College soccer Week 2 highlights: High video games, performs, stats

It was a Saturday for which a lot of the school soccer world supplied a collective yawn prematurely, however the day delivered its share of highlights and surprises, from Clemson’s early struggles in opposition to Troy to Baylor’s rollicking comeback in opposition to SMU to Bill Belichick racking up win No. 1 in faculty.

But all of that took second billing behind the audacity of the 2 very unlikely scores within the SEC.

Mississippi State, which had been at risk of being relegated to the title of “new Vandy,” had received simply considered one of its previous 17 video games in opposition to Power 4 competitors, however when No. 12 Arizona State rolled into Starkville on Saturday, the Bulldogs had been prepared.

Quarterback Blake Shapen threw landing passes of 48 and 47 yards and, with 30 seconds remaining within the recreation and trailing by 3, a 58-yarder to Brenen Thompson to seal the 24-20 win.

What adopted was utter euphoria unseen in Starkville since they introduced the opening of a brand new Bass Pro Shops. The followers stormed the sphere, pulled down the goalposts, and, we assume, carried them off to be displayed on the city’s most sacred shrine: the Chili’s off Route 12.

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Meanwhile, after USF’s go-ahead discipline purpose as time expired knocked off the Thirteenth-ranked Gators 18-16, Florida followers had been left to rage in opposition to the soccer gods at their city’s most sacred shrine: the Chili’s off Archer Road.

Last season’s late run that included wins over LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State had supplied ample hope that, maybe, issues had been lastly turning for the Gators. The post-Tim Tebow period has had its highlights, however every was adopted nearly instantly by a sudden, sharp and sometimes such huge failure that it might solely be described as “Zook-tastic.” And so it was with the hope engendered by final 12 months’s four-game profitable streak, too.

DJ Lagway struggled to push the ball downfield, Florida was 4-of-12 on third down and the Gators’ protection had no solutions for the magic of USF quarterback Byrum Brown, who threw for 263 yards and ran for 66 extra.

When the mud settled, Napier was pressured to take a tough look within the mirror and ask: “Does anyone remember my LinkedIn password?”

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Florida nonetheless has eight video games left in opposition to ranked groups, together with 5 of its subsequent six. The lone exception in that run is Mississippi State, which actually would not seem like a straightforward win now both. A actuality during which the Gators end 2-10 appears fully doable. Also the state of Florida hasn’t had an influence end 2-10 for, like … months.

That Mississippi State, the worst crew within the SEC a 12 months in the past, might knock off final 12 months’s Big 12 champion would usually be trigger for Greg Sankey to drive his automotive via Brett Yormark’s rose backyard whereas leaning out the window yelling, “Scoreboard!”

That Florida misplaced to an in-state crew from a Group of 6 convention that does not even have its personal stadium could be trigger for everybody who abhors the SEC’s vanity to level and chuckle and let the air out of Kirby Smart’s tires.

That each occurred on the identical Saturday, inside hours of one another, is destined to depart us all feeling a bit unfulfilled. Two weeks into a brand new faculty soccer season, maybe that is a very good factor. That even the mighty SEC feels so unsure is a reminder that we have simply begun this story. We do not but know who the heroes are, which makes it fully doable Mississippi State will likely be one. We do not but know which characters will meet with a tragic finish, although Napier and Virginia Tech’s Brent Pry actually look the half.

If these are the opening chapters of 2025’s Dickens novel, we’re in for a heck of a journey the remainder of the way in which.

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Week 2 Vibe Check

Each week, the most important video games seize the headlines, however dozens of different performances transfer the needle in faculty soccer, too. We attempt to seize these right here.

Trending up: Illinois’ match hopes

Duke outgained Illinois by 19 yards on Saturday however nonetheless managed to lose by 26 factors, 45-19. It was a nifty statistical trick that may be blamed on a flurry of takeaways by the Illini protection, which transformed 4 Duke fumbles and a Darian Mensah interception into 21 factors. After the sport, Duke famous the strangeness of the end result, stating that they often waits till the Elite Eight to waste a robust offensive efficiency due to too many turnovers.

