The Athletic 133: Why Washington has earned the No. 1 ranking at midseason

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It’s uncommon {that a} monster sport lives as much as the hype. We’ve now had it occur two weeks in a row in faculty soccer, shaking up the rankings.

Final week, Oklahoma beat Texas with a landing within the ultimate seconds. This week, Washington beat Oregon with a late fourth-down cease, a landing and a missed Geese subject objective as time expired. We knew Washington regarded like world-beaters up thus far. The Huskies simply hadn’t performed anybody notable. Positioned in one of many greatest video games of the 12 months, Washington and Michael Penix Jr. delivered. On account of the 36-33 win, Washington takes the highest spot on this week’s Athletic 133.

Penix took management of the Heisman Trophy race along with his efficiency and a seemingly endless provide of fine broad receivers. The Huskies aren’t good, however they game-planned nicely with a banged-up offensive line, and the protection obtained the stops after they wanted them, protecting Oregon to 0-for-3 on fourth downs.

It’s a top-three win for any crew this season, additionally up there with Texas beating Alabama on the street and Oklahoma beating Texas on a impartial web site. That Oregon win, coupled with the robust play in any other case (together with a win at Arizona that appears quite a bit higher just lately), strikes Washington to No. 1 for now. However we’ve obtained much more top-10 matchups coming this 12 months.

Right here is that this week’s Athletic 133.

1-10

Aside from Washington’s transfer as much as No. 1, the one different adjustments in right here embrace Michigan hopping previous Penn State to No. 7 and North Carolina sliding into No. 10 after taking good care of Miami. On the Michigan level, the Wolverines leap the Nittany Lions as a result of their Rutgers win is now primarily equal to Penn State’s West Virginia win (although neither could be very notable), and Michigan has been so dominant in any other case. As I say each week, Michigan appears extraordinarily good. The Wolverines simply don’t play anybody notable till Penn State on Nov. 11. In the event that they win that sport, they’ll rocket up close to the very high, similar to Washington did. As for the comparability to Georgia, the Bulldogs have a blowout top-30 win in opposition to Kentucky. In the meantime, Ohio State and Penn State meet this coming weekend.

GO DEEPER

Auerbach’s High 10: Washington takes No. 1, UNC enters the combo

11-25

Oregon slips simply out of the highest 10 to No. 11. Whereas the Geese performed nicely and almost beat Washington on the street, they don’t have a notable win to justify a top-10 spot in the meanwhile, not like Texas. Oregon State sits simply behind at No. 12 after a 36-24 win in opposition to UCLA. Louisville was probably the most tough crew to position this week. The Cardinals misplaced to Pitt 38-21 however stay at No. 13 as a result of their lopsided win in opposition to Notre Dame final week appears a lot better after the Combating Irish beat USC. I can’t but justify placing a two-loss Notre Dame forward of Louisville after what we simply noticed final week, so they continue to be in place for now. It’s at all times pure to maneuver groups every week after a win or loss, however earlier video games matter, too.

After a bunch of losses from the underside of this group, a handful of Group of 5 groups slide into the highest 25, together with Air Drive (No. 21), Tulane (No. 23) and James Madison (No. 24). The Falcons and Dukes are undefeated, whereas Tulane beat Memphis on the street. Iowa additionally jumps as much as No. 22 after beating Wisconsin on the street to maneuver to 6-1. No matter you consider the offense and the accidents, the Hawkeyes maintain profitable.

GO DEEPER

Ubben: Iowa to the School Soccer Playoff? Avert your eyes — but it surely’s attainable

26-50

Kentucky, Florida and Tennessee have been additionally very tough to position, simply outdoors the highest 25. All of them have comparable data, however Kentucky walloped Florida, which beat Tennessee. I wished to place Florida and Tennessee within the high 25 after Kentucky misplaced to Missouri, however I can’t do it fairly but due to that Kentucky-Florida consequence.

Arizona makes one other massive leap as much as No. 30 after lastly getting a breakthrough win, destroying Washington State 44-6 one week after taking USC to additional time and shedding to Washington by simply seven earlier than that. Quarterback Noah Fifita (342 passing yards) has modified the trajectory for the Wildcats. Oklahoma State equally makes a giant bounce to No. 36 because of a quarterback determination (Alan Bowman) that has fastened issues, with consecutive wins in opposition to Kansas State final week and Kansas this week. The Jayhawks don’t fall behind the Cowboys, although, as a result of beginning quarterback Jalon Daniels didn’t play in Stillwater.

Miami (No. 39) and Texas A&M (No. 40) proceed to tumble after losses. Iowa State has gained three of its final 4 video games since a loss to Ohio, which stunningly misplaced to Northern Illinois this weekend. And Liberty lastly performed a considerably notable opponent, dealing with 5-1 Jacksonville State to maneuver as much as No. 38. Troy can be again on observe with a 19-0 shutout of Military, its fourth consecutive win.

GO DEEPER

What we realized in CFB’s first half: Pac-12 peaking, UGA cruising, and who’s ‘again’?

51-75

Georgia State strikes as much as No. 51 after a 41-24 win in opposition to Marshall to get to 5-1 on the season. Numerous groups dropped out of the highest 50 after losses, together with Memphis (No. 54), NC State (No. 54), South Carolina (No. 55), Auburn (No. 56) and Texas Tech (No. 63). There have been extra drops from the likes of Arkansas (No. 62), Syracuse (No. 64) and Cal (No. 65) with losses. Texas State, in the meantime, escaped ULM to maneuver to 5-2 general and as much as No. 68, whereas UNLV beat Nevada to get to 5-1 and transfer to No. 69.

UTSA appears to have rounded into kind with Frank Harris taking part in once more, beating UAB convincingly to maneuver to No. 71, and Virginia Tech has gained two of its final three after beating Wake Forest 30-13 to maneuver as much as No. 72.

76-100

Houston (No. 78) beat West Virginia on a Hail Mary and Colorado State (No. 84) beat Boise State on a Hail Mary, however different earlier outcomes maintain each groups from shifting increased for now. Michigan State blew a 24-6 fourth-quarter lead in opposition to Rutgers and continues to disintegrate, now all the way down to No. 88 with Michigan coming to city subsequent week.

USF is a really tough crew to position. Since taking part in Alabama shut and profitable the following two video games, the Bulls have misplaced to UAB and FAU convincingly within the final two weeks and have tumbled to No. 93. Military continues to wrestle, getting shut out by Troy and dropping to No. 95. Central Michigan (No. 94) is a troublesome crew to play, beating South Alabama however shedding to Buffalo and holding on to beat Akron 17-10 this week.

101-133

No. 101 Northern Illinois has wins in opposition to Boston School and now Ohio to go along with losses in opposition to FCS Southern Illinois and Tulsa. However during the last three weeks, the Huskies appear to have turned issues round. Regulate them. Sam Houston, nonetheless searching for its first win as an FBS program, fell behind rapidly to New Mexico State and tumbles all the way down to No. 132. However Nevada, with its sixteenth consecutive loss, this one to rival UNLV, stays No. 133.

The Athletic 133 Rankings sequence is a part of a partnership with AllState.

The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Companions don’t have any management over or enter into the reporting or enhancing course of and don’t evaluate tales earlier than publication.

(Photograph: Jesse Beals / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)