Did Week 13 make clear any of the Energy 4 convention races? Not likely. Did it assist solidify any a part of the School Soccer Playoff discipline? Possibly.
Within the week’s headline sport, Oregon hosted USC. The Geese, ranked No. 7 within the CFP rankings, nonetheless maintain an out of doors shot at returning to the Large Ten title sport following their 42-27 win over the Trojans. The loss possible knocks USC out of the playoff image for the season. As Oregon gears up for a playoff run, it might need unlocked one other offensive choice.
Notre Dame, sitting at No. 9, is now firmly within the type factors enterprise. In a 70-7 win over Syracuse, the Combating Irish scored 70 factors for the primary time since 1932. It results in a CFP hypothetical: Does that win separate the Irish any extra from Miami, which beat them to begin the season?
Our school soccer specialists break down key storylines and takeaways from Week 13.
Soar to:
Kiffin and the CFP | Unlocking Sadiq
ND’s trendy win | Penn State’s resilience
Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin and the CFP
Ole Miss followers have to exhale. The School Soccer Playoff choice committee is not going to drop the Rebels from No. 6 out of the playoff in the event that they lose their head coach to a different college — however they may drop out in the event that they lose the Egg Bowl, whatever the teaching state of affairs.
If Kiffin is employed at Florida or LSU, and Ole Miss is heading into the postseason with an interim head coach, the choice committee will view Ole Miss equally to the way it checked out Florida State in 2023 when beginning quarterback Jordan Travis was injured. The CFP protocol states the committee will think about “different related components equivalent to unavailability of key gamers and coaches which will have affected a crew’s efficiency throughout the season or possible will have an effect on its postseason efficiency.”
Merely put: Is that this a playoff crew with out Kiffin? The reply for Florida State following the ACC championship sport that 12 months, in response to the committee, was no. The distinction was the four-team discipline. Though the committee may drop Ole Miss a spot or two with out Kiffin, that also would not eradicate the Rebels from the 12-team discipline — assuming they win Friday. In truth, they’d in all probability nonetheless be internet hosting a first-round sport as one of many 5-8 seeds. If Ole Miss loses to Mississippi State, although, it may enter a debate with different two-loss groups that it won’t win — and that would occur even with Kiffin on the sideline. — Heather Dinich
Oregon has one other ace up its offensive sleeve: Kenyon Sadiq
With out two of its prime receivers — Dakorien Moore and Gary Bryant Jr. — resulting from damage, Oregon’s passing offense didn’t miss a beat in Saturday’s 42-27 win over USC.
If something, quarterback Dante Moore discovered his consolation zone by concentrating on tight finish Kenyon Sadiq. The junior is not any revelation — he has been slowly constructing as much as this second (407 yards and 6 touchdowns this season previous to this sport) — however Saturday’s matchup gave him a correct stage to showcase his skills.
By taking part in him as extra of a large receiver resulting from accidents, offensive coordinator Will Stein unlocked an excellent higher model of Sadiq, who completed with six catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns. The spotlight, nevertheless, might need been this show of sheer athleticism:
Kenyon Sadiq 🤝 Hurdles pic.twitter.com/fwlDwPBChv
— CBS Sports activities School Soccer 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) November 23, 2025
“Kenyon’s a particular participant, man. I feel we’re fortunate to have the very best tight finish within the nation,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning stated postgame. “His play has proven that. We’re higher when he is on the market with us. And definitely, he is a tricky man to defend, proper? Whether or not it is him lining up at wideout or if he is blocking within the C space, he does this at a very excessive stage.”
Sadiq’s breakout couldn’t have come at a greater time. Even when Bryant and Moore return for the stretch run, Sadiq figures to be a key cog within the Geese’ offense. — Paolo Uggetti
For Notre Dame, type equals separation
The equation for Notre Dame is fairly easy: Proceed to separate from Miami. School Soccer Playoff choice committee chair Hunter Yurachek made it clear after the newest rating that Notre Dame and Miami, which beat the Combating Irish within the season opener, aren’t being in contrast with the identical group of candidates.
Whether or not that is honest or not is actually debatable, however Yurachek made it clear that the committee does not see Notre Dame and Miami via the identical lens. The message to Notre Dame was to destroy Syracuse on Saturday and Stanford subsequent week. In any other case, how can Miami catch up?
The Irish adopted via with a historic beating of Syracuse, which they led 70-0 till the Orange scored with seven seconds left. Notre Dame led 21-0 earlier than quarterback CJ Carr even took the sector, and completed with 21 extra factors than Carr had passing yards. Irish working again Jeremiyah Love made his newest Heisman Trophy assertion with a mind-bending stat line: 171 dashing yards and three touchdowns on eight (!) carries. Notre Dame recorded its most factors since 1932 and its largest victory margin since 1966. And it reached 70 on solely 39 offensive performs.
Miami additionally gained slightly comfortably at Virginia Tech 34-17, nevertheless it’s arduous to see the Canes closing the hole on Notre Dame, which finishes subsequent week at Stanford. The Irish’s schedule can and arguably needs to be knocked, however they did nothing Saturday to lose their grasp on a CFP spot. –– Adam Rittenberg
Penn State did not quit
Beginning quarterback Drew Allar suffered a season-ending damage. Head coach James Franklin obtained fired. And Penn State began 0-6 in Large Ten play.
Given the large preseason expectations — and the nightmare that adopted — the Nittany Lions may’ve simply thrown within the towel on this season.
They did not.
After Saturday’s resounding 37-10 victory over Nebraska, the Nittany Lions are all of the sudden a sport away from reaching bowl eligibility (they finish the common season at Rutgers subsequent weekend).
That may not look like a lot for a blueblood program like Penn State. However the Nittany Lions have proven some combat this previous month underneath Terry Smith, who took over as interim head coach after the college fired Franklin on Oct. 12.
Although they did not win both sport, the Nittany Lions performed top-ranked Ohio State powerful for a half on Nov. 1, then took second-ranked Indiana to the wire the next weekend.
That set the tone for these previous two weeks — blowout victories over Michigan State and Nebraska. Kaytron Allen is now Penn State’s profession dashing chief with 3,954 yards. Freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer has flashed potential (sporting a 71.4 QBR, thirty second greatest nationally). The protection has been flying round.
It stays unclear the place Penn State’s teaching search will finally land. However Smith has executed a terrific job retaining this crew collectively. A tradition is clearly in place for Penn State’s subsequent head coach. –– Jake Trotter