Not many gave it a second thought when Texas A&M entered the season ranked No. 6 within the preseason AP High 25. Positive, it was uncommon leap for a workforce that completed unranked the season prior, however coming off compiling the No. 1 recruiting class of all time and with three new additions within the quarterback room, some seen the Aggies as a darkish horse Faculty Soccer Playoff contender.
Quick ahead, and the Aggies are a lot nearer to infamy. Within the final 50 years, solely seven groups have gone from preseason prime six to shedding information. By shedding to an interim-coached Auburn in Week 11, the Aggies fell to that mark and can shockingly miss a bowl recreation for the primary time since 2008; for comparability, Kevin Sumlin by no means missed a bowl and gained no less than eight video games in his first 5 seasons.
There’s additionally a workforce positioned east of Texas that poached the Aggies’ athletic director making issues worse. Scott Woodward opted to go house to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and he then referred to as upon Brian Kelly to steer his LSU soccer program. In only one season, Kelly has delivered the Tigers an SEC West crown, one thing Fisher has not gained after 5 seasons. With the switch portal on the horizon, anticipate that glowing recruiting class to take discover.
There have been different groups with large expectations to fall brief. USC began the 12 months No. 1 and fell out of the AP High 25 in 2012. Notre Dame was the No. 10 workforce within the nation however completed 4-8 in 2016. It does not matter. With all of the expectations and momentum this program bragged about over the offseason, 2022 Texas A&M is probably the most disappointing workforce of the twenty first Century.
Listed below are extra winners, losers and overreactions from across the college football world in Week 11.
Winners
TCU: Regardless of rating as one among 4 undefeated groups in faculty soccer, TCU entered its battle with Texas as a 7-point underdog. The CFP committee complained that the Frogs solely gained video games with high-powered offense. Each concern was put to relaxation throughout a 17-10 win over Texas. The Frogs held Texas with out an offensive landing and suffocated star operating again Bijan Robinson to march previous the Longhorns on their house area. With the sturdy efficiency, there must be no questions left about TCU’s capacity to compete at a excessive degree or win in numerous methods.
Washington coach Kalen DeBoer: In 23 years as a collegiate head coach, DeBoer has gained constantly in all places he has coached. However regardless of coming into the Washington job with a 79-9 file throughout Fresno State and NAIA Sioux Falls, his fast success nonetheless boggles the thoughts. Washington shocked No. 6 Oregon 37-34 behind 408 yards passing from quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The loss was Oregon’s first in Pac-12 play and featured a Washington squad that closed at a +360 moneyline, based on Caesars Sportsbook. DeBoer took over a roster in transition after the Huskies went 4-8 final season, however Washington is already again within the nationwide dialog. DeBoer must be a robust contender for Pac-12 Coach of the 12 months in a loaded competitors.
Losers
State of Virginia: Each applications within the state of Virginia opted to make teaching adjustments after the 2021 season. To date, it is exhausting to think about both going worse. Virginia Tech misplaced 24-7 towards Duke to lose its seventh straight recreation for the primary time since 1951. The Hokies haven’t misplaced eight video games in a single season since 1992 however reached the mark with two video games remaining. Virginia handed the keys to the offensive-minded Tony Elliott, however Brennan Armstrong, the main Energy 5 passer in America final season, threw pick sixes on the first two plays of the game in an embarrassing 37-7 loss to Pitt. UVa has not completed a daily season under .500 since 2016, however issues have collapsed underneath Elliott’s watch. The Commonwealth Cup will not be one for the ages.
NC State: The Wolfpack’s season was over after quarterback Devin Leary went out for the season, however a 21-20 loss to Boston Faculty put the nail within the coffin. The Golden Eagles had misplaced 4 straight and didn’t have a street victory earlier than marching into Carter-Finley Stadium and handing NC State an embarrassing loss because of 14 unanswered factors within the second half. The Wolfpack had nice promise and expectations after returning Leary and a ferocious protection with many hoping they may develop into an ACC contender. As a substitute, it is going to simply be one other nice NC State workforce full of what ifs.
Overreactions
Nationwide coach of the 12 months race is insane: Fired coaches all the time appear to take middle stage as everybody searches for the following smartest thing. However in a sport outlined by turnover, let’s take a second and credit score what has been a legitimately excellent 12 months of teaching throughout the nation.
Kansas coach Lance Leipold led the Jayhawks to a bowl recreation with a backup quarterback. UConn coach Jim Mora Jr. took a program that has gained fewer than six video games over the previous three seasons to a bowl recreation in his first season. TCU coach Sonny Dykes has the Frogs within the Faculty Soccer Playoff dialog. Regardless of a loss to UCF, Willie Fritz has Tulane within the AAC title race. And as beforehand talked about, Kelly has LSU within the SEC Championship Recreation in 12 months 1.
The names hardly even scratch the floor. What about Bret Bielema at Illinois? Or the job Lincoln Riley and Chip Kelly are doing on the Los Angeles faculties? Kirby Good and Jim Harbaugh have engineered probably the most environment friendly killing machines within the nation. The extent of teaching continues to rise throughout faculty soccer, and that may make the nationwide coach of the 12 months race some of the troublesome selections in years.
Large Ten West is a large number: The Large Ten West gave the impression to be determined weeks in the past as Illinois took a dominant lead within the division with a winnable slate left. Nonetheless, after following up a disastrous loss to Michigan State with a disappointing efficiency towards Purdue, the race is all of a sudden vast open.
Illinois, Purdue, Minnesota and Iowa are all of a sudden tied within the Large Ten West standings with a 4-3 file. The Illini play No. 3 Michigan subsequent week, so they’re prone to fall out of the race. Naturally, that leaves Iowa and Purdue — two applications combating for bowl eligibility simply days in the past — to play with main divisional hopes on the road in Week 12. For sure, Illinois’ fall from grace is an amazing disappointment for the division.
