The 2024 faculty soccer season was filled with memorable moments.
There have been many upsets: from Georgia Tech’s “beautiful” win over Florida State in Week 0 (not so superb in any case) and Northern Illinois’ surprising conquer Notre Dame in Week 2, to Vanderbilt’s memorable win over ‘Alabama in Week 6 and Michigan’s beautiful win over rival Ohio State to shut out the common season.
There had been loads of particular person highlights: from Ashton Jeanty’s 267-yard, six-touchdown efficiency in Week 1 to Travis Hunter’s regular-season finale, ending with 10 receptions for 110 yards and three touchdowns on offense, including an interception in protection.
And sure, there have been loads of teaching adjustments which have taken the faculty soccer world by storm: from the return of Rich Rodriguez to West Virginia and Scott Frost to UCF, to Bill Belichick being named the top coach at North Carolina.
But what was the largest storyline in faculty soccer this yr?
FOX Sports faculty soccer writers Litman Lake, RJ Young AND Michael Cohen we’re right here to reply that query as we put together to flip the calendar to 2025.
What was the largest story of the 2024 faculty soccer season?
Litman Lake: Bill Belichick is known as North Carolina’s new head coach.
When the information broke, it was a very wild, head-scratching second. After every thing he is completed in his legendary teaching profession, he is determined he now desires to throw himself into the mess. NIL and the switch portal are the the reason why his good good friend Nick Saban left the sport. But on condition that Belichick has spent years juggling wage caps and free company, maybe this may not be information to him in any case.
Given the expertise he has constructing a entrance workplace and the way he’ll attempt to replicate it at UNC, maybe Belichick will likely be additional forward of most faculties than everybody thinks. Regardless of how this new period in Chapel Hill goes, the hiring was a surprising transfer this season, and what he does with a school program will likely be fascinating to look at in 2025.
Why Bill Belichick’s resolution to affix UNC as head coach ‘is smart’
RJ Young: Travis Hunter turned the primary bona fide two-way celebrity of the twenty first century after attaining what no different participant has ever achieved: at the very least 10 receiving touchdowns, 90 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards and 4 interceptions in a single season. For his efforts, he was topped the winner of the 2024 Heisman Memorial Trophy. Like Shohei Ohtani in Major League Baseball, I do not assume we’ll see one other participant this prolific on offense and protection within the sport for a very long time, possibly ever.
Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter in Colorado’s prime 10 performs of the 2024 season
Michael Cohen: This program in all probability is not talked about sufficient as a result of it is tucked away within the Pacific Northwest, part of the nation not recognized for its faculty soccer prowess, however for Oregon’s speedy rise to the game’s absolute prime tier below the third-year coach steering Dan Lanning is value noting. For the Ducks to navigate the transition from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten with relative ease, enter the common season as the one FBS staff with an unblemished report and enter the College Football Playoff because the No. 1 seed. Yeoman’s work is carried out in Eugene by Lanning, his employees, the administration and Nike co-founder Phil Knight, who continues to steer the college’s NIL efforts. There are few applications in faculty soccer higher positioned than Oregon to compete for nationwide titles on an annual foundation.
Consider this yr’s roster as an entire, which included the nation’s third-largest highschool recruiting class and 6 of the highest 101 gamers within the switch portal, most notably Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who turned a finalist for the Heisman Trophy throughout his lone season with the Ducks, and former five-star quarterback Dante Moore of UCLA, who will exchange Gabriel because the starter in 2025. Which brings us to the meeting of subsequent yr’s roster, a gaggle that features highschool recruiting class no. 5 within the nation — and the one which has the best common participant ranking of any FBS faculty — together with early commitments from 4 of the highest 62 gamers within the 2025 switch portal rankings, in keeping with 247Sports. If the Ducks can beat Ohio State within the Rose Bowl and get a second win over the Buckeyes this season, that may put Oregon squarely on the prime of the Big Ten pecking order getting into subsequent season.
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon Ducks EVERY TOUCHDOWN since 2024 season
Laken Litman covers faculty soccer, faculty basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. He beforehand wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the creator of “Strong Like a Woman,” printed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Follow her to @LakenLitman.
RJ Young is a nationwide faculty soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports and host of “The Number One College Football Show” podcast. Follow him to @RJ_Young.
Michael Cohen covers faculty soccer and basketball for FOX Sports with a concentrate on the Big Ten. Follow him at @Michael_Cohen13.
(Want nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a customized publication every day.)
College soccer
Get extra from College Football Follow your favorites to get data on video games, information and extra