Trending up: Stern self-discipline

Syracuse narrowly escaped an upset bid in opposition to UConn on Saturday, 27-20 in time beyond regulation. Syracuse trailed 14-3 at one level, took a 20-17 lead into the ultimate minute of motion, then noticed the Huskies tie the sport with a 41-yard discipline purpose as time expired. A defensive stand in time beyond regulation preserved the win, however head coach Fran Brown was lower than happy with the general efficiency, forcing his gamers to run sprints after the sport.

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Worse, Brown additionally gave specific “no iPad for a week” orders and put QB Steve Angeli in timeout till he calmed down.

Trending down: Ill-fitting jerseys

Against Gardner Webb, Georgia Tech practically repeated the brutal begin it endured per week earlier vs. Colorado. In Week 1, the Jackets turned over the ball on every of their first three drives. This time, they fumbled away their first possession and tossed a decide on the subsequent. Tech did rebound properly for a 59-12 win, however the true disappointment was the shortage of the Snuggy Jersey (the jersey roomy sufficient for the entire household to snuggle up and watch previous footage of Paul Johnson’s offense, however versatile sufficient to put on when returning kicks). Unfortunately, Tech head coach Brent Key was not a fan and banished the jersey for good. It’s now saved in College Football’s forgotten treasures warehouse subsequent to the Turnover Chain, Civil ConFliCt trophy and Houston Nutt.

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Trending up: Celebrity showdowns

There was loads of star energy on show in Boulder, Colorado, in Week 2 because the Buffaloes welcomed Delaware. On one sideline was Deion Sanders, an NFL Hall of Famer, former two-sport star, actuality TV persona and one of many greatest manufacturers in sports activities. On the opposite sideline was Delaware, which is the nation’s fifth-largest producer of shoehorns. The paparazzi was out in full drive hoping to get a shot of Coach Prime or Delaware’s Ryan “Coach Tac-Shaver Infomercial on the CW at 3 a.m.” Carty, however the edge, within the case, went to Sanders. His Buffs overcame a sluggish begin, little question attributable to being in awe of all of the celebrities on Delaware’s sideline (Judge Reinhold, Teri Polo, the man who works the in a single day shift on the Wawa on Union Street), profitable 31-7 behind two landing passes from third-string QB Ryan Staub. The Hens, in the meantime, needed to accept drowning sorrows with different A-listers at Elisabeth Shue’s late-night scorching tub celebration.

Trending up: Revenge video games

If final week was Florida State’s coming-out celebration in a win over Alabama, Week 2 supplied the Seminoles an opportunity to get pleasure from some candy revenge. FSU walloped East Texas A&M 77-3, then celebrated by shouting, “That’s what you get for stealing Jimbo Fisher” and “We just scored a point for every $1 million you had to pay him to leave” all whereas its battered opponents helplessly insisted that, in reality, East Texas A&M is a totally completely different college than Texas A&M.

Trending up: Participation trophies

Division III Rowan was up 17-14 in opposition to Case Western with 2:07 left within the third quarter Saturday when a spate of unhealthy climate rolled via — stand by, we’re Googling “Where is Rowan?” — New Jersey, suspending the motion. Both sides waited patiently for 4 hours, listening, we assume, to Bruce Springsteen’s “The River” album on repeat, earlier than college officers, coaches and the referees mutually agreed, in response to Rowan’s press launch, to name the sport a 17-17 tie. The final tie on the FBS degree of faculty soccer got here 30 years in the past when a Wisconsin and Illinois recreation completed 3-3, resulting in the appearance of time beyond regulation all through faculty soccer and the ahead cross within the Big Ten.

