RIDGE, N.H. — The Shepherd University women’s soccer team’s historic 2024 season ended in an Elite Eight matchup with Franklin Pierce on Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore midfielder Jenni Huttunen led the Ravens to a 2-1 victory with two goals in the second half, one of which was a penalty kick.
Junior midfielder Josie Beezel scored the Rams’ lone goal in the final eight minutes of play on an assist from sophomore midfielder Reagan Ackermann.
By the final whistle Franklin Pierce had outshot Shepherd 16-8 however, the Rams outshot the Ravens 5-4 on goal.
“We played fantastically today, I think by all accounts we were the better team,” Shepherd head coach Sam Odell told Shepherd University Athletics.
“We dominated chances, territory, hit the bar twice, and had a couple cleared off the line, but it wasn’t our day.
I couldn’t be prouder of the team and their accomplishments this season. This is not the way we wanted the story to end, and it’s especially tough for it to be in this manner – sometimes you just wish that you were second best as it can be easier to accept when that happened, but that was not the case today.
We had a really good chance of winning the national championship this year and are devastated to be going out in the Elite Eight. That speaks volumes for the team’s goals and standards this season. This year we won all three trophies available, won 18 games, and have become a force on the Division II stage.
We will be back here next year, and knowing this amazing group as well as anyone, they will use this experience as fuel to win the national championship next year.
I am a proud and disappointed coach at the same time today, but I love this team and couldn’t be prouder of them for how they played today and all season. We have an amazing group that has a special collective quality which is so powerful when they channel it. We will be back.” Odell concluded.
The Rams may have seen their historic season end in heartbreak, but their journey will be remembered as a turning point for the program.
With a record-breaking 18-2-4 season, their first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship and a spot in the Elite Eight, the Rams solidified their place as a rising power in Division II soccer.
This season was not just about victories but about setting a new standard for what Shepherd women’s soccer can achieve.
With a core of talented players and a coach who believes in their potential, the Rams are already looking ahead. Shepherd has proven their unwavering grit, determination and ability to come together as a cohesive unit as they are set to come back stronger next year with hopes of turning their national championship dreams into a reality.
Ava Hunt’s freshman year at SMU is shaping up to be a memorable one.
Moments after the 11-2 Mustangs were announced as the final addition to the expanded College Football Playoff bracket as the No. 11 seed, the daughter of Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt celebrated the historic inclusion on social media.
Hunt, a member of SMU’s Spirit Team, re-shared a post from the ACC’s page congratulating the Mustangs, now set to make their first CFP appearance in program history when they face No. 6 seed Penn State (11-2) in the first round of the 12-team playoff field — a seismic shakeup from the previous four-team bracket.
Ava Hunt (r.) celebrated SMU’s inclusion in the 12-team College Football Playoff field. Gracie Hunt/InstagramThe SMU cheerleader took to Instagram to celebrate the Mustangs’ historic moment. Ava Hunt/Instagram
Hunt’s family, including older sister Gracie Hunt, were in attendance.
“Not the result we were hoping for, but so proud of our Ponies!” Gracie exclaimed on Instagram.
Hunt announced her commitment to SMU in March.
Ava Hunt (l.) announced her commitment to SMU in March 2024. Ava Hunt/Instagram
“It’s official!! So beyond thankful for the opportunity to keep doing what I love!” she gushed on social media at the time, adding the hashtags “SMU Cheer” and “Pony Up.”
Hunt committed to the Mustangs one month after her beloved Chiefs won their second consecutive Super Bowl.
The Chiefs topped the 49ers in the championship contest in February, defending their title after the team’s 2023 victory over the Eagles.
Ava Hunt celebrated the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win in February 2024. Ava Hunt/Instagram
“BACK TO BACK CHAMPS!!” Hunt shared from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where the Chiefs knocked off the 49ers in overtime, 25-22.
Ava Hunt is cheering on the Chiefs in their quest of a Super Bowl three-peat. Ava Hunt/Instagram
The Chiefs’ quest for a Super Bowl three-peat is well within reach as the team clinched a playoff berth in late November following a win over the Raiders.
The Chiefs (11-1) will host the Chargers (8-4) on this week’s edition of “Sunday Night Football.”
