Swing video games for each Top 25 faculty soccer crew for 2025

We are one month away from having faculty soccer again, with Iowa State and Kansas State kicking issues off from Dublin on Aug. 23.

With video games so shut at hand, we requested our reporters to single out one contest for every of our post-spring Top 25 groups that would swing their season by some means. On paper, what’s the one recreation that can play the most important function in figuring out whether or not the season is successful or a dud?

Some will are available in main nonconference battles over the primary couple of weeks, some are extra conventional league video games that would set the tone for the issues to return. But they’re all price circling in your calendars and considering because the season nears.

Other Top 25 lists: X elements | Areas of concern | Sleepers

Swing recreation: vs. Oregon, Sept. 27

Among the nationwide title contenders, Penn State will present the fewest clues in the course of the first portion of the schedule, which incorporates nonleague video games towards Nevada, Florida International and Villanova. But after an open week, the Lions will face their first mega take a look at, as they host Oregon in a rematch of the 2024 Big Ten championship recreation. The Ducks ran the desk throughout their first season as a league member, however they did not face a street take a look at like Beaver Stadium at evening. Coaches and quarterbacks are all the time linked, however Penn State’s James Franklin and Drew Allar can be below an particularly vibrant highlight as they attempt to reverse their big-game pattern traces. A win stamps Penn State because the crew to beat within the Big Ten this season, a few month earlier than it heads to Ohio State on Nov. 1. — Adam Rittenberg

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Swing recreation: vs. LSU, Aug. 30

This one is pretty apparent. The Tigers open the season at dwelling towards LSU, an enormous recreation that can serve to point out whether or not all of the hype surrounding Clemson is warranted. Clemson has misplaced three of its previous 4 season openers, together with two to a different SEC college in Georgia. Winning is massively vital, however so is the way in which Clemson seems to be proper out of the gate with an skilled crew that returns its greatest playmakers on offense and a few of its greatest defenders from a yr in the past. Here is why that “eye test” issues to notion: In these three season-opening losses to Georgia (2021, 2024) and Duke (2023), Clemson managed to attain a mixed 13 factors and only one complete landing. That merely can not occur with QB Cade Klubnik getting into Year 3 because the starter. — Andrea Adelson

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Swing recreation: vs. Oklahoma at Cotton Bowl, Oct. 11

It’s all the time Oklahoma. It’s early October. The SEC schedule is getting below method. And it doesn’t matter what, this recreation finally ends up being unpredictable and often a dogfight. Like when the 0-4 Sooners have been 22-point underdogs in John Blake’s first season in 1996, or in 2013 and 2015 when unranked Texas groups beat No. 12 and No. 10 OU groups. The final three years present the swings. In 2022, Texas received 49-0. In 2023, No. 12 Oklahoma shocked No. 3 Texas within the closing seconds 34-30, then the Longhorns bounced again to crush the Sooners 34-3 final season. — Dave Wilson

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Swing recreation: at Tennessee, Sept. 13

After internet hosting Marshall and FCS program Austin Peay to start out the season, the Bulldogs will play an early SEC street recreation at Tennessee on Sept. 13. It can be a major street take a look at for beginning quarterback Gunner Stockton and the offense taking part in in one of the vital intimidating street environments within the SEC. The Volunteers dominated the Bulldogs all through the Nineties, however Georgia has flipped the script, successful eight in a row and 13 of the previous 15 contests within the sequence. The Bulldogs received every of their previous 4 video games at Neyland Stadium by no less than 24 factors. With a house recreation towards Alabama coming subsequent on the schedule, coach Kirby Smart can be searching for the same efficiency at Rocky Top. — Mark Schlabach

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Swing recreation: vs. Texas, Aug. 30

In 2006, the Buckeyes throttled Texas in Week 2 in Austin 24-7, setting the tone for Ohio State’s undefeated common season and journey to the nationwide title recreation. The Buckeyes face Texas once more, this time within the opener in Columbus. The Longhorns are loaded, led by unproven however ultra-talented quarterback Arch Manning. Texas can even be aiming for revenge after falling to Ohio State in dramatic vogue throughout final season’s College Football Playoff semifinal. Even with out so many key gamers from final yr’s crew, the Buckeyes can announce to the remainder of faculty soccer that they continue to be a critical nationwide title risk with a Week 1 victory over Manning and the Longhorns. Such a formidable nonconference win would additionally give Ohio State an early inside observe to one of many 4 coveted playoff byes. — Jake Trotter

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Swing recreation: at Clemson, Aug. 30

LSU is 0-3 in season openers below Brian Kelly. If there was a yr to alter that and set the desk for the season, that is it. Cade Klubnik is predicted by many to be among the many greatest quarterbacks in faculty soccer this season, with Clemson primed for one more run into the CFP. LSU seems to be nearly as gifted and able to make a nationwide championship push as any crew within the nation, however the Tigers have to look nearer to their closing type from the leap than they’ve lately. — Harry Lyles Jr.

