CFI Week 8

Week 8 // 2023

Week 8

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023

QUOTE OF THE WEEK “The fake punt that sparked us was unbelievable. We just needed something to believe in. We rolled with it. Down 14-0, what do you have to lose?”

-- Mizzou head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said as the Tigers rallied past No. 24 Kentucky 38-21 TEAM OF THE WEEK

WASHINGTON

The Huskies are the only undefeated Pac-12 team after they edged the Oregon Ducks 36-33 in another close rivalry game. Following the win, Washington secured two first-place votes and jumped two spots to No. 5 in the latest AP Poll – its best ranking since 2017.

T E A M T O W AT C H

NORTH CAROLINA It was another victorious weekend in Chapel Hill after the Tar Heels defeated No. 25 Miami 41-31 to maintain their perfect home record and improve to 6-0 overall. Moving up two spots to No. 10, North Carolina appears in the AP Top 10 for the first time since 2021.

The Tar Heels responded to a 17-14 halftime deficit with 24 consecutive points to secure their lead over the Hurricanes. Devontez “Tez” Walker scored back-to-back touchdowns in the third quarter. In his second game for UNC after his transfer waiver was granted, Walker recorded six receptions for 132 yards and three touchdowns. Teammate Omarion Hampton rushed 24 times for 197 yards and accounted for two touchdowns.

Heisman frontrunner Michael Penix Jr., who completed 22-of-37 passes for 302 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, threw a gamewinning 18-yard pass to Rome Odunze with 1:38 left. Odunze recorded eight receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns. In his season debut after missing Washington’s first five games due to injury, Giles Jackson had a 26-yard reception touchdown to kickstart the Huskies. After the Ducks’ unsuccessful 43-yard field goal attempt to tie the game, Huskies fans stormed the field to celebrate a victory that could have massive College Football Playoff implications come December.

Next up for Washington (6-0, 3-0 Pac-12) is a home game against Arizona State on Saturday, October 21, at 7:30 p.m. PHX on FS1.

North Carolina (6-0, 3-0 ACC) hosts Virgina in its third consecutive home game on Saturday, October 21, at 3:30 p.m. PHX on CW Network.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023

Week 8

GAMES OF THE WEEK # PENN STATE AT #3 OHIO STATE 10.21 // 9 AM // FOX

#22 AIR FORCE AT NAVY

AP WEEK 8 RANKINGS 1.

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Georgia Michigan Ohio State Florida State Washington

6. Oklahoma 7. Penn State 8. Texas 9. Oregon 10. North Carolina

For the full AP Top 25 Rankings, click here.

10.21 // 9 AM // CBS

WASHINGTON STATE AT #9 OREGON 10.21 // 12:30 PM // ABC

#16 DUKE AT #4 FLORIDA STATE 10.21 // 4:30 PM // ABC

#14 UTAH AT #18 USC 10.21 // 5 PM // FOX For a full schedule of Week 8 games, click here. (All times in PHX)

2023 BOWL PREDICTIONS Vrbo FIESTA BOWL

ESPN Bonagura – Oregon vs. Penn State ESPN Schlabach – Oregon vs. Air Force CBS – Washington vs. Air Force College Football Network – Ohio State vs. Texas The Athletic – Texas vs. Air Force USA Today – Oregon vs. Texas Week 8

GAME OF THE WEEK #17 TENNESSEE AT #11 ALABAMA Fiesta Bowl’s second College Football Game of the Week viewing party features a Top 25 SEC matchup between No. 17 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1) and No. 11 Alabama (6-1, 4-0) on Saturday, October 21, at 12:30 p.m. PHX on CBS. The Crimson Tide leads the all-time series 59-39-7 against the Volunteers and have only lost once to their rival in the past 16 years. Last season, then-No. 6 Tennessee upset then-No. 3 Alabama 52-49 with a 40-yard field goal as time expired. Can Tennessee make it two in a row versus Alabama for the first time since 2003-04?

Join the Fiesta Bowl this Saturday, and every other Saturday through November 18, for its College Football Game of the Week viewing party at BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium in Glendale or Putting World in North Scottsdale.

Exclusive drink and food specials will be offered at both locations, as well as weekly giveaways including Vrbo Fiesta Bowl tickets and Guaranteed Rate Bowl dugout suite tickets.

Fans can also enter to win a Vrbo Fiesta Bowl VIP Experience.

For more information and future Game of the Week dates, click here.