The Mustangs will visit the Nittany Lions on Dec. 21.
It’s the first time the House of Commons has had the opportunity to vote on legalizing what some people call “assisted dying” while others term as “assisted suicide” in nearly a decade — and it looks like it will be a close result.
Ahead of the debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, around 180 lawmakers have indicated they will back the proposal, while about 150 have said they won’t. The other 300 or so lawmakers have either yet to make up their mind or have not disclosed how they will vote.
The debate is set to be impassioned, touching on issues of ethics, grief, the law, religion, crime and money. Many lawmakers plan to recount personal experiences while others will focus on the impact on the hard-pressed state-run National Health Service and how to safeguard the most vulnerable from being exploited.
Around 160 members of parliament have indicated they would like to make a speech during the debate, but the speaker of the House of Commons, Lyndsay Hoyle, said it’s unlikely that they all will have a chance to do so.
A vote in favor of the bill would send it to another round of hearings, where it will face further scrutiny and votes in both Houses of Parliament. If ultimately approved, any new law is unlikely to come into effect within the next two to three years.
A vote against it would kill it.
“Let’s be clear, we’re not talking about a choice between life or death, we are talking about giving dying people a choice about how to die,” the bill’s main sponsor, Kim Leadbeater, said in the opening speech in a packed chamber.
She conceded that it’s not an easy decision for lawmakers but that “if any of us wanted an easy life, they’re in the wrong place.”
Although the current bill was proposed by a member of the ruling center-left Labour Party, it is an open vote with no pressure from the government on supporting it.
As the debate started, supporters of both sides gathered outside Parliament.
The contentious bill would allow adults expected to have fewer than six months to live to request and be provided with help to end their life, subject to safeguards and protections. They would have to be capable of taking the fatal drugs themselves.
Lawmakers, who have been holding emotional meetings with constituents and searching their souls, are due to debate the issue that crosses political lines.
Supporters say the law would provide dignity to the dying and prevent unnecessary suffering, while ensuring there are enough safeguards to prevent those near the end of their lives from being coerced into taking their own life. Opponents say it would put vulnerable people at risk, fearing that some would be coerced to end their lives and that some elderly or disabled people may opt for death so they don’t become a burden.
It’s the first time the House of Commons has debated an assisted dying bill since 2015, when a similar measure failed. Only around a third of the lawmakers from that parliament are still in office.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has previously supported assisted dying, said the government will remain neutral and he wouldn’t reveal how he would vote. Some members of his cabinet have said they will support the bill, while others are against it. Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the main opposition Conservative Party, has said she’ll vote against.
Under the proposed legislation, only those over 18 years old in England and Wales and who are expected to die within six months can request assisted dying. They must have the mental capacity to make a choice about the end of their life and will be required to make two separate declarations about their wish to die.
Other countries that have legalized assisted suicide include Australia, Belgium, Canada and parts of the United States, with regulations on who is eligible varying by jurisdiction.
Assisted suicide is different from euthanasia, allowed in the Netherlands and Canada, which involves healthcare practitioners administering a lethal injection at the patient’s request in specific circumstances.
Most of the teams in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association state football playoffs are a day behind normal game prep. The brackets came out Sunday, when most coaches start prepping for their opponents on Saturday morning.
Two Moore County teams aren’t as far behind schedule, with Union Pines and Pinecrest having played their first-round opponents in the regular season. Union Pines played its first-round opponent, Scotland, a little more than a month ago.
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Pinecrest running back Chris Najm (26) runs through defenders during a Sandhills Athletic Conference game against Union Pines at home this season. All three Moore County high school football team have punched their tickets to the poseason.
Like Stephe Nedoroscik, Ilona Maher is also having the time of her life right now. Coming off a bronze-winning Parisian campaign, the rugby player is now wooing fans with her groovy moves. Over the past few weeks, Maher’s stint at Dancing With The Stars has been mesmerizing, to say the least. Partnering up with Alan Bersten, the 28-year-old is showing that talent can never be restricted within strict confines. And she might have even grander plans to expand her horizons even further.
Ahead of making her dancing debut, Maher noted that it wasn’t just her love for dancing that encouraged her to join the show. Instead, she wanted to take the opportunity to spread more awareness about how body shaming can be devastating for a person’s confidence. Now, she’s looking to boost her worth further by possibly taking a bold step across the pond.