Trending up: Cash cows

Earlier within the week, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy lamented all the cash Oregon spent to construct a winner, just for Ducks coach Dan Lanning to retort with a sequence of “Yo momma’s so poor” jokes and a 69-3 drubbing of the Pokes on Saturday. Meanwhile, Oklahoma, flush with sufficient money this offseason to lure star transfers reminiscent of QB John Mateer, held off Michigan, a college whose NIL finances is presently earmarked to pay down NCAA fines and get Connor Stalions that new telescope and faux beard he has been asking for, 24-13. The lesson: Teams are solely nearly as good as their gamers, and good gamers do not come low-cost. On a very unrelated word, we simply obtained an e-mail from a deposed oil baron in Oklahoma who simply wants our bank card and social safety numbers to assist safe a fortune, which he’ll fortunately share with us.

Trending down: Coaching legacies

On Nov. 17, 2007, Nick Saban’s Alabama crew misplaced to Louisiana-Monroe 21-14. On Saturday, Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama crew beat Louisiana-Monroe 73-0. The math on that is fairly easy: DeBoer is roughly 10 occasions nearly as good a coach as Saban.

Meanwhile, Clay Helton made his long-awaited return to Los Angeles, taking his Georgia Southern crew to USC, a college that fired him in 2021 regardless of a .657 win proportion on the college — proper according to the Trojans’ present coach, Lincoln Riley (.651). But on Saturday, Riley and USC rolled to a 59-20 win, proving as soon as and for all that hiring him was completely the appropriate name.

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Rivalry Rundown

Week 2 is not a real rivalry week, nevertheless it did function numerous passionate tilts between previous enemies.

Cy-Hawk Trophy

Iowa State defeated Iowa 16-13 and held on to the Cy-Hawk Trophy due to a pair of circus catches by tight finish Gabe Burkle on a go-ahead fourth-quarter drive.

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It’s the sixth time previously seven years of the rivalry during which neither crew topped 20 factors, and on this 12 months’s incarnation, neither squad managed greater than 238 yards of offense.

Iowa State prevailed due to the leg of kicker Kyle Konrardy, who booted discipline targets of 44 yards and 27 yards, in addition to a 54-yard recreation winner.

Iowa threw for 83 yards within the recreation, a tally Kirk Ferentz frustratingly famous was nearly the complete size of the sphere and will’ve been a lot sufficient to win. Still, as punishment, solely the protection and punters had been allowed to get ice cream on the Tastee-Freez afterward.

In the previous seven video games on this sequence, Iowa’s QBs have mixed to finish simply 51% of their throws, averaged 4.4 yards per cross, thrown only one landing and 5 picks.

Border Showdown

The hatred between Kansas and Missouri dates again practically two centuries. The hatred between Kansas and Missouri dates again practically two centuries, ignited by years of guerrilla warfare in the course of the Civil War and reaching its apex when Chase Daniel engineered a very epic sequence of prank calls to Mark Mangino’s home in 2007. But since 2011, when Missouri departed for the SEC, the rivalry had remained dormant — till Saturday.

The renewed ferocity between the 2 packages was on show early, as Kansas jumped out to a 21-6 lead, solely to see Missouri roar again. Beau Pribula threw for 3 touchdowns in serving to the Tigers draw back to a 42-31 win — their fifth straight within the sequence.

And, as is the customary stakes for the loser of this rivalry, Kansas is now pressured to take accountability for the Kansas City Royals.

Baylor-SMU

What was as soon as a heated rivalry within the previous Southwest Conference had gone dormant for the previous 9 years, however Baylor and SMU renewed hostilities in Dallas on Saturday.

SMU hadn’t received on this sequence since 1986 — the 12 months earlier than this system obtained the dreaded “death penalty” for working the nation’s greatest NIL collective — however the Mustangs appeared poised to interrupt the streak, nursing a 14-point lead with lower than six minutes to play.

