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After an offseason full of teaching feuds and convention realignment, the primary full slate of school soccer is right here.
The Week 1 schedule is full of high matchups, from the defending champions going towards their former defensive coordinator to a top-five showdown in Columbus, Ohio. The Yard Brawl is formally again, LSU’s Brian Kelly has his first take a look at with the Tigers and No. 7 Utah travels south into hostile territory.
Listed below are the largest storylines of the opening week.
No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 3 Ohio State (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC): Ohio State may have its personal Heisman watch this season: quarterback C.J. Stroud, large receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and operating again TreVeyon Henderson.
First-year Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman, a former Ohio State linebacker and most lately a defensive coordinator for the Combating Irish, naturally has a defensive mindset heading to Columbus.
He needs to cease the run, fluster Stroud and confuse him post-snap — by getting him to carry the ball a bit longer. To beat the nation’s finest offense, although, Freeman is aware of the Irish have to attain — with out main large receiver Avery Davis, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his proper knee in August.
“Whenever you lose Avery, it thins out a room that is already skinny,” Freeman advised ESPN. ” … It’s a must to be very strategic, and the way do you make the most of totally different personnel, and so I believe it is simply going to make us be inventive. It’ll make some younger guys develop up, and you’ll’t sit there and dwell on what occurred. You’ve got gotta discover options, and that is what I believe our employees has performed.”
Freeman’s precedence is establishing a operating recreation. “That is simply the mentality of our total program,” he mentioned. However there should be different choices for first-year beginning quarterback Tyler Buchner. With out Davis, solely Braden Lenzy and Lorenzo Styles have caught greater than 20 passes in a season.
Notre Dame has top-of-the-line tight ends within the nation in Michael Mayer, a possible first-round NFL draft choose. The employees additionally will depend on wideout Joe Wilkins Jr., who suffered a season-ending harm final 12 months however whom Freeman mentioned is “forward of schedule” and will assist towards Ohio State. And the Irish will rely on Xavier Watts, who has performed security however returned to large receiver out of necessity.
Whereas Ohio State’s offense garners all the eye, the Buckeyes’ protection underneath first-year coordinator Jim Knowles may decide whether or not this system returns to the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
In line with ESPN Stats & Data, two of essentially the most telling statistics about Ohio State’s protection final 12 months as in comparison with seasons it made the CFP had been its third-down conversion fee and pink zone effectivity.
Ohio State allowed a landing on almost 74% of its opponents’ pink zone drives final 12 months; solely Kansas, Missouri and Arizona had been worse. Ohio State’s protection additionally struggled to get off the sphere (No. 44 within the nation in opponents’ time of possession). And third-down stops had been a obtrusive subject. The Buckeyes allowed their opponents to transform 41.8% of the time; solely Northwestern was worse amongst Large Ten groups. It is a stark distinction from when Ohio State made the playoff in 2019 (No. 3 amongst Energy 5 conferences), 2016 (No. 9) and 2014 (No. 11).
When requested how significantly better he thinks the protection could be this fall, Ohio State coach Ryan Day advised ESPN, “Nicely, I hope so much.”
“I believe that the mixture of a extra skilled group coming again — we had been so younger final 12 months going into that first recreation — however actually, nearly the whole staff of the Rose Bowl is again,” he mentioned. “That is essential. After which a brand new scheme, a brand new employees. So if you take a look at these two issues, it offers you a number of promise shifting ahead.” — Heather Dinich
West Virginia at No. 17 Pittsburgh (Thursday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN app): Pitt and West Virginia knock the mud off the Yard Brawl for the a hundred and fifth version Thursday evening. After 11 years of not enjoying, largely resulting from convention realignment, the sport is anticipated to be a celebration of each the return of the rivalry and its storied historical past, whereas additionally rekindling that generational dislike the colleges and their followers have for each other.
Whereas West Virginia has gained the previous three matchups, Pitt comes into the sport recent off an ACC title and holding a preseason No. 17 rating. The Panthers even have the home-field benefit at freshly named Acrisure Stadium.
Although Pitt loses Heisman runner-up quarterback Kenny Pickett, Kedon Slovis transfers in from USC; and the Mountaineers can be beginning Slovis’ previous Trojans teammate, switch quarterback JT Daniels from Georgia.
It is not the standard means gamers on this rivalry — 75 miles separate the colleges — would know one another, however nothing has been the identical in faculty soccer the previous few years.
Regardless of the pause within the Brawl, each coaches know that the sport will nonetheless be performed with loads of emotion whereas hoping it would not go too far.
“Our guys have a extremely good understanding of what the Yard Brawl is and the historical past of it,” West Virginia coach Neal Brown mentioned. “However we bought sufficient guys that performed soccer that we must always have the ability to play with emotion with out getting carried away.”
As Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi mentioned, “I believe it is good that perhaps each of us haven’t performed this recreation. Let or not it’s the followers’ rivalry. As a result of what you do not need to get is your feelings an excessive amount of concerned in it to the purpose the place it impacts your play too. So I believe it is a good factor. We need to see a superb soccer recreation.” — Harry Lyles Jr.
