2020 - Week 9 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
INSIDER | 2020 | WEEK 9
Quote of the week “I started tearing up. It’s real and it’s time to prove to the world what I can do.” - Michigan quarterback Joe Milton after his first game as a starter, defeating Minnesota 49-24
TEAM TO WATCH:
Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish scored 40-plus points for the third time this season as they defeated Pittsburgh, 45-3, on Saturday. On the other side of the ball, the defense allowed less than 20 points for the fourth time in five games. Quarterback Ian Book passed for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Two of Book’s touchdowns went to his favorite target Ben Skowronek, who had two receptions for 107 yards. Book enjoyed his time in the pocket as his offensive line held one of the nation’s best pass-rushing teams at bay, allowing only two sacks compared to the Panthers’ 4.8 per game average. The Notre Dame defense held Pittsburgh to 162 total yards, amassed three sacks and forced three interceptions. No. 4 Notre Dame looks like a top contender and has had no problem adjusting to the ACC. Georgia Tech awaits the Fighting Irish next, but the real test comes when No. 1 Clemson travels to South Bend on November 7. A win in this game could propel Notre Dame back into the College Football Playoff.
TEAM OF THE WEEK:
Indiana
Indiana put the Big Ten on notice in the conference’s opening weekend, upsetting No. 8 Penn State in overtime, 36-35. The overtime 2-point conversion gamble was the talk of the college football world as quarterback Michael Penix Jr. dove for the pylon to win the game. The win marked the first time since 1987 that Indiana has beaten a Top 10 team. Penix Jr. led the Hoosiers down the field in the final minute of regulation and scored a 2-point conversion to force overtime before slinging a 9-yard touchdown pass to set up the play of the weekend. Penix Jr. completed 19-of-36 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown, and ran for another. On paper, Penn State dominated the game. The offense totaled 488 yards, held the ball for 40-plus minutes and the defense only allowed 211 yards. Ten penalties for 100 yards and three turnovers were the deciding factor for the Nittany Lions. Indiana jumped into the rankings at No. 17 this week and heads to Rutgers for a Halloween showdown at 12:30 pm (AZ time).
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2020 | WEEK 9
games of the week MEMPHIS AT #7 CINCINNATI 10.31 | 9 AM | ESPN
MICHIGAN STATE AT #13 MICHIGAN 10.31 | 9 AM | FOX
TEXAS AT #6 OKLAHOMA STATE 10.31 | 1 PM | FOX
AP Week 9 Rankings 1. CLEMSON
6. OKLAHOMA STATE
2. ALABAMA
7. CINCINNATI
3. OHIO STATE
8. TEXAS A&M
4. NOTRE DAME
9. WISCONSIN
5. GEORGIA
10. FLORIDA
For the full AP Top 25 Rankings, click here.
WHERE IS COLLEGE GAMEDAY:
Happy Valley
With the only ranked matchup of the weekend, College Gameday is heading to Happy Valley for a showdown between No. 18 Penn State and
#25 BOISE STATE AT AIR FORCE 10.31 | 3 PM | CBSSN
No. 3 Ohio State. The Nittany Lions are coming off a heartbreaking loss to Indiana and the Buckeyes are coming off a decisive win over Nebraska. Who will come out on top in the Big Ten showdown?
#3 OHIO STATE AT #18 PENN STATE
Gameday has a different look this Fall, but fans
10.31 | 4:30 PM | ABC
collegegameday.com for a chance to rep their team.
For a full schedule of Week Nine games, click here. (All times in AZ)
are still able to participate online and send in their best Gameday Signs on Twitter by heading to
College Gameday airs Saturday, October 31, at 6 am AZ Time.