But Baylor did not again down, using QB Sawyer Robertson to 2 late touchdowns to drive time beyond regulation, the place the Bears received on a walk-off discipline purpose, 48-45. Robertson completed with four hundred and forty yards passing and 4 landing throws, then did doughnuts in SMU’s parking zone in a Trans Am with a giant gold eagle on the hood, only for spite.

Bayou Bucket Classic

Houston upended in-city rival Rice 35-9 behind 132 yards dashing and two touchdowns from working again Dean Connors. The win means, for the second straight 12 months, Houston retains the Bayou Bucket. But do not feel unhealthy, Rice. Popeye’s sells a Bayou Bucket with three sides for simply $21.99. You actually cannot beat that deal.

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Under-the-radar play of the week

With 5 minutes left within the first half, and Kent State already trailing 38-0, middle Dustyn Morell delivered a play that completely sums up the present state of the Golden Flashes program.

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Texas Tech scored following the fumble restoration and went on to win 62-14. It’s arduous to thoroughly fault Morell although. He’d been consuming caramels earlier than the play and his fingers had been sticky.

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Under-the-radar recreation of the week

With simply 1:43 to go, UMass allowed Bryant — a crew that is simply 11 guys who all confirmed up on the native YMCA sporting Kobe Bryant jerseys on the identical day — to march 78 yards and drill a 25-yard game-winning discipline purpose. The Minutemen fell 27-26, probably the most embarrassing second in this system’s soccer historical past since — we’re guessing final week. The excellent news for UMass is it is only a mere 35 days away from enjoying Kent State.

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Heisman 5

Arch Manning is presently sitting in his automotive exterior the Heisman House listening to combine tapes and questioning what number of landing passes a man has to throw in opposition to San Jose State to earn a visitor cross for the weekend.

1. Oklahoma QB John Mateer

Against one of many nation’s greatest defenses, Mateer accounted for 344 whole yards and three touchdowns in an Oklahoma win over Michigan stunning followers all through Columbus, Ohio, who had no thought such a factor was doable.

2. Utah QB Devon Dampier

After torching UCLA in its opener, Utah beat Cal Poly with ease Saturday, as Dampier accounted for 3 touchdowns for the second straight week. Unfortunately, as a result of the sport occurred in Utah, no Heisman voters watched.

3. Florida State QB Tommy Castellanos

One week after working throughout Alabama, Castellanos used his arm to torch East Texas A&M, racking up 237 yards and three touchdowns. Normally, the ultra-confident Castellanos would discuss somewhat smack to subsequent week’s opponent to set the stage, however FSU will get Kent State in Week 3 and, truthfully, that most likely would not really feel price it.

4. Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson

Robertson has thrown for 859 yards and 7 touchdowns and not using a decide via two video games — each in opposition to upper-tier Power Four competitors. He’s all of a sudden turning heads amongst NFL scouts. Also, the drive-thru woman at Whataburger threw in some further fries the final time he was there.

5. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier

Nussmeier had a less-than-exciting efficiency in a 23-7 win over Louisiana Tech, throwing for 237 yards, one landing and a decide. It was a part of a development of SEC groups struggling to place away lesser competitors Saturday, as Georgia and Texas A&M additionally waited till late within the second half to safe their wins. At least they’re all not Florida.

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Game day notes

In making repeated feedback in regards to the disparity between Oregon’s finances and Oklahoma State’s earlier this week, head coach Mike Gundy might need each preempted and prompted what transpired at Autzen Stadium on Saturday.

From kickoff, the Ducks dominated each part of the sport on their approach to a commanding 69-3 shellacking of the Cowboys. The means Oregon got here out of the gates, stepped on the fuel pedal and did not take their foot off till they had been up 48-3 midway via the third quarter once they introduced within the offensive backups (and nonetheless acquired a landing of their very own) appeared very purposeful. Not solely did they appear considering beating Gundy’s crew, but additionally in making a press release.

