Chris LowMar 18, 2025, 07:12 AM ET
Shut
- Faculty soccer reporter
- Joined ESPN.com in 2007
- Graduate of the College of Tennessee
By means of this time in any postseason, skill and intensity in most cases upward push to the highest.
Now that we are right down to the Candy 16 in our 2025 mock NCAA soccer event, that is obvious with 11 of the 16 groups coming from both the Giant Ten or SEC.
All 4 No. 1 seeds are nonetheless alive, and No. 12 seed Memphis has engineered two upsets to get this some distance. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker all performed starring roles within the first two rounds, and Ryan Silverfield has Memphis using an eight-game successful streak.
Editor’s Selections
2 Similar
To recap, the unique seeds have been based totally to a big level on ESPN’s newest SP+ projections coming into the 2025 season, despite the fact that seeds are a moot level as we tee it again up.
Time to complete the event. And the most productive information? There is not any blaming anything else on a committee.
Midwest Regional
Semifinals
(1) Ohio State 28, (5) BYU 23: How do you quilt Buckeyes receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate? It is a query groups requested all season. The Cougars do their absolute best to stay Smith from torching them, however Tate does lots of the harm with 8 catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns.
(3) Tennessee 34, (2) Oregon 32: The Vols get again to their explosive techniques on offense in 2025 with quarterback Nico Iamaleava making a large soar in his 3rd 12 months on campus. Oregon fits that explosiveness with Evan Stewart pulling in two acrobatic catches, resulting in a past due landing. The Geese get the ball again, however an Arion Carter sack seals the sport for Tennessee.
Regional ultimate
(1) Ohio State 31, (3) Tennessee 21: The Vols get every other shot on the Buckeyes after you have blown out in Columbus ultimate season within the first spherical of the playoff. This sport is far nearer, and Tim Banks’ Tennessee protection holds up lots of the method. However the similar man who wreaked havoc at the Vols a 12 months in the past does it once more. Smith has two of his 3 landing catches in the second one part to steer Ohio State to its tenth instantly win.
How we were given right here
First spherical
(1) Ohio State over (16) Boston Faculty
(2) Oregon over (15) UCF
(3) Tennessee over (14) Pittsburgh
(4) South Carolina over (13) North Carolina
(5) BYU over (12) Colorado
(11) Kentucky over (6) Louisville
(7) TCU over Georgia Tech
(9) Arkansas over (8) Boise State
2d spherical
(1) Ohio State over (9) Arkansas
(2) Oregon over (7) TCU
(3) Tennessee over (11) Kentucky
(5) BYU over (4) South Carolina
South Regional
Semifinals
Coming off a CFP ultimate look, can Marcus Freeman take his group one step additional? John Adams/Icon Sportswire
(5) Illinois 27, (1) Texas 24: The shocker of the event to this point, however do not inform that to Illinois trainer Bret Bielema. In his 5th season at Illinois, he had a excellent feeling about this group all alongside. The Illini returned 18 starters from their bowl group a 12 months in the past, and the 2 stars on protection, out of doors linebacker Gabe Jacas and cornerback Xavier Scott, play like stars towards a Texas offense that by no means reveals any rhythm.
(2) Notre Dame 31, (3) Miami 20: The notorious “Catholics vs. Convicts” T-shirts are reintroduced to the varsity soccer international, and that is the reason what everyone is speaking about within the buildup to this sport. Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore steals the display with interceptions in every part, the general one resulting in the clinching landing for the Irish.
Regional ultimate
(2) Notre Dame 28, (5) Illinois 21: Jeremiyah Love’s building and toughness epitomized Notre Dame’s run to the semifinals ultimate 12 months. He is much more of an element this 12 months, and his talent to make giant performs and earn the harsh yards towards a stout Illinois protection is the adaptation on this Elite 8 matchup. Love’s tackle-breaking 8-yard landing run provides the Irish the lead for excellent and caps a 138-yard speeding night time.
How we were given right here
First spherical
(1) Texas over (16) Maryland
(2) Notre Dame over (15) California
(3) Miami over (14) Kansas
(4) Florida over (13) James Madison
(5) Illinois over (12) N.C. State
(11) Virginia Tech over (6) Iowa
(7) USC over (10) Minnesota
(8) Texas Tech over (9) Utah
2d spherical
(1) Texas over (8) Texas Tech
(2) Notre Dame over (7) USC
(3) Miami over (6) Virginia Tech
(5) Illinois over (4) Florida
East Regional
Semifinals
(1) Penn State 35, (12) Memphis 17: Memphis’ implausible run to the Candy 16 involves a crushing finish as Penn State builds a 21-3 lead, then tees off defensively on a Memphis offense that has to hotel to throwing the ball on on the subject of each down. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen every rush for greater than 100 yards for the Nittany Lions, who end with 290 yards at the floor as a group.
(2) Alabama 27, (3) Michigan 23: In a rematch of the Rose Bowl two years in the past (Nick Saban’s ultimate sport), Alabama will get somewhat revenge for its previous trainer. The Pink Tide are held to a unmarried landing within the first part, however the protection helps to keep them in it. Trailing 20-17 coming into the fourth quarter, Alabama reveals its operating sport. Jam Miller erupts for 72 speeding yards within the ultimate quarter, and the Tide bullies their method into the Elite 8.
