Texas is slotted behind 12 different groups within the most-recent School Soccer Playoff Rankings, however the No. 13 Longhorns could make an eye-opening declare that nobody forward of them — or behind them — can match.
With victories over No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 7 Texas A&M, Texas entered convention championship weekend as the one squad with two wins over groups anticipated to make the CFP.
Throw in a win over No. 14 Vanderbilt and the Longhorns have three wins over top-15 foes, which supplies Texas a trio of victories unmatched by anybody else within the sport. No surprise Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is banging the drum on why the Longhorns should be within the CFP.
He has a degree.
Detractors are fast to level out Texas’ three losses, together with an unseemly street defeat in opposition to Florida. However the different two defeats got here on the street in opposition to top-3 foes Ohio State and Georgia.
Now, let’s faux Texas performed Oklahoma State or Boston School in Week 1 as an alternative of the Buckeyes. That may have been unhealthy for school soccer, however it could have labored out a lot better for the Longhorns.
In essence, Texas is being punished for scheduling Ohio State and shedding a one-possession sport on the street in opposition to a staff that would legitimately win back-to-back nationwide titles. Sarkisian is now questioning the knowledge of scheduling marquee nonconference opponents just like the Buckeyes sooner or later.
Cannot you see why?
Mario Cristobal responds to Steve Sarkisian’s jab in Miami vs. Texas School Soccer Playoff debate
Brad Crawford
The Longhorns would have crushed a lesser opponent and could be sitting at 10-2 whereas sporting a greater resume than every other 10-2 staff. With a head-to-head win over the No. 8 Sooners (additionally 10-2), it is potential — maybe even seemingly — that Texas could be ranked 5 spots larger proper now had it merely taken the simple approach out in nonconference play.
In August, CFP management introduced the introduction of “file power” to the playoff choice course of. The metric, which was lobbied for by the SEC, is meant to offer groups further credit score for beating high quality opponents whereas decreasing the penalty related to losses to high quality groups.
The place is the proof that this standards is being utilized?
Texas has a 3-0 edge on Notre Dame in wins over top-15 groups however is three spots behind the Irish. It has a 3-1 edge on BYU and Miami in the identical class however is ranked behind each. The Hurricanes’ losses each got here in opposition to groups outdoors of this week’s CFP Rankings. But, there they’re, one spot forward of Texas and obstructing the Longhorns’ path to the playoff.
Choice committee chair Hunter Yuracheck pointed again to the Florida loss after the Dec. 2 rankings launch because the justification for Texas’ poor standing.
“And actually, Florida dominated that sport, held Texas to 50 yards speeding, two interceptions,” Yurachek mentioned. “So it is not that Texas performed Ohio State, it’s Texas’ loss to Florida that is holding them again now.”
Amongst groups ranked within the high 15, Yurachek identified that 16 of their mixed 17 losses are in opposition to groups that both are ranked or have been ranked this season.
So, are we simply pretending that Alabama’s loss at Florida State was a “high quality” loss as a result of the Seminoles had been ranked in Week 1 on the time of the sport? Florida crushed Florida State head-to-head final week, which ought to really make the Crimson Tide’s loss to the Seminoles worse than Texas’ loss to the Gators.
However we’re shedding the plot right here. Texas has a extra strong checklist of high-end victories than anybody else in faculty soccer and is being punished for enjoying on the street at Ohio State as an alternative padding its win-loss file with patsies.
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