Oregon didn’t punt till the fourth quarter (their first punt of the season in two video games) and the one drive it had via their first eight that didn’t finish in a rating was a turnover on downs within the first quarter. The Ducks had a 59-yard landing run on their second offensive play of the sport and a 65-yard landing cross on their third offensive play of the sport. Explosive performs had been in every single place at Autzen because the OK State protection offered little to no wrestle on the day.

The back-to-back decide sixes late within the third quarter to take the rating of the sport from merely overwhelming to outright historic was simply salt on the wound. As groups exited the sphere as soon as the clock hit zero, AC/DC’s “Moneytalks” performed over the audio system, fittingly serenading Oklahoma State on their means again to Stillwater.

For the Pokes, it was the type of efficiency which will immediate a deeper have a look at the state of their program. For the Ducks, it was a showcase that proved why, regardless of shedding their beginning quarterback, high receiver and elite linemen on either side of the ball after final season, Oregon nonetheless has the depth and expertise to be a title contender. — Paolo Uggetti

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When Beau Pribula made what he referred to as “an impossible decision” in December to depart Penn State because the Nittany Lions had been making ready for the College Football Playoff, he did so to set himself up for days like Saturday. Pribula left Happy Valley for the chance to compete for a beginning job elsewhere, shortly touchdown at Missouri, the place starter Brady Cook was out of eligibility.

Coming out of coaching camp, Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz mentioned the quarterback competitors between Sam Horn and Pribula would prolong into the season, however Pribula inherited the job by default when Horn was harm on his first snap final week. Pribula shined in that recreation in opposition to FCS Central Arkansas, however contemplating the extent of competitors, it was arduous to learn an excessive amount of into his efficiency. This week, it was completely different. With the rivalry in opposition to Kansas renewed, Pribula accomplished 30 of 39 passes for 334 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions within the 42-31 win. He appeared the a part of a quarterback that may efficiently lead the Tigers into the SEC gauntlet that awaits.

Considering the circumstances of his departure from Penn State, Pribula’s quick success should include an additional layer of satisfaction for him. He would have been caught behind Drew Allar once more at Penn State and now has proven the nation he, too, can play at a excessive degree. Pribula’s scenario in December was an element within the current proposal by the FBS Oversight Committee to maneuver the switch portal window to January, so it’s going to have much less overlap with the playoff. — Kyle Bonagura

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Exhale, Horns, Arch is all proper. Every week after a disappointing efficiency in a 14-7 loss at Ohio State final week, Arch Manning acquired off to a little bit of a gradual begin once more on a sleepy overcast 11 a.m. Austin kickoff. He began 3-of-6 for 11 yards on the Longhorns’ first two drives, together with a badly overthrown ball to Ryan Wingo that might’ve been intercepted if the defender had one other step.

But on the subsequent drive on third down, Manning acquired a straightforward throw and catch to Parker Livingstone, who turned it upfield as a defender slipped and raced 83 yards for a landing. By halftime, Manning was on fireplace and the rout was on, together with three straight landing passes on three straight makes an attempt, as Texas scored 4 touchdowns in 4:56 of recreation time.

But it wasn’t all clean for Manning. He heaved an ill-advised throw into double protection underneath stress for an interception on the San Jose 13. He fumbled on a sack at his personal 1-yard line within the third quarter however recovered it.

But he got here again with a 20-yard landing run, tiptoeing down the sideline and showcasing the athletic skill that coach Steve Sarkisian mentioned this week he ought to embrace.

The Longhorns had too many penalties (12-115) and had some safety issues they will have to get mounted earlier than SEC play begins and some dropped passes. But the protection held the Spartans in test, pressured 4 turnovers per week after not having one in opposition to the Buckeyes, and Manning joined Colt McCoy, Vince Young and David Ash as the one Texas QBs during the last 20 years with two or extra video games of two 20-plus-yard TD passes and a 20-plus-yard TD run.

