100 days to varsity soccer: All the pieces you must know

In simply 100 days, Florida and Miami will kick off the 150th season of faculty soccer (August 24, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN).

It is going to be a season outlined by the quarterbacks, particularly these with whom we’re already on a first-name foundation: Tua and Trevor. And although the Alabama and Clemson signal-callers will get essentially the most consideration, there’s additionally Oregon’s Justin Herbert, Georgia’s Jake Fromm and many extra.

To get you prepared for one more season of faculty soccer, here is the whole lot you will have missed this spring and the whole lot you will must know within the fall: early Heisman contenders, prime video games to observe, a stay up for prime 2020 recruits and far more.

Soar to a piece:
High video games | Early Heisman Watch | High performs of 2018
New faces in new locations | Stats and playing notes | Uncommitted recruits

Matt Cashore/USA TODAY Sports activities

High nonconference video games

1. Notre Dame at Georgia, Sept. 21
Two CFP contenders in a rematch of a 2017 traditional, received by Georgia. Plus, a number of Bulldogs gamers weren’t shy about speaking trash when the Irish have been getting routed by Clemson within the playoff.

2. LSU at Texas, Sept. 7 (7:30 p.m., ABC)
Each groups ended 2018 on a excessive observe with massive bowl wins and a victory right here will put one workforce’s hype machine into overdrive — and result in panic on the opposite finish.

Three. Notre Dame at Michigan, Oct. 26
Jim Harbaugh enters the season determined for some massive wins and this one might assist arrange a playoff push.

four. Texas A&M at Clemson, Sept. 7
Jimbo in 12 months 2 vs. Trevor Lawrence in 12 months 2. The Aggies got here nearer to beating the Tigers than anybody else in 2018.

2 Associated

5. Auburn vs. Oregon (Arlington, Texas), Aug. 31 (7:30 p.m., ABC)
Will the Pac-12 make a severe push? A Geese win over the Tigers would go a great distance.

6. Miami vs. Florida (Orlando), Aug. 24 (7 p.m., ESPN)
This intra-state battle will kick off the 150th season of faculty soccer with each groups dealing with severe questions at quarterback.

7. Florida State vs. Boise State (Jacksonville, Fla.), Aug. 31
Boise State is searching for a New 12 months’s Six bid, whereas Willie Taggart wants an enormous yr for the Seminoles.

Eight. Stanford at UCF, Sept. 14
The Knights look to begin one other successful streak in opposition to considered one of their higher Energy 5 opponents up to now.

9. Houston at Oklahoma, Aug. 31 (7:30 p.m., ABC)
Dana Holgorsen, Jalen Hurts and Oklahoma’s post-Kyler debut.

10. Nebraska at Colorado, Sept. 7
Can the Cornhuskers ramp it up in 12 months 2 beneath Scott Frost? — Andrea Adelson

ESPN Illustration

Early Heisman contenders

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson: He simply received a nationwide championship as a real freshman, throwing for Three,200 yards and 30 touchdowns within the course of.

Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon: In his first full season as Oregon’s wholesome starter, he threw for Three,100 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma: The previous Alabama nationwide champion takes his 7,602 whole yards, 94 whole touchdowns and 26-2 document to a Lincoln Riley offense that has produced back-to-back No. 1 NFL draft picks and Heisman winners.

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama: We thought he was going to win it final yr, however Tagovailoa can be in pursuit of one other nationwide championship look, after throwing for practically four,000 yards with 43 passing touchdowns final yr.

All yr lengthy, ESPN will rejoice the 150th anniversary of faculty soccer.
CFB150 residence

Sam Ehlinger, QB, Texas: The bulldozing quarterback accounted for nearly Three,700 whole yards final yr and led the Longhorns with 16 speeding touchdowns.

Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia: Many assume he’ll be one of many first quarterbacks taken in subsequent yr’s NFL draft due to his capability to make nearly each throw requested of an NFL quarterback prospect.

Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama: Final yr’s Biletnikoff winner was arguably the nation’s most enjoyable receiver in 2018, with 1,300 yards and 14 TDs. Having Tagovailoa on the roster hurts his candidacy, however he’ll be onerous to disregard if he betters final yr’s season.

Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson: Clemson’s offense is so balanced that even having Lawrence within the backfield will not kill Etienne’s candidacy. He ran for 1,658 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2018.

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin: He most likely is not talked about sufficient, however the reigning Doak Walker Award winner has been one of many nation’s finest gamers every of the final two seasons.