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Get an inside take a look at the fiery historical past of Pitt vs. West Virginia as they prepare for his or her a hundred and fifth matchup on Thursday evening.
No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 3 Georgia, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC): Faculty soccer historical past is suffering from examples of coaches going up towards their former groups or bosses, however Dan Lanning’s debut as the top coach at Oregon may be uncharted territory. When he was named the Geese’ coach — changing Mario Cristobal, who had departed for Miami — Lanning had a option to make: depart his function as Georgia’s defensive coordinator instantly or keep on by way of the Faculty Soccer Playoff run and steadiness his obligations.
In the end, it was a fairly simple name. The attraction of seeing out a nationwide title run was too essential to go up, however it was considerably sophisticated by the truth that Georgia’s first recreation the subsequent 12 months was towards the Geese.
“I do know that was a clumsy piece of it for [Georgia] Coach [Kirby] Sensible and myself,” Lanning advised ESPN. “It is like, ‘Hey, I might like to remain and coach these video games and end what I began.’ And I do know he wished the identical factor. However finally as knowledgeable, they might have been like, ‘Wait, do we have to lock this door and never let Dan on this room anymore?’ However [Smart] was nice about it.”
After Oregon shocked Ohio State in Columbus final 12 months, there’s clearly latest precedent to permit for the likelihood that the Geese can pull off the upset. However to unseat the defending nationwide champions would take issues to a different stage. Will Lanning’s familiarity assist? Possibly. However it’s kind of of a double-edged sword.
“I do know their tendencies rather well. I do know their personnel rather well,” he mentioned. “That being mentioned, they know me rather well. They know my basis. Coach Sensible is gonna add some wrinkles. He is gonna add some flavor-of-the-week items and adjustments to reinforce their program.” — Kyle Bonagura
No. 23 Cincinnati at No. 19 Arkansas (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN app): Probably the most intriguing Week 1 video games pits an upstart Arkansas staff within the AP Preseason Ballot for the primary time since 2015 towards a Cincinnati staff that crashed the playoff a season in the past however misplaced 5 gamers to the highest 100 picks within the NFL draft and a school-record 9 draftees general.
They had been enormous losses, together with quarterback Desmond Ridder, a four-year starter who completed third in NCAA historical past with 44 profession wins. Bearcats coach Luke Fickell hasn’t named a beginning QB whereas Evan Prater and Ben Bryant have been locked in a decent competitors. However that does not appear to faze Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, who mentioned the Razorbacks will regulate to no matter they see.
“I believe the primary couple sequence are going to be actually essential to sort of work out what they’re bringing to the social gathering,” Pittman mentioned Monday. “Some guys deliver iced tea, and a few guys deliver liquor. You’ve got simply bought to determine what they’re bringing.”
After successful 9 video games final 12 months, greater than the earlier three seasons mixed, Pittman simply needs to maintain the social gathering going. However he’ll be dealing with a Cincinnati staff that has gained 11 straight season openers and is 22-2 over the previous two years, with losses to solely Georgia (24-21 in 2021 Peach Bowl) and Alabama (27-6 within the CFP semifinal on the Cotton Bowl). It is the beginning of a slog for the Razorbacks, who play a brutal SEC West schedule but additionally go to No. 25 BYU on Oct. 15 and get Liberty at residence on Nov. 5.
“We have supposedly had the toughest schedule in soccer for 3 years in a row. Hopefully, certainly one of nowadays it will die down a bit bit,” Pittman advised ESPN lately. “When you do not take a look at it as an entire, it is not as scary. When you do, you are going, ‘Oh my lord,’ since you get nervous or apprehensive, however we actually do not try this. We all know we have got Cincinnati and so they’re a extremely good staff. After that, we’ll determine it out.” — Dave Wilson
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As Cincinnati seeks to make one other run to the Faculty Soccer Playoff, check out a few of the Bearcats’ finest moments from final season.
No. 7 Utah at Florida, (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN app): The matchup between Utah and Florida is uncommon in a couple of methods. That is simply the third time the Gators have opened the season towards a ranked opponent at residence (and the primary time they’re an underdog since 1982). It will likely be the primary time the Utes have confronted an SEC opponent since their historic Sugar Bowl win over Alabama in 2009.
If there’s one participant who can speak at size about each packages, it’s Utah linebacker Mohamoud Diabate, who transferred from Florida within the offseason. Diabate has spent almost as a lot time speaking trash about his former teammates as answering questions on this recreation from reporters.
However that speak has quieted throughout this week of preparation.
“We have been speaking for the previous 9 months,” Diabate mentioned. “The speak is winding down now. It is time to play.”
When requested whether or not it will be unusual to be within the guests locker room, Diabate mentioned the Gators used it throughout the pandemic.
