Week 1 // 2023
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“I’ve been planning that for like two months…I was just real excited…and once I touched the end zone, the crowd turned me up a little bit.”
USC freshman wide receiver Zachariah Branch on his Cristiano Ronaldo iconic goal celebration after his first career touchdown in USC’s 56-28 win over San Jose State
OF THE WEEK
NOTRE DAME
TCU TEAM TO WATCH
The reigning Vrbo Fiesta Bowl champions will look different than when we saw them beating Michigan as they host Colorado in their season opener on Saturday, but the Horned Frogs still have eyes on returning to the College Football Playoff.
After losing a program record eight players to the NFL Draft, including 2022 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Players of the Game Quentin Johnston and Dee Winters and Heisman runner-up Max Duggan, TCU begins the 2023 season ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll and No. 16 in the Coaches Poll.
On offense, Chandler Morris will replace Duggan at quarterback, while Emani Bailey led the Big 12 with 8.1 yards per carry. Defensively, TCU returns its top three tacklers from its national runner-up season in Johnny Hodges, Mark Perry and Jamoi Hodge.
TCU faces Colorado in Head Coach Deion Sanders’ debut on Saturday, September 2, at 9 am PHX time on FOX.
The Fighting Irish made themselves at home in Dublin, routing Navy, 42-3, in the official opener to the college football season. No. 13 Notre Dame jumped out to a 14-0 lead that grew to a 28-0 halftime advantage in winning its first game of the season after opening 0-2 last season.
Sam Hartman, the Wake Forest transfer making his Notre Dame debut, tossed four touchdowns while completing 19-of-23 passes for 251 yards. Hartman matched Ron Powlus and Jack Coan for most touchdown passes by a Notre Dame quarterback in his Fighting Irish debut.
Notre Dame scored touchdowns on its first five possessions and six of its seven possessions in all, not including its clock-draining final possession of the game. The Fighting Irish rolled up 27 first downs and 444 total yards of offense.
Notre Dame hosts Tennessee State at 12:30 pm PHX time this Saturday, September 2, on NBC.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
FLORIDA AT #14 UTAH
8.31 // 5:00 PM // ESPN
COLORADO AT #17 TCU
9.2 // 9:00 AM // FOX
BOISE STATE AT #10 WASHINGTON
9.2 // 12:30 PM // ABC
#21 NORTH CAROLINA AT SOUTH CAROLINA
9.2 // 4:30 PM // ABC
WEST VIRGINIA AT #7 PENN STATE
9.2 // 4:30 PM // NBC
For a full schedule of Week One games, click here. (All times in PHX)
2023 BOWL PREDICTIONS
Vrbo FIESTA BOWL
ESPN Bonagura – Utah vs. Penn State
USA Today – Oregon vs. Tennessee
Action Network – Washington vs. Alabama
CBS – USC vs. Boise State
247 Sports – Notre Dame vs. Oregon College Football Network – Penn State vs. Alabama
AP PRESEASON RANKINGS
For a full AP Top 25 Rankings, click here.
GAME OF THE WEEK
#5 LSU AT #8 FLORIDA STATE
Week 1’s lone matchup between top 10 teams takes place in Orlando when No. 5 LSU and No. 8 Florida State meet on a neutral field at Camping World Stadium – a familiar site for both teams. Both LSU and Florida State return to the venue after closing their respective 2022 seasons there with wins in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl and Cheez-It Bowl.
The Week 1 showdown could have huge College Football Playoff implications with both the Tigers and Seminoles eyeing a spot in CFP Semifinals for the final year of the current four-team playoff.
The game kicks off at 4:30 pm PHX time on Sunday, September 3, on ABC.
ESPN Bonagura – Baylor vs. Minnesota
ESPN Schlabach – UCF vs. Illinois
USA Today – Texas Tech vs. Maryland
Action Network – Baylor vs. Maryland
CBS – Baylor vs. Minnesota
The Athletic – Texas Tech vs. Michigan State
2023-24 Vrbo FIESTA BOWL AND GUARANTEED RATE BOWL TICKETS ON SALE NOW
College football season kicks off fully this weekend and fans can purchase their tickets to attend college football’s postseason games in Arizona, as tickets for the 2023-24 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl are now on sale.
A variety of ticket options for both bowls, including game tickets, premium experiences and parking, are available to be purchased through the Fiesta Bowl Ticket Office at fiestabowl.org/tickets and by reaching out to 480.350.0911 or tickets@fiestabowl.org. Questions and more information regarding premium experiences can be directed to 480.843.4202 or premium@fiestabowl.org.
The 53rd Annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl is scheduled for January 1, 2024, at State Farm Stadium and will feature two of the country’s highly-ranked college football teams. By purchasing tickets to this season’s Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, which start as low as $75, fans will establish priority to attend the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024-25.
Meanwhile, Bowl Season in Arizona begins with the 34th Annual Guaranteed Rate Bowl on December 26, 2023, in downtown Phoenix at Chase Field.
ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT GARRETT WILSON
The reigning AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year showcased his instant connection with his new starting quarterback in the New York Jets’ 32-24 victory over the Giants in the final preseason game for both teams. Wilson, playing alongside 2003 Guaranteed Rate Bowl Offensive Player of the Game Aaron Rodgers in the preseason debut for both, hauled in all three of his targets from Rodgers including a 14-yard score.
Wilson, a 2019 Fiesta Bowl participant with Ohio State, is poised for an even bigger second season with Rodgers slinging the ball to him. Wilson posted 83 receptions, 1,103 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie last season.