The next chapter awaits for Ilona Maher
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An article by The Telegraph from October 25 claims that the USA 7s star is potentially in the talks to join several British rugby clubs. The most-followed rugby player on social media is already in communication to make her move to the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) complete. With the World Cup coming up next year, Maher might soon be spending her days on the field in the UK rather than in the USA.
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Both the Bristol Bears and Gloucester-Hartpury have reached out to the Olympic medalist to enlist her among their ranks. Maher is currently one of the most popular sports stars in the world, and SportsPro ranked her eighth on the list of the most marketable athletes in the world. With over seven million followers on social media, it’s easy to comprehend why the PWR also wants Maher to be the face of the tournament. However, the path to get her to the British Isles won’t be a walk in the park for any of the involved parties.
Issues with visas could become the biggest hurdle to getting Ilona Maher to relocate from the USA. Moreover, the fact that the Vermont resident hasn’t had an appearance in 15-a-side matches since 2021. On the other hand, the USA has been a steady supplier of players to the PWR over the years, and Maher could be the latest to join the long list. The defender could arrive in the UK in January, making her available for at least six regular-season matches. Whatever happens, Maher currently has a lot on her plate to deal with.
From the rugby pitch to the dance floor: A graceful transition
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At the 33rd Games, Team USA made history as it beat Australia to win its first-ever rugby sevens Olympic medal. For understandable reasons, Maher was hovering above cloud 9 after the milestone achievement with her squad mates. With her dream to bag a spot on the podium being an unfulfilled dream at the Tokyo Games, Maher could barely withhold her jubilation after the team’s feat in the City of Love. After the victory, Maher also noted that this should give the sport more exposure. “I hope this means more money and funding for us because we deserve it. I hope this means more girls in the US trying out rugby and seeing what it can do for them,” she said later.
In the days after the Games, showing up for Dancing With The Stars was the only logical step for Maher to bring more fans to the fold. “When I first got the call, I wanted to say no. I have never danced before. I think I took a ballet class at preschool, and that is it. My comfort zone is the rugby pitch,” she elaborated on what made her skeptical to try out something new. However, these past five weeks have proven that Ilona Maher can achieve anything she sets her mind to. What has been the best moment for you from Maher’s scintillating dancing career? Tell us in a comment below!
An athlete will be awarded S$1 million for an Olympic gold, S$500,000 for a silver and S$250,000 for a bronze. The only athlete to have received the top award was swimmer Joseph Schooling, who won the 100m butterfly at the 2016 Rio Games.
It is mandatory for all athletes to give a percentage of their MAP awards to their respective National Sports Associations for future training and development. In Maeder’s case, he will need to give 20 per cent of his prize money, or S$50,000, to the Singapore Sailing Federation.
The MAP awards are also taxable.
“The Olympic Games represent the pinnacle of sporting achievement, where the world’s finest athletes gather not just to compete, but to embody the highest ideals of excellence, friendship and respect,” said SNOC president Grace Fu, who is also Minister for Sustainability and the Environment.
“Our athletes in Paris did just that – representing Singapore with passion, resilience and unwavering determination.
“They carried the hopes of a nation and stood tall on the world’s grandest stage.”
Also attending the event were Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, Olympians such as Yeo Jia Min and Amita Berthier as well as Maeder’s parents Hwee Keng and Valentin.
A total of 23 athletes represented Singapore at the Paris Olympics, with 15, including Maeder, making their Games debut.
He is also Singapore’s first Olympic sailing medalist.
The 18-year-old, who is the world’s top-ranked kitefoiler, has been in stunning form this year. Prior to taking to the water at the Olympics, Maeder won five consecutive competitions, including the world championships where he defended his title.
Week 7 was always billed as a battle of heavyweights across college football. Against all odds, the slate lived up to the hype with four overtime games involving AP Top 25 teams and more top-10 teams falling down the stretch.
Most notably, No. 2 Ohio State fell to No. 3 Oregon for its seventh loss in eight tries against top-five opponents under coach Ryan Day. Oregon, conversely, picked up its first win against a top-two opponent in program history and took control of the Big Ten title race.
