We’ve now reached Week 5 of the 2023 faculty soccer schedule.
My goodness it flies by.
However this additionally means we’re deep into the guts of convention schedules, which makes for some fascinating video games to trace this weekend. Whereas the Week 5 slate doesn’t supply as many video games between ranked opponents as we noticed every week in the past, there are a selection of video games you must have in your radar.
Together with a matchup that helps kick off the weekend on Friday night time.
5. USC (8) at Colorado
Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET
This sport ends both of two methods, each in all probability in a USC win:
- Do not forget that 54-51 Chiefs-Rams sport a number of years again? Yeah that however in faculty. Shedeur Sanders and Caleb Williams gentle up the scoreboard and slice by way of suspect at greatest defenses en route to love a 70-56 sport.
- Colorado can’t stand up to the bodily stress of USC’s entrance and Caleb Williams takes benefit of a Travis Hunter-less secondary and USC torches Colorado
Both manner, that is going to be a enjoyable sport with lots of future NFL prospects on the offensive facet of the ball. Protection lovers, avert your eyes.
4. LSU (13) at Mississippi (20)
Saturday, 6:00 p.m. ET
The Magnolia Bowl is a must-watch yearly. However this season, it has change into what some are contemplating a “defining second” for Lane Kiffin.
After final week’s loss to Alabama, the place Mississippi scored solely ten factors (the fewest in an SEC sport since he took the job) Kiffin is now 5-7 in opposition to ranked opponents throughout his time at Mississippi. Once you embody his time at Tennessee, Kiffin is now 8-22 in his teaching profession in opposition to ranked opponents.
He, and Mississippi, badly want a win. A victory Saturday would hold them alive within the SEC West. A loss, nevertheless, doubtless ends these desires and opens the door to questions on his ceiling at Mississippi.
3. Utah (10) at Oregon State (19)
Friday, 9:00 p.m. ET
When you have been following alongside this yr, you already know full effectively that the scriptwriters saved the very best for the ultimate season of the Pac-12. Six groups are at present ranked within the High 25 with two — Colorado and UCLA — having fallen out of the rankings after losses every week in the past.
One other Pac-12 crew that misplaced final week, Oregon State, will get to attempt their hand at a bounce-back efficiency on Friday night time in opposition to visiting Utah. The Utes knocked UCLA from the rankings with final week’s victory, however Friday touches off the hardest stretch of their season. Over their subsequent six video games, 4 come in opposition to ranked opponents, beginning Friday night time and culminating with a visit to Washington to play the Huskies. In addition they play at USC and at residence in opposition to Oregon throughout that stretch.
The Utes have huge desires this season, and now could be the time to make these desires come true.
Oregon State would love nothing greater than to show these desires into nightmares.
2. Notre Dame at Duke
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET
After a heart-breaking loss to Ohio State final week, Notre Dame would love nothing greater than to beat up on an opponent this weekend and get that bitter style out of their mouth.
That may be a job simpler mentioned than finished given who they face this weekend.
Duke is an excellent soccer crew, and the Blue Devils are 4-0 and have an opportunity to enhance to 5-0 for the primary time for the reason that first Invoice Clinton administration. Whereas it’s true that wins over Lafayette, Northwestern, and Connecticut should not fairly resume builders, after what we noticed final week, Duke’s Week 1 win over Clemson does certainly appear like such a victory.
Plus, the Blue Devils have Riley Leonard on the helm, one of many extra intriguing QB prospects in all of school soccer. That makes this a enjoyable QB battle as effectively, between Leonard and Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman.
1. Kansas vs. Texas
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET
That is the second yr in a row that Kansas has began 4-0, and as soon as once more they run into the Texas Longhorns. This sport needs to be a matchup of enjoyable offenses, though each get it finished very in a different way. Kansas throws every part at you; from 2-QB units to full home pistol formations, they drive defenses to account for everybody on the sphere, and QB Jalon Daniels is arguably the very best QB within the convention. Texas is rather a lot stronger up entrance this yr, and might grind groups down earlier than hitting them with play motion downfield with WRs Xavier Worthy and AD Mitchell. QB Quinn Ewers must be on his A-game to beat this Kansas crew, as a result of the Jayhawks gained’t go away quietly.