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Swing recreation: at Miami, Aug. 31

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman will not have to attend lengthy to be taught if his crew is a CFP nationwide title contender. The Fighting Irish open the season at Miami on Aug. 31, then host Texas A&M two weeks in a while Sept. 13. The opener towards the Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, can be an amazing take a look at for Notre Dame’s new beginning quarterback, presumably redshirt freshman CJ Carr. The Hurricanes have CFP aspirations of their very own after including former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, LSU receiver CJ Daniels and a plethora of defensive backs from the switch portal. The Irish misplaced to Miami 41-8 of their final journey to South Florida in 2017. Notre Dame’s 23-13 victory at Texas A&M within the 2024 opener gave Freeman’s crew perception it could possibly be a CFP contender. It was a bodily heavyweight combat till the Irish scored twice within the closing two minutes to interrupt open a 13-13 tie. — Mark Schlabach

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Swing recreation: at Penn State, Sept. 27

The Ducks’ matchup in Happy Valley towards Penn State in late September may be the most important recreation of their total season. Both Oregon and Penn State usually are not solely top-10 ranked groups heading into the yr (if not top-5), they’re additionally each respectable nationwide title contenders. This can be a rematch of final yr’s Big Ten title recreation, which the Ducks received in convincing vogue. Round 2, this time in a hostile atmosphere for the defending convention champions, can have loads of juice. — Paolo Uggetti

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Swing recreation: Alabama at Georgia, Sept. 27

Alabama closes the month of September by touring to Georgia on Sept. 27, and it does not determine to be a comfortable first month for the Tide. They open the season at Florida State on Aug. 30 and face Wisconsin at dwelling two weeks previous to the journey to Georgia. A loss at Georgia would not essentially be a crippling blow, particularly since Georgia hasn’t misplaced a recreation at dwelling in 5 years, however successful in Athens would afford Alabama a mulligan (or two) if the Tide have been to journey up the remainder of the way in which towards anyone they should not lose to. — Chris Low

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Swing recreation: vs. West Virginia, Oct. 3

The Big 12 opener towards Colorado on Sept. 27 is one to circle nevertheless it’s the subsequent week — at dwelling towards West Virginia — that would actually swing momentum by some means. If the Cougars begin 4-0 (they play Portland State, Stanford and East Carolina in nonconference), a win right here to maneuver to 2-0 in convention play could be big — particularly since they will be breaking in a brand new quarterback and that early-season expertise will matter. And in the event that they lose to Colorado, they will want a win over the Mountaineers to keep away from an 0-2 begin, which might basically finish any hopes of constructing off of final yr’s sensible marketing campaign earlier than the season even has an opportunity to essentially get going. — Kyle Bonagura

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Swing recreation: at Indiana, Sept. 20

The Illini face two September street checks that would form how the remainder of the season goes. Picking between Duke (Sept. 6) and Indiana (Sept. 20) is tough, however the go to to the Hoosiers jumps out as a result of they made the CFP final season and return a number of stars from a really stout protection. Cal quarterback switch Fernando Mendoza will present a superb take a look at for an Illinois protection that was vulnerable towards the move final yr, ending 78th nationally. The Illini even have struggled recently in Bloomington, dropping their final two video games there and three of the previous 4. A win within the Big Ten opener might propel Illinois getting into a pivotal stretch that features dwelling video games towards USC and Ohio State, and a visit to Washington. — Rittenberg

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Swing recreation: at Baylor, Sept. 20

The nonconference schedule ought to enable ASU to ease into 2025 a bit — the Sun Devils will doubtless be double-digit favorites or near it in every of their first three video games. But beginning with their Week 4 journey to Baylor, issues get awfully tough. Baylor is amongst many aspiring Big 12 contenders, and the Bears will already be battle-tested, having begun the season with Auburn and SMU. The Big 12 spoils go to the groups that win super-close video games, and on paper this one is prone to be tremendous shut. Beginning a convention title protection with a loss could be awfully ominous. — Bill Connelly