Elsewhere, No. 1 Texas established itself as a serious national title contender by eviscerating No. 18 Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. LSU also got back into the conference title race by shocking Ole Miss. Utah may have fallen out for good after losing to Arizona State.
Here are the biggest winners and losers of college football’s Week 7, including a more real clarity in conference championship races.
Loser: Ryan Day
Ohio State paid more than $20 million to put together this roster over the offseason. The Buckeyes ran off incumbent starting quarterback Kyle McCord and replaced him with Will Howard. Safety Caleb Downs (Alabama) and running back Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss) transferred into the program. The Buckeyes have every advantage and more in one of the most championship-or-bust seasons in college football history.
It took one test for the house of cards to crumble. Worse, it was embarrassing. Day’s handpicked quarterback failed to recognize a clock situation and slid as time expired for the loss. Despite being in field goal range, Ohio State ran dropback passing. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was called for offensive pass interference, which pushed the Buckeyes out of field goal range.
Now, Day is 1-7 against AP top-five opponents since the pandemic. The loss was the first against a non-Michigan Big Ten opponent since 2018. It was the program’s second consecutive loss to Oregon.
Winner: Oregon coach Dan Lanning
Ducks coach Dan Lanning has lost a few heartbreakers over the years, but Saturday in Eugene was his crowning moment. Oregon shocked Ohio State 32-31 with a game-winning field goal by Atticus Sappington with 1:47 remaining. Laning has been a rising star in the industry for years, but the win against Ohio State brings a new level of credibility. The win was the first over an AP top-two team in program history and should elevate the program to No. 2 for the first time since Marcus Mariota graduated in 2014.
Loser: Oklahoma
Prior to coach Brent Venables’ arrival in 2022, Oklahoma had scored a touchdown in every version of the Red River Rivalry dating back to 1998. Before that, that streak went all the way back to 1977. After a devastating 34-3 loss against No. 1 Texas, the Sooners have now failed to score a touchdown twice in the rivalry in three years under Venables.
The offense was a total disaster once again, eliciting comparisons to the embarrassing 49-0 loss in 2022. Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. tried his best as the first true freshman to start for OU in the rivalry game in history, but he finished below 100 yards passing until a late drive in garbage time. In his defense, Oklahoma also got only 64 yards rushing from its running backs, and only one wide receiver had more than 20 yards.
The Sooners rank last in the SEC in almost every offensive category. It’s fair to give Venables at least one mulligan for injuries. But two bad losses to the Longhorns in three years? That’s a trend, and it’s very much not a good one.
Winner: Free football
Oct. 12 was already viewed as one of the best days of college football in a long time. To make matters ever better, the sports gods blessed us with tons of free football. Four different games involving ranked opponents went to overtime for the first time since Sept. 27, 2003. No. 13 LSU pulled off the upset by shocking No. 9 Ole Miss. USC gave No. 4 Penn State all it could handle before dropping in overtime. Purdue was painfully close to upsetting No. 23 Illinois but failed on a potential game-winning 2-point conversion. Florida failed to score in overtime as No. 8 Tennessee survived a putrid performance. Even when the top teams don’t lose, they’ve looked highly vulnerable. That could set up a wild finish to the season.
Loser: Alabama
I tend to give teams one mulligan, a weird game that you chalk up to 18-22 year olds having a bad day. For Alabama, it was the astonishing road loss against Vanderbilt. After following that disasterclass up with a narrow 27-25 win over South Carolina at home, the Crimson Tide are officially on fraud watch.
The Tide again struggled to run the ball against South Carolina and put together a disaster of a defensive performance against an offensively inept team. The Gamecocks had touchdown drives of 16 and 10 plays, and Alabama simply couldn’t get them off the field. This is a flawed, inconsistent team that’s not playing championship football.
The 2024 Cyclones joined the 1938 Cyclones as the only teams in Iowa State history to start 6-0 after beating West Virginia 28-16 in a big road game. Running back Carson Hansen posted three touchdowns in the win as Iowa State nearly reached 400 offensive yards in a big win.
A fun little side plot: West Virginia honored former tight end Anthony Becht after inducting him into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame. His son, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht, celebrated by dicing up his father’s alma mater to the tune of 265 yards and a touchdown. The younger Becht did not receive a scholarship offer from WVU but has become one of the Big 12’s top passers.