D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia: After a stunning freshman season, Swift overcame nagging accidents and a crowded backfield to move the 1,000-yard speeding mark final season. — Edward Aschoff

10 finest performs of 2018

Bob Levey/Getty Photographs

New faces in new locations

1. Ryan Day and Justin Fields at Ohio State
We obtained a sneak peek on the Day administration throughout City Meyer’s suspension final season, however now Day is captaining the ship full-time, and he is obtained former No. 1 recruit Justin Fields to work with.

2. Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma
Hurts is aware of a factor or two about attending to the playoff. Lincoln Riley is aware of a factor or two about turning switch QBs into Heisman winners. It needs to be a match made in heaven.

Three. Dana Holgorsen at Houston
You do not typically hear a couple of head coach voluntarily leaving a Energy 5 job for the American Convention, however that is what Holgorsen did. In fact, Holgorsen has all the time been just a little completely different, which is what makes this transfer so intriguing.

four. The outdated guys at Kansas and North Carolina
No, the Jayhawks and Tar Heels aren’t prone to compete for convention titles this yr, however they will be enjoyable to observe with the returns of Les Miles and Mack Brown.

5. Bo Nix at Auburn
The five-star true freshman has made enormous strides towards touchdown the beginning job. And although beginning a real freshman QB is not the simplest method to upend Alabama, it positive labored for Clemson.

6. Just about all of Miami
Mark Richt retired all of a sudden, Manny Diaz dumped Temple to turn into the brand new head coach, and the whole lot modified. Diaz landed one big-name switch after one other, together with QB Tate Martell.

7. Jacob Eason at Washington
The Georgia QB switch spent final season redshirting, however he is now able to step into Jake Browning’s spot. Eason was as soon as thought of the subsequent massive factor within the SEC, however his return to his West Coast roots might make Washington the favourite as soon as once more within the Pac-12.

Eight. Derek Stingley Jr. at LSU
Stingley arrives with huge hype as one of many nation’s prime recruits, and LSU has an enormous want within the secondary after the departure of first-round decide Grasping Williams.

9. Kayvon Thibodeaux at Oregon
The No. 1 recruit within the nation, Thibodeaux figures to be a pressure on Oregon’s line of defense. However add the brand new faces of Thibodeaux and the Pac-12’s prime recruiting class to the big-name holdover of QB Justin Herbert, and there is a massive motive persons are pegging the Geese as a possible breakthrough workforce.

10. Chris Klieman at Kansas State
Invoice Snyder was synonymous with Ok-State soccer, so changing a legend is rarely straightforward. There are, after all, questions on Klieman’s rise from FCS to Energy 5, however his success at North Dakota State is plain. — David M. Hale

Stats to know

11: Alabama and Clemson have mixed to win 11 of the final 12 Faculty Soccer Playoff video games.

1-Eight: Jim Harbaugh’s document at Michigan in opposition to top-10 opponents.

85.1: The Complete QBR for Georgia QB Jake Fromm in 2018, behind solely Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa.

10: Returning starters on offense for Oregon, led by star QB Justin Herbert. Can this assist the Pac-12 keep in playoff rivalry?

40-1: Alabama’s document in opposition to all non-Clemson groups up to now three years. The Tide are 1-2 in opposition to the Tigers.

20+: Clemson enters 2019 having received 10 consecutive video games by 20 or extra factors, tied for the second-longest streak of the AP Ballot period (since 1936).

125: ESPN 300 recruits who signed with SEC faculties, essentially the most by any convention within the 14 years ESPN has executed recruiting rankings.

2001: The final yr a first-year head coach — Larry Coker at Miami — received a nationwide title. Can Ohio State’s Ryan Day do the identical?

21-5: Military’s document over the previous two seasons, higher than all D-I groups besides UCF, Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Georgia.

79: Share of Texas’ touchdowns final season accounted for by QB Sam Ehlinger, the very best for a Huge 12 participant since 2011.

Info offered by ESPN Stats & Info

Playing nuggets

Canine bark within the postseason: The underdog has lined in six straight championship video games, with three outright wins. This contains three of the 5 CFP championship video games.

Tide a rolling favourite: Alabama has been favored in 54 straight video games (and 126 of its final 127), 40 video games longer that the next-longest lively streak.

Heisman jinx: Tua Tagovailoa is the favourite to win the Heisman Trophy at +250. The final 10 gamers to open as the favourite to win the Heisman didn’t win the award, together with Bryce Love final season.

Bedlam is actual: Since Lincoln Riley took over Oklahoma, 19 of the Sooners’ 28 video games have gone over the overall, the third-highest mark in FBS in that span. And in Stillwater, 22 of Oklahoma State’s previous 27 video games have gone over, the very best mark in FBS in that span.

Cougars roar: Washington State went 9-2-1 in opposition to the quantity final yr, finest in FBS. As for the nation’s longest streak of covers? The BYU Cougars have lined in 5 straight.

