CFP rankings: High 4 stays unchanged

By Cameron Teague Robinson, Seth Emerson, Austin Meek and Nicole Auerbach

The second School Soccer Playoff rankings of the 2023 season had been unveiled Tuesday night time. Right here’s what that you must know:

Buckeyes retain high spot

Ohio State held on to the highest spot within the School Soccer Playoff rankings this week. After debuting within the high spot, the Buckeyes went on the highway and beat Rutgers. Though it wasn’t a resume-defining win, it was sufficient for the playoff committee to maintain them at No. 1 regardless of Georgia beating No. 14 Missouri on Saturday.

Within the grand scheme of issues, this doesn’t change a lot for Ohio State. They host Michigan State and Minnesota within the subsequent two weeks and the purpose is to keep away from an upset earlier than going to Ann Arbor to play Michigan on Nov. 25. If the Buckeyes do this, they’ll management their very own future to the School Soccer Playoff, as soon as once more. — Cameron Teague Robinson, Ohio State soccer author

How Georgia compares to Ohio State

There was some thought the committee might use the win over Missouri — Georgia’s first over a now-ranked group — as an excuse to raise the Bulldogs, but it surely’s nonetheless only one ranked win versus the 2 for Ohio State. Look decrease within the rankings: No. 9 Ole Miss is Georgia’s subsequent opponent, No. 13 Tennessee is after that. (After the Volunteers play Missouri.)

So if the Bulldogs win out within the common season they both stand up to No. 1 or are a stable No. 2 going into the SEC championship. And even when the Georgia loses one of many subsequent two — very doable — its resume would appear sturdy sufficient {that a} win within the SEC championship can be sufficient to get in. Does it get fascinating if the Bulldogs are 12-0 however lose the SEC championship? Sure, however that relies on what occurs elsewhere within the nation.

Backside line, Georgia’s schedule is slowly ceasing to be an albatross. — Seth Emerson, Georgia soccer author

Significance of Week 11 for Michigan

Until you’re speaking about sign-stealing, there isn’t a lot to debate with Michigan. The Wolverines beat Purdue 41-13 to enhance to 9-0 and keep at No. 3 within the rankings. Subsequent week might be way more fascinating. If the Wolverines beat Penn State, they may have a case to maneuver as much as No. 1 or No. 2.

In the event that they lose, their possibilities of getting again into the highest 4 will rely upon beating Ohio State on the finish of the 12 months and hoping for assist from different groups. This week is unquestionably a crossroads for Michigan’s season. — Austin Meek, Michigan soccer author

Committee’s inconsistencies

The highest eight groups from final week all gained, and nothing important modified on this week’s rankings. The largest query I’d had coming into Tuesday was whether or not or not Georgia might leapfrog Ohio State for the highest spot, now that the Bulldogs received a top-15 win over Missouri. Nevertheless it seems the choice committee will await a bit extra of a resume increase earlier than it strikes the Dawgs up.

It’s a bit irritating to see the committee depend on resume to justify Ohio State at No. 1 however lean extra into eye check for Georgia and Michigan, preserving them above Florida State and Washington. Why would the Huskies, who’ve the very best win of anybody (No. 6 Oregon) be ignored of the highest 4? It’s inconsistent logic by this committee. — Nicole Auerbach, senior faculty soccer author

Required studying

(Picture: Kirby Lee / USA As we speak)