Loser: College kickers
Rumors that kickers are becoming too good may have been somewhat premature. Yes, Ole Miss kicker Caden Davis hit a career-long 57 yarder vs. LSU, but there were some otherwise abysmal showings on Saturday. Kickers for both Texas and Oklahoma missed easy field goals, while Longhorns kicker Bert Auburn actually got a second attempt… and missed it, too. Oregon’s Sappington was lucky to get another field goal attempt after whiffing on a 44 yarder early in the game. South Carolina’s Alex Herrera was put in a brutal position by his staff, but missed a 51-yarder in the fourth quarter that would have given South Carolina the lead. The chaos of college kickers always keeps the sport unpredictable. It’s not going anywhere soon.
Penn State coach James Franklin openly loves Warren, and he put together one of the best tight end receiving performances in history in a 33-30 overtime victory against USC. Warren caught an absurd 17 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown as offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki leveraged his mismatch early and often.
Warren has been a strong contributor all season, including a 146-yard performance against Bowling Green. However, he hit another level in the huge road victory to give Penn State a bonafide playmaker.
Loser: Utah
The Utah story is reaching a brutal conclusion after a hobbled quarterback Cameron Rising played a miserable game in a shocking 27-19 loss against Arizona State. In his return from a hand injury, Rising threw three interceptions and the Utes got into the end zone just once in the loss as the program fell to 1-2 in Big 12 play.
Dropping to Arizona and Arizona State in successive weeks makes the Utes’ path to the Big 12 Championship Game far more difficult. Games against BYU and Iowa State — both undefeated — still lie ahead. What was supposed to be a coronation for Utah is suddenly turning into a disaster for the second straight season.
Winner: Vanderbilt
The Commodores have no interest in being a one-hit wonder. A week after shocking Alabama, Vanderbilt beat Kentucky 20-13 behind two touchdown throws from QB Diego Pavia. The win makes for the program’s best start since a 5-1 record in 2008, when Bobby Johnson coached the program. Vanderbilt has reached two SEC wins in a season only once since 2018. The vibes could not be better in Nashville.
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – The Franklin County Seahawks, a football team that hasn’t seen much success in it’s short history. But now, the players, coaches, fans, and community are living through history. The team’s defensive coordinator Brock Johnson is one of the many reasons for Franklin’s success. But his other title other than ‘coach’, is Officer Johnson, the school’s student resource officer.
“They see a different side of me once I take off my normal uniform but I think the respect and everything is still there. They know that I care about them and it’s not just sports. I’ve helped them outside of school and everything and I see them away from school and it’s always Coach. You know I don’t want them calling me officer or mister. It’s a great relationship I have with these kids and I’m really appreciative of it.” Coach Johnson said.
After Coach John Cooper was made the head coach last year, he brought Coach Johnson along with him. Not only did Coach Cooper know that Coach Johnson had the football knowledge to do the job, he knew he’d be able to make relationships with the kids as an SRO.
“Sometimes an SRO has a little bit more break time than what a teacher does just different schedules and stuff you know if a student not just an athlete but maybe a student needs somebody to talk, he’s there right there so not only do they get that during the school day but they also get on the football field the baseball diamond so you know it’s just great mentorship 24/7 almost.”
Being an offensive player in high school, the defense was something Coach Johnson was a little unfamiliar with. Except the fact that his dad was a longtime defensive coordinator at Appalachia High School, so Coach Johnson was always in the film room with him.
“It kind of just wore on me you know I kind of grew to love it cause you know like I used to all my friends when they would be out riding the streets so to speak, you know, I would be having to watch game field with my dad and I didn’t like it at the time growing up, cause I wanna be with my guys but it kind of gave me a better understanding of the game.”
All Coach Johnson wants during his time as coach at Franklin, is to see his players and the community succeed.
“You know he wanted me out here and trust me, I told him I’m on my way man cause it’s like there’s nothing more that I want than to see this school and this community get what they deserve out here on this football field.”
Stefan Frei reached a milestone in his MLS career on Sunday night, becoming the second all-time in shutouts as he led the Seattle Sounders to a 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City at Lumen Field.