Sarkisian mentioned he was happy with the response for a quarterback who might’ve let his competitiveness linger after final week’s disappointment.

“I think he’s hard on himself differently than maybe I’m hard on him, but I’m also trying to ease some of that,” Sarkisian mentioned. “When he gets hard on himself, I try to back himself off of that and try to make sure he’s got the right amount of confidence when he goes and plays because he’s a very talented player.” — Dave Wilson

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Illinois finally resembled a College Football Playoff contender at Duke, however first it bolstered the significance of being opportunistic and discovering new methods to win. The Illini had been sluggish within the first quarter and for a lot of the primary half. Their celebrated offensive line could not hold Vincent Anthony Jr. and Duke’s cross rushers away from quarterback Luke Altmyer. A Bret Bielema-coached crew surprisingly could not run the ball. At occasions, Illinois did not actually look prepared.

But the Illini discovered themselves on the appropriate aspect of the handful of performs that decide outcomes. Duke’s repeated errors on particular groups and on offense in Illinois’ finish of the sphere had been too many to beat. Any crew that’s minus-5 in turnovers on its dwelling discipline has no enterprise profitable.

Still, Illinois needed to capitalize and did behind Altmyer, whose expertise and expertise confirmed up repeatedly. Altmyer accomplished 22 of 31 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, spreading the ball to a largely new group of vast receivers. Illinois actually misses Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin, however offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. hoped for extra explosiveness with this receiving corps and acquired it, as Hank Beatty, Justin Bowick and others delivered.

Bielema’s championship groups at Wisconsin had been constructed on elite line play and the facility run. This Illini squad hasn’t actually hit its stride with the run recreation, and finally is perhaps pass-heavy with one of many nation’s extra confirmed quarterbacks in Altmyer and a dynamic group of wideouts. Illinois will not be capable to depend each opponent to make the variety of errors Duke did, however the Illini now have a observe report of taking benefit, which ought to serve them effectively throughout Big Ten play. — Adam Rittenberg

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The curse is damaged. Matt Campbell and his Cyclones have lastly defeated Iowa in Ames for the primary time in his tenure. Iowa State’s newest bout with its rival, a 16-13 win, was a nail-biter determined within the closing minute as typical.

In securing its first dwelling win over Iowa since 2011, Iowa State has received three of its final 4 in opposition to its in-state foe. Six of the final seven CyHawk winners have scored 20 factors or much less. It takes a outstanding quantity of toughness to outlive these low-scoring brawls.

But this is perhaps Campbell’s hardest crew but.

Throughout his tenure, the top coach has fixated on “winning on the margins,” doing all of the little issues proper to beat any expertise deficit and get video games into the fourth quarter. These days, the proof is within the outcomes: Iowa State has received eight of its final 9 video games determined by one-score margins.

Kicker Kyle Konrardy acquired to be the Cy-Hawk hero but once more, drilling a clutch 54-yard go-ahead discipline purpose within the closing two minutes. He acquired that chance due to Rocco Becht guiding a 13-play, six-minute drive within the fourth quarter that includes three third-down conversions. Iowa State’s protection completed the job with cross rusher Tamatoa McDonough, a little-known switch from Yale, slamming Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski down for back-to-back sacks to kill any hopes of a game-winning drive.

“These are milestone moments,” Campbell mentioned. “Our kids, the schedule, what we’ve been up against — real toughness.”

This crew needed to have the appropriate stuff from the begin to pull this off. It took all the things the Cyclones needed to survive a 24-21 win over Kansas State in Ireland throughout Week 0. Then they needed to come dwelling and determine learn how to hold enjoying their greatest ball. In some ways, they nonetheless have not. But what Campbell loves most is the way in which this Becht-led squad performs with regular resolve, how they will hold in there when issues aren’t going their means and hold pushing.

This rivalry win is extra proof that this group is aware of learn how to win within the fourth quarter — they usually is perhaps able to go win the Big 12, too. — Max Olson