No self-respecting faculty soccer program ought to ever want a bit of additional motivation heading into Rivalry Week. It’s the one sport yearly the place information don’t matter, expertise disparity means even much less and very profitable head coaches discover themselves on the recent seat after a loss.
But for greater than a dozen groups this 12 months, the prospect to go from 5 wins to 6 wins and grow to be eligible to play in a bowl sport subsequent month ought to present all the additional juice earlier than Week 14 kicks off.
There are even two video games this weekend the place each groups enter with 5 wins. And you recognize what feels higher than beating your rival? Ending their season for good within the course of.
Listed below are the 16 groups to concentrate to on Saturday as bowl eligibility goes up for grabs one final time.
Oregon State (5-6) at Boise State (10-1), Friday, midday ET on Fox
Boise State has been the category of the Group of 5 conferences because the season started. Oregon State has been in “survive and advance” mode because the Pac-12 dissolved final season. The Beavers snapped a five-game shedding streak final week in opposition to Washington State. With yet one more large upset, Oregon State can go bowling and throw Boise State’s season into chaos.
Minnesota (6-4) at Wisconsin (5-6), Friday, midday ET on CBS
Paul Bunyan’s axe at the moment resides in Madison after a two-year stint with the Golden Gophers. Minnesota profitable it again this 12 months wouldn’t simply get this system to a minimum of seven wins for fifth time within the final seven seasons, it could additionally forestall Wisconsin from reaching a bowl sport for the primary time since 2001.
Kansas (5-6) at Baylor (7-4), Saturday, midday ET on ESPN2
Arguably one of the best five-win staff within the nation, the Kansas Jayhawks tackle Baylor after changing into the primary sub .500 staff in faculty soccer historical past to defeat three consecutive ranked opponents (No. 17 Iowa State, No. 6 BYU and No. 16 Colorado). Kansas has been extraordinarily aggressive in each sport this season, so the turnaround isn’t any shock. But a win on Saturday would ship the Jayhawks to a 3rd straight bowl sport for the primary time in class historical past.
Louisiana (9-2) at UL Monroe (5-6), Saturday, midday ET on ESPNU
UL Monroe had a strong begin to the 12 months going 5-1, with a lone loss to No. 1 Texas, and spectacular wins over James Madison and UAB. Then it misplaced 5 straight to sit down at 5-6 heading into Rivalry Week. A victory over Louisiana can be a mightily spectacular approach to shut out Bryan Vincent’s first season main the Warhawks.
North Texas (5-6) at Temple (3-8), Saturday, midday ET on ESPN+
North Texas has boasted arguably one of the best offense amongst all non-Energy 4 faculties this season with a 493.7 yards per sport common that sits third-best in all of FBS. Temple simply fired its head coach and has followers nervous in regards to the college’s dedication to fielding a soccer program on the whole.
Jap Michigan (5-6) at Western Michigan (5-6), Saturday, 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+
One among two rivalry video games this week the place each groups want a win to grow to be bowl eligible. Western Michigan snapped a four-game shedding streak on this sport final 12 months and stays the favourite this time round.
Coastal Carolina (5-6) at Georgia State (3-8), Saturday, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+
All Coastal must do is get previous a Georgia State staff that misplaced to Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, Outdated Dominion, UConn, James Madison and Arkansas State. And but the Panthers are favored on this one after dropping 55 factors in a win at Texas State final week.
Auburn (5-6) at Alabama (8-3), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
An Iron Bowl matchup the place Alabama can attempt one final time to bolster its playoff resume whereas Auburn seems to burn all of it down and attain a bowl sport in consecutive seasons. That is, fairly actually, the sport Hugh Freeze was employed to win.
Rutgers (6-5) at Michigan State (5-6), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1
Michigan State has been to 1 bowl sport since head coach Mark Dantonio left this system in 2019 — it misplaced the Peach Bowl in 2021. Jonathan Smith might have the Spartans taking part in in December as soon as once more in 12 months 1. All he has to do is get previous Greg Schiano’s Rutger’s staff at dwelling.
NC State (5-6) at North Carolina (6-5), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Community
Mack Brown is out as the pinnacle coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, however he’ll be allowed to teach the common season finale in opposition to NC State. Beating your in-state rival to disclaim it a bowl sport in your (doubtless) final look on the sidelines? That certain looks as if one thing that Mack Brown would do.
TCU (7-4) at Cincinnati (5-6), Saturday, 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+
The Bearcats enter as a house underdog to a TCU staff that’s rattled off wins in opposition to Texas Tech, Utah, Oklahoma State and Arizona — not precisely the Huge 12’s Assassin’s Row. It is a very winnable sport for Cincy and it could be fairly a catastrophe to drop it.
App State (5-5) at Georgia Southern (7-4), Saturday, 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+
App State, admittedly, has endured a reasonably bizarre season — even by App State requirements. It started the 12 months with blowout losses in opposition to Clemson and South Alabama, then rebounded late within the season with wins over Georgia State, Outdated Dominion and James Madison. This isn’t the Big Killer of a Mountaineers staff we’re used to and Georgia Southern won’t be a pushover.
Virginia (5-6) at Virginia Tech (5-6), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET on ACC Community
Two rivals who completely detest one another and who every want a victory to achieve a bowl sport. This one is in Blacksburg. We shouldn’t have to say any extra.
New Mexico (5-6) at Hawaii (4-7), Saturday 11 p.m. ET
The final kickoff of the ultimate Saturday of the faculty soccer common season actually issues! New Mexico — and a Lobos’ offense ranked fourth within the FBS — heads to Hawaii as a slight favourite to win out and grow to be bowl eligible.
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