2021 · Week 3 COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 3
Quote of the week “You’ve got to play at a certain level execution-wise in these types of games and we did that tonight.” - Jacksonville State Head Coach John Grass after his team upset Florida State on the game’s last play
TEAM TO WATCH:
IOWA
For the sixth consecutive meeting, the Cy-Hawk Trophy belongs to the Hawkeyes after a 27-17 victory over rival Iowa State on Saturday. It was the first time in 65 total meetings that both teams were ranked. Iowa’s defense was the highlight of the game, turning four takeaways into 20 points. Cyclones All-American Breece Hall was held to 93 total yards and a touchdown while star quarterback Brock Purdy was picked off three times for Iowa State. Through two weeks, the Hawkeyes are making a case for being the team to beat in the Big Ten. Iowa has faced two ranked opponents, allowed 23 total points and forced seven turnovers. The No. 5 ranked squad has now won eight straight games dating back to last season. In its first unranked matchup of the year, Iowa will welcome Kent State to Kinnick Stadium on Saturday for a 12:30 p.m. (AZ time) kickoff on Big Ten Network.
TEAM OF THE WEEK:
Oregon
Last season’s PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl runner-up is making an early case for College Football Playoff contender in 2021. The Ducks gave the Pac-12 some much-needed national recognition as they defeated then No. 3 Ohio State 35-28 in Columbus on Saturday. Running back C.J. Verdell stole the show with 161 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Anthony Brown went 17-of-35 passing for 236 yards and two touchdowns as Oregon handed the Buckeyes their first regular-season loss since head coach Ryan Day took the helm three years ago. Thanks to the win, Oregon now sits at No. 4 in the AP Poll and is the early Pac-12 favorite. Oregon will return home Saturday to face Stony Brook at 4:30 p.m. (AZ time) on Pac-12 Network.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 3
games of the week UCF AT LOUISVILLE 9.17 | 4:30 PM | ESPN
#8 CINCINNATI AT INDIANA 9.18 | 9:00 AM | ESPN
NEBRASKA AT #3 OKLAHOMA 9.18 | 9:00 AM | FOX
AP Week 3 Rankings 1. ALABAMA
6. CLEMSON
2. GEORGIA
7. TEXAS A&M
3. OKLAHOMA
8. CINCINNATI
4. OREGON
9. OHIO STATE
5. IOWA
10. PENN STATE
For the full AP Top 25 Rankings, click here.
game of the week #22 AUBURN AT #10 PENN STATE The No. 10 ranked Nittany Lions will host No. 22 Auburn on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (AZ time) on ABC and opened as
#1 ALABAMA AT #11 FLORIDA 9.18 | 12:30 PM | CBS
six-point favorites. The Over/Under opened at 52.5. Penn State made a strong statement with its 16-10 Week One road victory over then No. 12 Wisconsin and followed the performance up with a 44-13 win over Ball Sate. Auburn has had two non-conference wins, going up against Akron and Alabama State and the offense has been firing on
#19 ARIZONA STATE AT #23 BYU 9.18 | 7:15 PM | ESPN For a full schedule of Week Eight games, click here. (All times in AZ)
all cylinders, averaging 61 points a game. ESPN College GameDay will be in State College for the game, where the seven-time Fiesta Bowl champions will host their annual “White-Out” outing. Fiesta Bowl fans can bet online NOW with Caesars Sportsbook. Download the app today and place your bets!
2020-21 Bowl PREDICTIONS: PLAYSTATION ® FIESTA BOWL
GUARANTEED RATE BOWL
ESPN Bonagura – Penn State vs. Cincinnati
ESPN Bonagura – Texas vs. Rutgers
ESPN Schlabach – Ohio State vs. Cincinnati
ESPN Schlabach – West Virginia vs. Michigan State
CBS – Iowa vs. Cincinnati
CBS – San Diego State vs. Minnesota
USA Today – Iowa vs. Cincinnati
USA Today – Kansas State vs. Iowa
Action Network – Penn State vs. UCF
Action Network – Baylor vs. Minnesota
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 3
SEASON TICKET MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
BILL SALLURDAY
First year as Season Ticket Member: 1997 Why did you become a Season Ticket Member: A Bowl game celebrates so much more tradition and brings more pageantry. On top of that, I’m guaranteed my favorite seat and the Fiesta Bowl offers some additional perks to Season Ticket Members like this year’s Zoom call with ESPN’s Matt Barrie. What’s your favorite Fiesta Bowl Memory: The 2017 game of Penn State vs. Washington. My daughter was working for Penn State Football at the time, and she was on the field as a photographer for that game. To have Penn State come to Arizona when she was a student there and working for the team was a dream come true!
ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT:
Ja’Marr Chase
On January 1, 2019, freshman wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase ended his season with six receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown helping LSU defeat UCF in the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl. Fast-forward to September 12, 2021, the No. 5 overall NFL Draft pick made his debut with the Cincinnati Bengals and hauled in five receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown in a 27-24 overtime win against the Minnesota Vikings.
Dream PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl matchup: Penn State vs. Clemson 2021-22 PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl prediction: Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M
Chase reunited with his former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow in Cincinnati and the duo picked up right where they left off. Chase’s big play impact was on display early as he beat the Vikings defense for a 50-yard touchdown to give the Bengals a 14-7 lead. Chase was one of the top receivers in LSU history playing two seasons with the Tigers and looks to bring that same impact to the NFL.
Fiesta bowl giveaway! Be sure you are following Fiesta Bowl on Instagram (@fiesta_bowl) for your chance at an authentic Penn State helmet signed by head coach James Franklin! All you have to do is follow the Fiesta Bowl on Instagram, like the post and tag two friends that would be jealous if you won. Couldn’t be easier. The Fiesta Bowl social media will be doing giveaways all season so be sure to follow @fiesta_bowl on Twitter and Instagram and FiestaBowl on Facebook for your chance at one-of-a-kind Fiesta Bowl prizes.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 3
MORE THAN JUST A GAME® CHARITY SPOTLIGHT:
DESERT FINANCIAL FIESTA BOWL CHARITIES WISHES FOR TEACHERS There is one week left to apply for Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers. In what has become one of Arizona’s most impactful teacher support initiatives, the Desert Financial
2021 MAYO CLINIC
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), in association with The Associated Press (AP), the Fiesta Bowl Organization and Mayo Clinic, have selected three college football student-athletes— Terrel Bernard, a senior linebacker at Baylor University; Jack Coan, a senior quarterback at the University of Notre Dame; and Brian Kearns, Jr. a senior running back at Stonehill College —as its first three nominees for the 2021 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program for the sixth consecutive year will provide grants directly to teachers for use in their classrooms. Applications are now open for all Arizona K-12 public and charter school teachers through September 24 at 5 p.m. Fill out the online application at wishesforteachers.org, detailing the school or classroom need. This year’s program will double the amount of teacher recipients, with 400 teachers having their wishes granted. Each will receive a $2,500 grant for a total of $1 million in donations.
Ten times during the 2021 college football season, three inspiring student-athletes from all levels of college football who have overcome injury, illness or other challenges, will be recognized as Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Nominees by a panel of writers, editors and sports information directors from CoSIDA, AP and Touchdown Illustrated. Three of the 30 nominees will be chosen as winners of the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award will be recognized at a special ceremony during the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl on Saturday, January 1, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 3
JA NUA RY 1 , 2022
DE CE M B E R 28, 2021
F I E S TA B O W L . O R G /FIESTABOWL
@FIESTA_BOWL
GUARANTEEDRATEBOWL
@RATEBOWL
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 3