Frei’s clean sheet was his 113th regular-season shutout, moving him past Kevin Hartman and into sole possession of second place on the MLS all-time list. Nick Rimando remains the record-holder with 154 shutouts. Frei was called into action only once during the match, making a crucial diving save on Erik Thommy’s left-footed shot in the 35th minute.
The Sounders’ defense was solid throughout, and their offense provided the necessary support with first-half goals from Jackson Ragen and Paul Rothrock. Ragen scored in the 19th minute, capitalizing on a rebound from a header by Jordan Morris that was initially saved by Tim Melia. Rothrock doubled Seattle’s lead in the 40th minute, finishing off a pass from Morris after Cristian Roldan’s chipped ball into the box.
Seattle’s advantage could have been extended further, but a 24th-minute header by Cristian Roldan was ruled offside following a video review, and a penalty kick by Albert Rusnak was saved by Melia in the 44th minute.
With the win, the Sounders improved to 13-9-7 and moved up to fifth place in the Western Conference standings, with a strong record of 9-2-1 in their past 12 league matches. They are now just a game behind the fourth-seeded Las Vegas Aces in the playoff race.
Sporting Kansas City’s Peter Vermes, who reached his 500th regular-season match as a coach, became the third coach in league history to achieve this feat and the first to do so with only one club. However, SKC remains far behind in the playoff race, sitting in 11th place with 28 points, 11 points adrift of the final playoff spot.
Seattle’s win also underscored their defensive prowess and attacking efficiency, as they continue to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
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Editor’s note: The Athletic 134 is a weekly ranking of all FBS college football teams.
It took just two weeks for college football to descend into chaos.
We’ve had two top-10 teams lose to unranked opponents. Notre Dame appeared to have a clear path to the College Football Playoff, then lost to Northern Illinois. Oregon needed a last-second field goal to beat Boise State. Alabama battled USF deep into the fourth quarter for the second consecutive year.
But after a week full of thrillers, the headliner is Texas moving up to No. 2 — and having a case for No. 1 — after a 31-12 win at reigning national champion Michigan. The Longhorns look like a team that could win it all, and they host No. 1 Georgia in a little more than a month.
A reminder: The rankings will be volatile early. Wins against quality and competent teams are rewarded and skewed. Teams can make big jumps quickly with good wins. Teams that beat up on inferior competition won’t move much or might even “drop,” but that’s simply because someone else jumped with a notable win. Several people in last week’s comments didn’t get this.
A lot of teams happened to “drop” this week after a win because of surprising results. Don’t worry. Relax. It’s all in a limited context. It will take a few weeks for everything to sort out once everyone has played at least one game of note. I try to emphasize results, and it takes time for everyone to have one.
Here is the Week 3 edition of The Athletic 134.
1-10
Georgia stays No. 1, and the win over Clemson last week looks even better a week later. Texas moves up to No. 2 after its domination at Michigan. Ohio State has been a machine for two weeks, but the Buckeyes lack a good win like the other two, and unfortunately won’t have one for several weeks. They’ll be fine. This top three feels like it’s ahead of everyone else.
Alabama drops to No. 7 after needing a four-touchdown fourth quarter to pull away from USF, and Penn State drops to No. 8 after holding on 34-27 against Bowling Green. Oregon moves up a spot but needed a last-second field goal to beat Boise State, and the Ducks have shown concerning issues for two weeks after being my preseason No. 3.
As a result of those Alabama and Penn State issues, plus Notre Dame’s and Michigan’s losses, Miami slides up to No. 5. Tennessee also rises to No. 6 after a 51-10 win against NC State.
11-25
Iowa State moves up to No. 13 after a last-second win at Iowa, and the Hawkeyes drop to No. 24. Oklahoma looked shockingly poor against Houston but stays at No. 14 as a result of the teams behind it. No. 16 Kansas State escaped Tulane, No. 17 Oklahoma State allowed 648 yards but somehow won a bizarre game against Arkansas, and No. 18 Clemson has a loss.
Welcome to the top 25, Nebraska, after a 28-10 win against Colorado that was never close. Also welcome, Northern Illinois! The Huskies beat a Notre Dame team that won at Texas A&M and make one of the biggest one-week jumps in the history of these rankings, from No. 106 to No. 21. Why shouldn’t NIU be ahead of the Fighting Irish?