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Swing recreation: at Texas A&M, Nov. 15

South Carolina has an absolute gauntlet of a five-game stretch in the course of the season that begins with a visit to LSU earlier than internet hosting Oklahoma and Alabama, then occurring the street to Ole Miss and Texas A&M. If the Gamecocks need to make a playoff run, they will doubtless have to win no less than two of these 5 — and perhaps three, provided that Missouri and Clemson are additionally on the docket — which could possibly be an enormous ask. So what is the pivot level? If we assume the Gamecocks can maintain enterprise at dwelling — an enormous assumption, to make certain — which means they will have to steal no less than one on the street. Ole Miss smoked South Carolina in Columbia final yr, in order that could possibly be a tall order, and successful in Baton Rouge is rarely straightforward. So that places the main target squarely on Texas A&M. An enormous win on the street over the Aggies in mid-November could possibly be a press release to the playoff committee and put South Carolina squarely within the combine for a top-12 place. — David Hale

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Swing recreation: vs. Arizona, Sept. 27

The Hawkeyes have a Big 12 recreation to open the season towards Kansas State, so there isn’t any easing into the season — and that is earlier than factoring in Iowa coming to city Sept. 6. So Cyclones followers will not have to attend lengthy earlier than having a good sense of what to anticipate this yr. Let’s go forward and assume they beat South Dakota and Arkansas State and could possibly be 2-2, 3-1 or 4-0 headed within the fifth recreation towards Arizona. The results of that recreation towards the Wildcats would considerably form expectations for the remainder of the way in which. — Bonagura

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Swing recreation: at Clemson, Oct. 18

SMU’s schedule for the primary half of the season is manageable, with dwelling dates towards Baylor and Syracuse and a street journey to TCU offering the hardest matchups. The Mustangs will not be at a critical expertise drawback in any of them, making a powerful begin to the season crucial. The again half of the schedule, nonetheless, will get a lot harder, beginning with the clear swing recreation — and an opportunity for revenge from final yr’s ACC championship — when the Mustangs journey to Death Valley to tackle Clemson on Oct. 18. That recreation kicks off a gauntlet that sees SMU internet hosting Miami and Louisville and making robust street journeys to BC and Cal within the season’s closing weeks. Whether SMU was a one-hit marvel within the ACC or is an influence able to compete can be decided down the stretch in 2025, with no recreation looming bigger than the date with the Tigers. — Hale

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Swing recreation: at Arizona State, Oct. 18.

The Red Raiders’ recreation in Salt Lake City towards Utah could possibly be a problem, dealing with a revamped crew that’s all the time a troublesome out in Rice-Eccles Stadium. But Texas Tech and Arizona State are considered as two of the clear-cut favorites within the Big 12. This recreation comes two weeks earlier than the Red Raiders need to go to Manhattan and face one other convention contender in Kansas State. As we realized in 2024, this new-look Big 12 may be fairly unpredictable. — Lyles

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Swing recreation: at Iowa, Sept. 27

After what needs to be an easy begin to the season with some manageable nonconference matchups, the season ramps up with the Hoosiers first street journey to Iowa. While the Hawkeyes aren’t projected to be a surefire Top 25 crew this season, taking part in at Kinnick is rarely straightforward. Going into that atmosphere and rising with a victory could possibly be a tone-setter for Indiana’s season largely due to the sport that precedes that matchup and the one which follows it. The convention opener towards Illinois per week prior can be a troublesome first hurdle, whereas a street journey to Eugene to face Oregon after the Iowa recreation can be even harder. Playing that stretch 2-1 as an alternative of 1-2 (and even 0-3!) can be crucial. — Uggetti

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Swing recreation: vs. Iowa State at Dublin, Aug. 23

Week 0 swing video games are not often a factor, however wow, is Farmageddon massive this season. The Wildcats’ battle with Iowa State in Dublin on Aug. 23 will make the winner an automated Big 12 front-runner and can depart the loser on wobbly floor earlier than the official first Saturday of the 2025 marketing campaign. With Avery Johnson getting into his second yr because the Wildcats’ beginning quarterback, Ok-State has a bit extra upside, and is dealing with a bit extra stress than ordinary. Starting the season 0-1 would double that stress. — Connelly

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Swing recreation: at LSU, Sept. 13

