riley is hoping to reverse that pattern too. And each he and defensive coordinator Alex Grinch know 4 interceptions in a sport, together with three returned for touchdowns, is just not one thing they’ll all the time depend on. But for a protection that’s made up of a number of new faces and stays the largest query, the position the unit performed in final weekend’s victory bodes effectively heading ahead. Stanford, nevertheless, will present a extra correct take a look at.
“You are going to must be clear within the [defensive] run sport,” Riley mentioned, including that regardless of the turnovers, it’s one space the place he felt the Trojans’ D could possibly be extra constant. “On high of it, you are dealing with a extremely high-level quarterback [Tanner McKee], so protection has acquired to be sharp. It’ll take somewhat little bit of everyone.”
“It’ll take somewhat little bit of everyone” could be the theme of this USC season, even on offense, the place Caleb Williams already seems to be as comfy as may be behind an line that is nonetheless rotating between two left tackles in Courtland Ford and Virginia switch Bobby Haskins.
“Simply seeing how effectively he is aware of [the offense] and the way effectively he can translate it to the sector, it provides confidence to the offense,” Trojans operating again Travis Dye mentioned of Williams, who not solely had simply three incompletions however was USC’s main rusher with 68 yards on the bottom, displaying the type of offensive steadiness that could be obligatory as soon as once more this Saturday. “He can actually do all of it. He can cross, he can paint your again porch, he can stroll your canine and he can run the ball.”
The matchup towards the Cardinal will present Riley & Co. with a clearer view on a number of positional battles provided that, as he put it, the three pick-sixes final weekend affected the variety of reps the teaching employees anticipated some gamers to get. Saturday’s contest additionally will give the school soccer panorama a greater sense for simply how good USC is. One sport in, the Trojans have already got jumped from No. 14 to No. 10 within the AP ballot to change into the highest-ranked group within the Pac-12, and expectations do not get lowered any time quickly. — Paolo Uggetti
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