Wildcats roar, too: Few groups carry out higher as underdogs than Pat Fitzgerald’s Northwestern Wildcats. The Cats are 13-Three-1 ATS with 10 outright wins of their final 17 video games as a canine, together with a 7-1-1 mark with six outright wins as a canine in 2018.

Not preventing on: Do not anticipate USC to drag many upsets. The Trojans are simply 1-12 straight up and 2-11 ATS as underdogs beneath Clay Helton.

Husky whimper: Searching for a workforce to fade? The UConn Huskies went 1-11 in opposition to the unfold final yr. And over the previous 5 seasons, UConn is 16-40-2 ATS, the worst mark of any workforce in FBS.

Hook these canine: Texas coach Tom Herman is 13-2-1 ATS in his profession as an underdog and 10-6 straight up. Herman is 14-Three-1 ATS in his profession in opposition to AP top-25 groups. A type of wins was in opposition to Georgia within the Sugar Bowl final season as 13.5-point underdogs.

Hail to the non-cover: Michigan will face Notre Dame and Ohio State this yr. Total, Michigan is 1-9 outright — 2-Eight ATS — in opposition to top-10 groups beneath Harbaugh. Even worse, within the 5 video games the Wolverines have been favored, Michigan is Zero-5 ATS with 4 outright losses.

Info offered by ESPN Stats & Information

Zachary Evans is the highest recruit within the nation. Courtsey North Shore Soccer

High 2020 uncommitted recruits

Whereas 50 ESPN 300 recruits have introduced their dedication up so far, there are nonetheless many extremely ranked prospects nonetheless uncommitted, together with 9 of the 15 five-star recruits and the highest 4 total recruits.

RB Zachary Evans
ESPN 300 rank: 1
Colleges in rivalry: Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M, Washington
The lowdown: Evans and Leonard Fournette are the one two working backs to carry the highest rank since ESPN began its rankings in 2009. Evans has a super mixture of measurement, pace and imaginative and prescient.

DE Myles Murphy
ESPN 300 rank: 2
Colleges in rivalry: Auburn, Clemson
The lowdown: Murphy is massive, and has a variety of what coaches are searching for each on and off the sphere. If Murphy chooses Clemson, Dabo Swinney could have three five-star commits on this class.

DE Desmond Evans
ESPN 300 rank: Three
Colleges in rivalry: North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio State, Alabama, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, NC State, Florida, Clemson, Duke
The lowdown: Evans is lengthy and lean with a variety of upside. He hasn’t introduced a dedication date but, so there may be loads of time for faculties on his listing to make strikes.

WR Julian Fleming
ESPN 300 rank: four
Colleges in rivalry: Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State
The lowdown: Fleming is the top-ranked receiver on this class and plans to announce his dedication on Might 31.

DE Jordan Burch
ESPN 300 rank: 6
Colleges in rivalry: He is stored it quiet, however Clemson, South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia have been talked about
The lowdown: Burch has an ideal mixture of pace and energy. He has an enormous body that ought to get him on the sphere very early in his faculty profession.

LB Justin Flowe
ESPN 300 rank: 7
Colleges in rivalry: Alabama, Arizona State, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Miami, Texas, USC
The lowdown: Flowe is an enormous, stout linebacker who isn’t afraid of contact. He doesn’t lack confidence and has most of the intangibles coaches need.

DE Sav’ell Smalls
ESPN 300 rank: 9
Colleges in rivalry: Florida, Ohio State, Texas, Clemson, Miami, Washington State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Florida State, Texas A&M, Washington, Alabama
The lowdown: Smalls is considered one of two five-star defensive recruits from the West Coast. Although listed as a defensive finish, he’s additionally an outdoor linebacker and will present versatility for applications.

LB Reggie Grimes
ESPN 300 rank: 10
Colleges in rivalry: Alabama, Florida State, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
The lowdown: Grimes could be very athletic, although just a little lean proper now. With a body primed to bulk up, he ought to slot in effectively with what defenses are searching for as they try to cease unfold offenses.

TE Darnell Washington
ESPN 300 rank: 14
Colleges in rivalry: Not narrowed but, however not too long ago visited Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Oregon, Tennessee
The lowdown: Washington is a freak athlete. At 6-foot-Eight, he has some refining to do, however given how massive he’s, and what he is ready to do at tight finish, it is a no-brainer that he is a five-star prospect.

CB Kelee Ringo
ESPN 300 rank: 18
Colleges in rivalry: No latest updates to his listing, however Texas, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, Washington, Georgia and Oregon seem to be contenders
The lowdown: Ringo is the highest-ranked nook within the class. He has ideally suited measurement to play nook and that size combines along with his pace to make him a coveted prospect. — Tom VanHaaren