2020-21 Bowl PREDICTIONS: PLAYSTATION ® FIESTA BOWL
GUARANTEED RATE BOWL
ESPN Bonagura – BYU vs. Oregon
ESPN Bonagura – Minnesota vs. West Virginia
ESPN Schlabach – Michigan vs. Oregon
ESPN Schlabach – Purdue vs. West Virginia
CBS – Boise State vs. USC
CBS – Iowa vs. TCU
USA Today – BYU vs. Michigan
USA Today – Michigan State vs. West Virginia
Stadium McMurphy – Wisconsin vs. USC
Stadium McMurphy – Northwestern vs. West Virginia
College Football News – Wisconsin vs. USC
College Football News – Indiana vs. Texas Tech
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2020 | WEEK 9
GOLDEN HISTORY:
1989 – NO. 1 VS. NO. 3 The 1989 Fiesta Bowl featured top-ranked Notre Dame and No. 3 West Virginia, the second Fiesta Bowl in three years that decided college football’s national championship. The Fiesta Bowl was back in the spotlight. The Fighting Irish exploded to a 23-6 halftime lead over the Mountaineers and never looked back, recording a 34-21 victory and the national championship.
ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT:
Billy Hackett began the game’s scoring by kicking a 45-yard field goal on Notre Dame’s first possession. The Irish scored on a one-yard run by Anthony Johnson and added a five-yard run by Rodney Culver to take the 16-0 lead, as the Irish captured their 11th national title.
Devin White
Former LSU, now Tampa Bay Buccaneers, linebacker Devin White wreaked havoc in the Raiders backfield this week, totaling three sacks, 11 tackles and a forced fumble. White’s performance helped the Buccaneers to a 45-20 victory and the team now sits at 5-2. White is eighth in the NFL with 40 solo tackles and has four games with 10 total tackles or more. His contributions have helped Tampa Bay climb to the third best defense in the league, allowing 291.3 yards per game, and second in the league with 25 sacks. During the 2018-19 Fiesta Bowl, White totaled eight tackles, all solo, to help LSU knock off UCF, 40-32. White was one of the best players in the 2018-19 NFL Draft class and was selected No. 5 overall by Tampa Bay.
The Mountaineers got on the scoreboard midway through the second quarter on a 29-yard field goal by Charlie Baumann. But the “Rocket” Raghib Ismail, caught a 29-yard TD pass from Tony Rice to increase the Irish lead to 23-3. Baumann kicked a 32-yarder as the half ended. The Mountaineers scored 15 second half points, but Notre Dame scored 11 points of its own to claim the victory. The Irish racked up 455 total yards to West Virginia’s 282.
LOOKING FORWARD TO
Bowl Season
The Football Bowl Association is getting a new name and brand: Bowl Season. The new Bowl Season tagline, “A Celebration of College Football,” embraces the grand tradition of the bowl system and its enduring value to student-athletes. Highlighting the broader university community, including spirit squads, marching bands, student athletic staff and fans, Bowl Season will work with all existing bowls to promote the benefits of the entire bowl system.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2020 | WEEK 9
MORE THAN JUST A GAME® CHARITY SPOTLIGHT:
HER HIDDEN HIGHNESS Her Hidden Highness jackpot is over $8,000! The Queen of Hearts still remains on the board which means in addition to the weekly jackpot, you could win even more money! There are various tickets levels to increase chances to win. It’s as easy as visiting www.fiestabowlraffle.com to play, ante up to win and support Fiesta Bowl Charities. The first of its kind by an Arizona sports property, similar raffles across the country have seen multi-million-dollar payouts.
GUARANTEED RATE JOINS FOR NEWLY-NAMED
GUARANTEED RATE BOWL With college football Bowl Season coming soon, Guaranteed Rate has joined with the Fiesta Bowl Organization to become title sponsor of the newly-named Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Formerly known as the Cactus Bowl, this is the only postseason matchup between members of the Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences.
Half of the entry pool benefits Fiesta Bowl Charities, which supports Arizona nonprofit organizations in the areas of youth, sports and education.
Guaranteed Rate, one of the largest retail mortgage lenders in the United States funding $37 billion in 2019, will be the game’s exclusive financial partner, including mortgages, home loans and home buying categories. Two of college football’s most successful conferences, the Big Ten and Big 12 faced off in the Bowl eight times from 2006-13. The Guaranteed Rate Bowl’s three most-attended games featured Big Ten/Big 12 pairings, including the 2011 contest when Iowa and Oklahoma played before a Bowl-record 54,247 fans.
FIESTABOWLRAFFLE.COM
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2020 | WEEK 9
JAN. 2, 2021 S TATE FAR M STAD IUM
D ATE & TIME TBD C HASE FIE LD
F I E S TA B O W L . O R G /FIESTABOWL
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2020 | WEEK 9
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