Regional ultimate
(2) Alabama 22, (1) Penn State 19: Ty Simpson has waited his flip at quarterback for the Pink Tide, and although they do not illuminate the scoreboard on this defense-dominated matchup of blue bloods, he does not dedicate a unmarried turnover and helps to keep everyone on offense centered. However on Alabama’s ultimate two drives, Simpson throws a 28-yard landing cross to place the Tide forward and later converts a fourth-and-short to place the sport away.
How we were given right here
First spherical
(1) Penn State over (16) West Virginia
(2) Alabama over (15) Syracuse
(3) Michigan over (14) Military
(4) SMU over (13) Tulane
(12) Memphis over (5) Texas A&M
(11) Wisconsin over (6) Oklahoma
(7) Indiana over (10) Washington
(9) Nebraska over (8) Arizona State
2d spherical
(1) Penn State over (9) Nebraska
(2) Alabama over (7) Indiana
(3) Michigan over (11) Wisconsin
(12) Memphis over (4) SMU
West Regional
Semifinals
Clemson made a wonder look within the 2024-25 CFP. Within the expanded bracket, the Tigers are extra hunters than hunted. David Buono/Icon Sportswire
(1) Georgia 35, (4) LSU 31: Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton were given a style of postseason soccer ultimate 12 months when he crammed in for Carson Beck. That have proves precious on this back-and-forth sport, with Nussmeier throwing 3 landing passes for LSU. However Stockton is in a position to unfold the ball round with Noah Thomas and Zachariah Department, each switch receivers, and tight finish Oscar Delp all catching landing passes.
(2) Clemson 33, (3) Ole Pass over 24: Dabo Swinney and Lane Kiffin were on reverse ends of the spectrum with regards to the use of the switch portal. Swinney has slightly dipped into it in any respect, and Kiffin has lived in it. Swinney did usher in 3 transfers this season, and certainly one of them, former Purdue defensive finish Will Heldt, makes existence depressing for the Ole Pass over offensive line. Heldt finishes with two sacks and a compelled fumble, and the Tigers march onward.
Regional ultimate
(2) Clemson 31, (1) Georgia 30: As soon as upon a time, those groups performed yearly in one of the most South’s absolute best nonconference rivalries. The Tigers, who had misplaced 8 in their previous 9 video games towards the Bulldogs, fall at the back of early on this one. However Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell, flagged for cross interference at the earlier ownership, intercepts a Stockton cross deep in Clemson territory, resulting in a snappy landing. That is the place the sport swings, and the Tigers transfer a step nearer to their 3rd nationwide name in 10 years.
How we were given right here
First spherical
(1) Georgia over (16) Oklahoma State
(2) Clemson over (15) Mississippi State
(3) Ole Pass over over (14) Cincinnati
(4) LSU over (13) Florida State
(5) Missouri over (12) Rutgers
(11) Vanderbilt over (6) Kansas State
(7) Auburn over (10) Duke
(8) Iowa State over (9) Baylor
2d spherical
(1) Georgia over (8) Iowa State
(2) Clemson over Auburn (7)
(3) Ole Pass over over (11) Vanderbilt
(4) LSU over (5) Missouri
Ultimate 4
(2) Clemson 35, (1) Ohio State 28: The primary time those groups performed was once again in 1978, with Clemson successful 17-15 within the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. It was once a blah sport till mythical trainer Woody Hayes punched Clemson’s Charlie Bauman at the sideline past due within the fourth quarter after Bauman intercepted a cross. Hayes was once fired day after today. This nationwide semifinal sport does not come with any extracurricular fireworks that upward push to that degree, however Klubnik and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin supply a variety of fireworks at the box. They each cross for greater than 300 yards, however freshman operating again Gideon Davidson delivers the successful 24-yard landing run for the Tigers.
(2) Alabama 33, (2) Notre Dame 27: Right here the Irish are knocking at the door of a countrywide championship for the second one instantly season underneath Marcus Freeman, who is the topic of numerous studies that NFL groups are lining as much as rent him. Freeman by no means provides any credence to these studies, and his Notre Dame group fights its long ago from a two-touchdown deficit. Using throughout the Alabama 45 with just below 4 mins final, Notre Dame tries to run proper at 326-pound defensive deal with Tim Keenan III. Giant mistake. Keenan blows up the play, forcing a 5-yard loss. Notre Dame has to punt and not will get the ball again, as Alabama’s offensive line takes keep watch over of the sport.
Nationwide Championship
Kalen DeBoer’s Pink Tide takes their first name of the post-Saban generation on this 64-team playoff. Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire
(2) Alabama 30, (2) Clemson 24: It isn’t the primary time Swinney has long gone up towards his alma mater within the nationwide championship sport. It took place in 2015 with Alabama successful, once more in 2016 with Clemson successful after which in 2018 with the Tigers claiming their 2d nationwide name underneath Swinney. So, now, welcome to Section 4. The entire gnashing of tooth in Tuscaloosa over Kalen DeBoer’s first season as trainer when he misplaced (gasp) 4 video games has quieted. Alabama is enjoying its absolute best soccer of the season with a few of its more youthful gamers and veterans stepping up in key roles. However it is the maximum electrifying participant on Alabama’s roster, receiver Ryan Williams, who wins it for the Tide, their nineteenth “claimed” nationwide championship. After Antonio Williams provides Clemson the lead with a 46-yard landing catch down the suitable sideline, Ryan Williams caps a 77-yard force for Alabama with a 2-yard landing catch on a pick out/rub play. Sound acquainted? With Clemson enthusiasts cursing the play the similar method Alabama did again in 2016, DeBoer breaks thru in his 2d season. His statue at the Stroll of Champions is up via the beginning of the 2026 season.