“I am accustomed to the previous, janky Florida Gators customer locker room,” he mentioned. “I am actually excited to scent the place; it is smells that provide the nostalgic feeling. So I will go there, take a breath of air and understand the place I’m — and get to work.”
Regardless of Diabate’s familiarity with the locker room and a few of the Florida gamers, a lot has modified since he left Gainesville — beginning with new coach Billy Napier. You would make an argument about which college wants the victory extra: Napier would love nothing greater than to start out his Florida profession with an enormous nonconference win to indicate he has the Gators headed in the suitable course; Utah would love nothing greater than to get an enormous nonconference highway win towards an SEC staff to make a press release for its program and the Pac-12. — Andrea Adelson
Florida State vs. LSU, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans (Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC): Following LSU’s spring recreation in April, coach Brian Kelly audibly groaned when requested about the opportunity of enjoying a number of quarterbacks.
That might solely occur, he mentioned, if he had no different alternative.
Quick-forward to Monday and Kelly wasn’t groaning as he made a non-announcement relating to his quarterback forward of Sunday’s opener towards Florida State. He would possibly as properly have been winking on the digital camera as he mentioned he discovered who would begin roughly 48 hours earlier. However quit the “tactical benefit” and make it public? Not an opportunity.
“The benefit for us is that we have not performed,” Kelly mentioned. “So it would not assist us to surrender any of our playing cards in that sense.”
What we do know is that it will likely be both Jayden Daniels — the previous Arizona State switch — or Garrett Nussmeier, who noticed motion in 4 video games as a freshman final season. And in keeping with Kelly, they don’t seem to be all that totally different by way of their traits (strong-armed, cell) or how the offense will perform with them underneath middle.
That is extra a 1A-1B state of affairs, Kelly mentioned, versus a clear-cut starter (No. 1) and a backup (No. 2) who could be protected leaving his helmet underneath the bench.
Whereas Daniels has the clear edge by way of expertise as a three-year starter, there’s one space that would tilt the scales: turnovers.
Each quarterbacks had a 1:1 touchdown-to-interception final season, which is lower than preferrred. Daniels threw 10 interceptions to Nussmeier’s two. — Alex Scarborough
No. 4 Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Tech, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (Monday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN app): Jeff Sims wasn’t on the sphere for Georgia Tech’s close to miss towards Clemson final season. In that recreation, Jordan Yates bought the beginning with Sims sidelined by an harm, and the Yellow Jackets’ offense managed only a pair of area targets in a 14-8 loss.
“Being on the sideline,” Sims mentioned, “not having the ability to play, realizing I will not get in, it was tough.”
Having a wholesome Sims for Monday’s matchup towards Clemson may be Georgia Tech’s finest hope for an upset this time round.
This offseason, Yellow Jackets coach Geoff Collins rebuilt his offensive employees with a watch towards maximizing Sims’ ability set. Collins introduced in offensive coordinator Brent Key to name performs and employed former Heisman winner Chris Weinke to educate QBs — particularly, to be extra hands-on with Sims.
“Chris, all day, on daily basis, each rep in apply, all he is apprehensive about is the QB place,” Collins mentioned. “He is consumed with the event of a very powerful place on the sphere.”
Improvement for Sims is a tad overdue. Sims was an ESPN 300 recruit — the No. 5 dual-threat QB within the nation in 2020 — and burst onto the scene with a comeback win over Florida State in his faculty debut that 12 months. However progress from there has are available matches and begins, ending final season finishing simply 60% of his throws as Georgia Tech gained solely three video games.
Nonetheless, the expertise is clear. Sims had a four-game stretch final October by which he appeared to show a nook, thumping North Carolina (speeding for 128 yards and three TDs) then throwing for 359 yards towards Pitt, 297 versus Duke and 300 at Virginia. However he struggled to remain wholesome and finally missed half or all of six video games.
If the progress hasn’t been a straight line, nonetheless, Sims actually has Clemson’s consideration.
“You’ll be able to’t lose concentrate on the quarterback,” Tigers linebacker Barrett Carter mentioned. “He is a dynamic man, very athletic. He can slip out, and we have got to remain on high of him.”
Certainly, Sims sees his bodily abilities as a means to assist negate a Clemson go rush that may be the perfect within the nation. Final season, Louisville’s Malik Cunningham was the one QB who rushed for greater than 25 yards towards the Tigers — and he almost pulled off an upset too, however for a third-quarter harm that took him out of the sport for a number of sequence.
“I believe my potential [to run] in open areas is at all times going to make a distinction,” Sims mentioned.
And but, there’s nonetheless the small drawback of a Clemson defensive entrance that’s loaded with NFL expertise. As Tigers senior finish K.J. Henry mentioned, Sims’ mobility is just a weapon if Clemson’s defenders aren’t in place to corral him.
“When you come across the edge, he can nonetheless escape the pocket, so it is all about leverage and what factors of assault you need to place on a QB,” Henry mentioned. “However it will not make us much less aggressive.” — David M. Hale
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