Buh-bye to brat summer

The GIST: Buckle up — one of the NCAA’s most unpredictable sports starts kicking tomorrow. Upsets and rankings upheaval typically dominate the parity-filled men’s soccer season, so if you’re wondering which teams to watch, the answer is: everyone.

• That said, a few squads have caught significant hype ahead of tomorrow’s first whistle…

The favorites: The top four preseason poll spots unsurprisingly went to the four 2023 College Cup semifinalists: Reigning champ Clemson clocked in at No. 1, followed by runner-up Notre Dame, West Virginia, and Oregon State at Nos. 2 through 4, respectively. Of those squads, only ND expected to be in that final four — the rest were underdogs entering the tournament, especially Oregon State.

• But since a College Cup appearance boosts recruitment, these programs’ miracle runs could turn into sustained success. All four rosters are also stacked with talented veterans, so be prepared for more deep runs from this quartet.

Upset alerts: While you can’t count anyone out on the NCAA pitch, a few legacy programs are particularly dangerous, like No. 5 Stanford and No. 8 Marshall, who ruled the rankings for much of last season before falling in the national tourney. As for No. 7 Indiana, they made a stunning 2023 postseason pivot to remind the world why they’re a historical powerhouse.

• The dark horse? Washington. The Huskies struggled last year and failed to make 2024’s preseason Top 25, but with the Pac-12’s collapse causing the traditionally elite squad to move to the less competitive Big Ten, they should be able to rack up the dubs this year.

What to watch: Opening day’s biggest matchup pits No. 14 Vermont against host No. 12 Western Michigan at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. From there, it’s a nonstop dash to December’s national championship. Game on.

Q: Who decides how teams are ranked? And why does it matter?

A: There’s a reason rankings are also called polls: Associations of coaches, sports journalists, and other professionals engaged with the sport vote (usually weekly) on teams’ positions based on their ongoing performances. Each week, the publishing group collects and combines members’ individual rankings to create the final numbered list.

• The most authoritative rankings for football and basketball, the AP polls, are compiled from the weekly personal Top-25 lists of over 60 Associated Press–selected journalists. Other sports employ other polls, like the United Soccer Coaches rankings for college footy.

• Many polls also include a “receiving votes” category, which indicates that some voters thought a squad deserved Top-25 status — just not enough of them for the team to officially make the list. Shoutout to the one journalist who believes in Colorado football.

• Ultimately, a team’s ranking is much more than a number — it’s a reflection of the squad’s past achievements and a predictor of future performances. Moving up the poll bumps up media and fan attention, plus boosts a team’s confidence and overall vibes.

Want to own an, ahem, slice of tennis history? Then you’re in luck.

Topps’ brand new Chrome Tennis cards collection hits shelves today, and the 2024 edition is loaded with starpower, from current American stars like Coco Gauff to legends like Venus Williams and Andre Agassi.

• One reason why collectors will be after these packs? Because there may be an autographed card from four-time Grand Slam winner, Carlos Alcaraz, inside. Talk about an investment piece.

• The ball’s in your court — grab a Chrome Tennis pack online before they’re gone.

⚽ No. 16 Georgia Bulldogs (0-0-1) vs. No. 5 UNC Tar Heels (2-0-0) — Tomorrow at 5 p.m. ET — ACCNX

• The Tar Heels — the NCAA’s fútbol royalty — are treading into uncharted territory this season following the retirement of legendary head coach (HC) Anson Dorrance after 45 years at the helm. Can interim HC Damon Nahas lead UNC past a rising Bulldog squad?

⚽ No. 21 Virginia Cavaliers (2-0-0) vs. No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions (1-0-0) — Tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. ET — BTN+

• With big name alums who’ve gone on to win Olympic gold, both programs know what they’re doing. PSU, who’ve proved themselves a playoff team, sometimes struggle in the regular season. Can UVA pounce, or will the Lions come out roaring?

⚽ No. 9 Arkansas Razorbacks (1-0-0) vs. No. 8 Michigan State Spartans (1-0-0)— Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — BTN

• The Razorbacks are no strangers to success, winning four of the last five SEC regular-season titles. But the Spartans have ruled the Big Ten for the last two years, and with the momentum from last week’s historic season-opener, MSU will be hard to stop on their home pitch.