Michigan stays in the top 25 at No. 23 because I think Texas is really good, but the Wolverines are trending down. Arizona drops a few spots to No. 25 after trailing Northern Arizona at halftime.
26-50
There are a lot of new teams at the top of this group. Illinois makes a huge jump to No. 27 after beating a ranked Kansas team. No. 28 Syracuse similarly has a big rise after beating Georgia Tech 31-28. No. 30 Arizona State and No. 31 Cal jump here after wins against the SEC’s Mississippi State and at Auburn, respectively.
I know Louisville is ranked in the AP and Coaches Poll. The simple explanation for the Cards’ position here at No. 35 is that they’ve beaten up on Austin Peay and Jacksonville State, so they haven’t moved much from their preseason No. 32 ranking. Like Ohio State, they need to play notable opponents, which begins next week with Georgia Tech. Other teams won and “dropped” in here as well, like No. 33 Texas A&M and No. 34 Memphis. This is because the loss to Notre Dame looks worse for A&M now, and other teams got better wins to leap over various teams that haven’t played a game of note yet.
I have no idea what to do with South Carolina. The Gamecocks barely escaped Old Dominion at home in Week 1 and then rocked Kentucky 31-6 on the road. They’re back up to No. 41, around their original preseason ranking. Tulane slips only one spot to No. 45 after taking Kansas State to the limit, but the Green Wave look like a team that should contend for the AAC again. Liberty tumbles to No. 46 after needing a fourth-quarter comeback to beat New Mexico State.
After struggling to get past Western Michigan in Week 1, Wisconsin followed up with another concerning performance against South Dakota, dropping to No. 49. Next up? Alabama.
51-75
This group also sees several teams “drop” after a loss, but again, that’s just because of notable wins by other teams.
Arkansas put almost 650 yards of offense on Oklahoma State and still somehow lost, as the Hogs stay put at No. 52. Kentucky’s lopsided loss to South Carolina sees the Wildcats drop to No. 54. Texas State put it on UTSA 49-10 in a statement win to move up to No. 57 with Arizona State coming to town on Thursday.
BYU beat SMU 18-15 in an ugly affair but picked up a valuable road win to move up to No. 58. Oregon State and Washington State are 2-0 and ranked No. 62 and No. 63 with Civil War and Apple Cup rivalries coming this weekend. Michigan State’s last-second field goal against Maryland sees the Spartans move up to No. 64, and the Terrapins slide 10 spots to No. 66. Texas Tech drops to No. 72 after a 37-16 loss at Washington State, while Pitt moves into the top 75 after a fourth-quarter comeback at Cincinnati.
76-100
The top part of this group includes several teams that lost and dropped out of the top 75. But No. 81 Virginia is 2-0 after squeaking out a win against Wake Forest. No. 84 Georgia Southern beat Nevada in a matchup of teams that may be better than we expected.
No. 90 Houston is another team I have no idea where to rank. The Cougars were blown out by UNLV in Week 1 and then stayed close with Oklahoma 16-12 this week. Old Dominion followed up its close loss to South Carolina with a 20-14 loss to East Carolina, so the Monarchs move down to No. 97 as ECU moves up to No. 95.
Shoutout to ULM. The Warhawks beat UAB 32-6 and move into the top 100 of these rankings for the first time in a very long time.
101-134
Ohio moves up to No. 103 after beating South Alabama, and I’m wondering if the Bobcats are going to make a lot of noise in the MAC race. Troy dropped to No. 104 after an 0-2 start following a 38-17 loss to Memphis. Pitbull Stadium was rocking as FIU beat Central Michigan 52-16 to move up to No. 106. Wyoming drops all the way to No. 118 after an alarming 0-2 start. The Cowboys have a 48-7 loss to Arizona State and a 17-13 loss to FCS Idaho, though it’s the same Idaho team that battled Oregon in Week 1. UTEP also lost to Southern Utah for another FBS-FCS loss, as the Miners drop to No. 133.
Lastly, we already have our third No. 134 of the season. Kent State takes over the bottom spot after losing to FCS St. Francis (Pa.), which was a below-.500 team last year. Next up for the Golden Flashes: Tennessee and Penn State.
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