2021 College Football Insider | Week 4

2021 · Week 4 COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 4

Quote of the week “If I’m averaging seven yards per carry, I may never throw the football.”

- Arkansas Head Coach Sam Pittman when asked how to improve the team’s passing game.

TEAM TO WATCH:

Fresno State

Previously unranked Fresno State catapulted into the Top 25 after upsetting then No. 13 UCLA. The two teams now sit at No. 22 and No. 24, respectively.

The Bulldogs scored the go-ahead touchdown in the final seconds, defeating the Bruins, 40-37.

Bulldogs QB Jake Haener has been in top form all season and he proved it once again on Saturday. The senior has thrown for over 300 yards in three of the team’s four games and currently leads the NCAA with 1,464 passing yards. Against UCLA, he threw for 455 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winner. The lead changed four times in the fourth quarter alone.

The Bulldogs, who were tied 21-21 after three quarters against No. 3 Oregon in the season-opener, begins Mountain West Conference play on Friday night against UNLV. The game will air on CBS Sports Network, with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. (AZ time).

TEAM OF THE WEEK:

Penn State

Two weeks ago, we called them the team to watch.

Well, we hope you were watching.

The Nittany Lions earned their second Top 25 win of the season, defeating then No. 22 Auburn, 28-20.

Saturday’s victory propelled Penn State up four spots in the rankings and it now sits at No. 6.

The Nittany Lions made two crucial defensive stands late in the game to pull out the win. First, they kept Auburn out of the end zone despite four attempts from inside the 10-yard line. Star safety Jaquan Brisker sealed the game by knocking down a last-second desperation pass outside the goal line.

The Nittany Lions’ victory was propelled by a packed Beaver Stadium. A home crowd of 109,958 dressed all in white, as part of Penn State’s annual White Out tradition, pushed the team over the edge in what was a hard-fought win.

Penn State will face undefeated Villanova at home on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. (AZ Time) on the Big Ten Network.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 4

games of the week #7 TEXAS A&M AT #16 ARKANSAS 9.25 | 12:30 PM | CBS

#9 CLEMSON AT NC STATE 9.25 | 12:30 PM | ESPN

AP Week 4 Rankings 1. ALABAMA

6. PENN STATE

2. GEORGIA

7. TEXAS A&M

3. OREGON

8. CINCINNATI

4. OKLAHOMA

9. CLEMSON

5. IOWA

10. OHIO STATE

For the full AP Top 25 Rankings, click here.

#24 UCLA AT STANFORD

game of the week

9.25 | 3:00 PM | PAC-12 NETWORK

#12 NOTRE DAME VS. #18 WISCONSIN This game is one of just two matchups between ranked teams this week. No. 18 Wisconsin is projected to upset the

TENNESSEE AT #11 FLORIDA 9.25 | 4:00 PM | ESPN

Fighting Irish in a close matchup (-5.5). The Over/Under is set at 46.5.

Notre Dame is 3-0 after defeating Purdue, 27-13, on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin took down Eastern Michigan, 34-7, to improve its record to 1-1. Notre Dame excels in passing, thanks to veteran quarterback Jack Coan, who has thrown

WEST VIRGINIA AT #4 OKLAHOMA

over 800 yards and eight touchdowns, but Wisconsin is

9.25 | 4:30 PM | ABC

allowed 33 rushing yards all season, which means Notre Dame

better on the ground, with 266 rushing yards compared to Notre Dame’s 105. On the defensive side, Wisconsin has only will have to rely on its air game if it is to overcome the odds.

For a full schedule of Week Four games, click here. (All times in AZ)

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

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ESPN Bonagura – Iowa State vs. Cincinnati

ESPN Bonagura – Baylor vs. Maryland

ESPN Schlabach – Ohio State vs. Cincinnati

ESPN Schlabach – Kansas State vs. Nebraska

CBS – Iowa vs. Cincinnati

CBS – Kansas State vs. Minnesota

USA Today – Iowa vs. Cincinnati

USA Today – West Virginia vs. Purdue

Action Network – BYU vs. Cincinnati

Action Network – Baylor vs. Minnesota

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 4

SEASON TICKET MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:

NANCY HOLLORAN First year as Season Ticket Member: 1971 – 50-year Season Ticket Member!

Why did you become a Season Ticket Member: My late dad always supported U of A football and wanted the state to host a bowl game. He was the original Season Ticket Member. Our family continues to support the Fiesta Bowl with a total of 10 tickets purchased every year What’s your favorite Fiesta Bowl Memory: Tailgating with the family every year before the game, especially family that drove from Tucson.

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT:

Justin Jefferson You may remember Justin Jefferson leading LSU with two touchdowns to defeat UCF at the 48th Annual PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl. In the first quarter, he helped close an 11-point deficit by grabbing a 22-yard touchdown pass from QB Joe Burrow. He caught another 33-yard touchdown to end the half, extending an LSU lead that the team would never relinquish.

Dream PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl matchup: Oklahoma vs. Alabama 2021-22 PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl prediction: Oklahoma vs. Ohio State

After an exceptional Fiesta Bowl game in his sophomore year, the wide receiver helped lead the Tigers to a National Championship the following year and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round.

On Sunday, Jefferson once again helped his team build a lead in the second quarter and he did so with flair. Jefferson made the play of the game, laying-out in a full body dive to catch a 14-yard pass in the end zone. Though the Vikings dropped the game to the Arizona Cardinals, Jefferson continues to prove that he’ll do what it takes to score points and win games.

Happy Birthday Spirit!

Spirit, Fiesta Bowl’s official mascot will celebrate his birthday this week with children from Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley. Party guests including 11 of Arizona’s most popular sports mascots will join in on the fun for flag football, cake cutting and more. Every child in attendance will be provided with a gift bag and new sports equipment for their club courtesy of Fiesta Bowl Charities and Dick’s Sporting Goods. If you would like to request Spirit at your future event, CLICK HERE.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 4

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 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 tomorrow, Friday, 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.

2021 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 4

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

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@RATEBOWL

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 4