Florida as soon as once more did not get any favors from the schedule makers, and the Gators will get an early take a look at in Baton Rouge towards LSU. On paper, this looks like a yr that Brian Kelly goes to have issues put collectively within the Bayou, partially as a result of he has the coveted returning starter at QB in Garrett Nussmeier. Along with the incumbent expertise, Kelly and his workers did a very good job within the switch portal and can be a troublesome out each Saturday this fall. If Florida wins this recreation, and even loses a detailed one, it is going to bode effectively for the remainder of the season. — Lyles

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Swing recreation: at Oklahoma, Sept. 6

The Wolverines head to Oklahoma in Week 2 to face Sherrone Moore’s alma mater. Beating Ohio State for a fourth straight time salvaged final season for the Wolverines, who needed to surge late within the yr simply to safe a successful file in Moore’s first full season as head coach. Michigan can have greater expectations in 2025, particularly with the arrival of five-star freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. If the Wolverines can knock off the Sooners in Norman, they will be sending a press release that they are doubtlessly able to contend for a playoff spot once more. But if the Wolverines fall to Oklahoma, they may then need to climate a proposed two-game suspension for Moore, which features a journey to Nebraska on Sept. 20, simply to maintain their postseason hopes afloat early. — Trotter

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Swing recreation: vs. Notre Dame, Aug. 31

I’m going to place a caveat on my reply right here due to the way in which final season turned out. The season opener towards Notre Dame goes to inform us a lot about the place Miami stands in 2025. That begins at quarterback, the place Georgia switch Carson Beck is predicted to be absolutely recovered from an elbow damage he sustained within the SEC championship recreation. Will he have the ability to carry the identical dynamic play to the desk that Cam Ward did final yr to set the tone? How will the new-look receivers and revamped protection look? So a lot about Miami is unknown headed into this recreation due to the entire roster revamp, which was a lot wanted on the defensive facet. Having stated that, all of us thought the season would go otherwise for Miami a yr in the past after its trouncing of Florida within the season opener. For essentially the most half, it went effectively, with 10 wins. But the Canes fell wanting taking part in for a title, and that has to alter sooner relatively than later. — Adelson

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Swing recreation: at Miami, Oct. 17

Louisville took Miami to the wire final yr in entrance of the house followers, and solely a disastrous efficiency by the secondary towards Cam Ward allowed the Canes to flee with a win. This yr’s rematch in south Florida can be an opportunity for a bit of revenge and, doubtless, a chance for the Cardinals to determine their playoff bona fides in an enormous method. While there aren’t any ensures, the early a part of Louisville’s slate units up properly for the Cards to enter the Oct. 17 date with Miami at 5-0, and if they will add a win towards the Canes to that résumé, there is a good likelihood Louisville could be flirting with a top-10 rating. Just as vital, it will set the stage for a stretch run in November that features video games towards Clemson, SMU and Kentucky. — Hale

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Swing recreation: at Notre Dame, Sept. 13

The Sept. 13 journey to Notre Dame needs to be a slugfest akin to final yr’s 23-13 shoving match at Kyle Field. The Aggies’ offensive line has morphed from a weak spot below Jimbo Fisher to a power in two years and the Notre Dame D-line is likely one of the greatest within the nation. It’s prone to be the one recreation within the first seven weeks of the season during which the Aggies can be an underdog, and in Year 2 of the Mike Elko period, it is a key take a look at to measure how prepared they’re to push the remainder of the SEC. — Wilson

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Swing recreation: vs. LSU, Sept. 27

Ole Miss has video games earlier than this that they should not sleep on — in Lexington in Week 2, then towards Arkansas and Tulane the next weeks. But LSU seems to be one of many three greatest groups within the SEC heading into the season, and having this recreation at house is massive for Ole Miss. Down the street, a harder process awaits on the street in Athens towards Georgia, so increase a callus towards the Tigers can be key. — Lyles

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Swing recreation: vs. Michigan, Sept. 6

Four of Oklahoma’s first 5 video games are at dwelling, and the one street contest is at Temple on Sept. 13. But in Week 2, the Sooners might construct some critical momentum when Michigan involves city for a prime-time recreation. A win towards the Wolverines would give the Sooners an actual likelihood at a 5-0 begin getting into the Red River Showdown towards Texas on Oct. 6. The again finish of Oklahoma’s schedule is very tough (Texas, South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama all away from dwelling, plus Ole Miss and LSU at dwelling), so getting off to a superb begin can be essential for the Sooners. — Low