GUARANTEED RATE BOWL

ESPN Bonagura – Iowa State vs. Illinois ESPN Schlabach – Iowa State vs. Minnesota College Football News – West Virginia vs. Rutgers Action Network – Kansas vs. Nebraska The Athletic – Kansas vs. Maryland Athlon Sports – TCU vs. Nebraska COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT

MICHAEL MAYER It was a breakout game for rookie Michael Mayer who recorded five catches for 75 yards in the Raiders 21-17 win over the Patriots. Mayer nearly doubled his previous career-high 39 receiving yards from Week 5 in Las Vegas’ second win of the season.

A Notre Dame alum, Mayer had seven receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns in the 2022 New Year’s Day Fiesta Bowl matchup against Oklahoma State. He finished his college career as the Fighting Irish’s all-time receptions leader at tight end with 180.

Mayer was drafted by the Raiders in the second round of the 2023 Draft with the 35th pick.

The Raiders will aim for their third consecutive win in a road matchup against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, October 22, at 10 a.m. PHX on FOX.

BIG NEWS The Guaranteed Rate Bowl will once again feature Bowl Season’s only Big 12 vs.

Big Ten matchup. As we eagerly await the Dec. 26 kickoff, we’re bringing you weekly game highlights, player reports and other updates from the two conferences.

Here’s the BIG news from Week 8:

BIG TEN

BIG 12

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No. 2 Michigan maintains its position for the 8th consecutive week and is joined by No. 3 Ohio State, No. 7 Penn State and No. 24 Iowa in the latest AP poll. The Big Ten is the only conference with three teams in the Top 10.

A trio of Big Ten teams remain undefeated on the season, as Michigan is 7-0, while Ohio State and Penn State are 6-0. However, either the Nittany Lions or the Buckeyes will receive their first loss in a divisional battle on Saturday in Columbus.

Iowa improved to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play after its 15-6 win over Wisconsin. It’s the sixth time the Hawkeyes are off to a 6-1 start under Kirk Ferentz and are bowl eligible for the 22nd time in the last 23 seasons.

In the Battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, state rivals Michigan and Michigan State will meet for the 116th time this Saturday at 4:30 p.m. PHX on NBC. The Wolverines lead the all-time series 72-38-5.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023

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The Big 12 has two teams in the AP Top 10: No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 8 Texas. Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and West Virginia received votes.

The Sooners, 6-0, are one of 10 undefeated teams.

Among all conferences, the Big 12 is first in rushing yards (168.9), second in total yards (425.9) and third in both passing yards (256.9) and scoring (31.1). The league allows the third fewest points per game out of all conferences (23.7).

Houston, Iowa State and Kansas State are three of the five teams nationally who have yet to lose a fumble. In interceptions, Iowa State and Oklahoma each have 12 to tie for second in the nation.

Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II received Big 12’s Co-Offensive Player of the Week after a standout performance in the Cowboys’ 39-32 comeback over No. 23 Kansas. In the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bowl against Wisconsin, Gordan had 12 carries for 45 yards and one touchdown for the Cowboys.

Week 8

MORE THAN A GAME FIESTA BOWL TO HOST COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK WATCH PARTIES IN SCOTTSDALE AND GLENDALE Come join the Fiesta Bowl this Saturday, October 21, and every other Saturday afterwards through November 18 for the Fiesta Bowl College Football Game of the Week viewing party!

With two convenient locations in Glendale at BetMGM Sportsbook at State Farm Stadium and in North Scottsdale at Putting World, college football fans won’t have to travel far to enjoy the Fiesta Bowl on-site. Exclusive drink and food specials will be offered at both locations. Weekly giveaways include Vrbo Fiesta Bowl tickets and Guaranteed Rate Bowl dugout tickets and fans will have a chance to win the season-long giveaway of a Vrbo Fiesta Bowl VIP Experience, so sport your favorite team colors and join us in the exciting countdown to Bowl Season.

For future Game of the Week dates, click here.

GRAND MARSHALS ANNOUNCED FOR 51ST ANNUAL Vrbo FIESTA BOWL PARADE PRESENTED BY LERNER & ROWE Former Arizona State University and NFL quarterback Jake Plummer and former Moon Valley High School, University of Arizona and NBA standout Richard Jefferson will be honored as grand marshals for the 51st Annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe on Saturday, December 16, at 10 a.m.

Honoring this year’s theme of Spirit of Competition, the two-mile route in Central Phoenix will be led by perhaps the mostcelebrated players in Sun Devils football and Wildcats basketball history, who both went on to long careers in the NFL and NBA. The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe Grand Marshal honors an individual or group whose actions align with the Fiesta Bowl’s commitment to driving economic growth, championing charitable causes and executing innovative experiences.

Admission is free to the public with premium and reserved seating available for purchase for $30 here.

For more information, click here.

Week 8

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023

JA NUA RY 1, 2024

D E C EM B E R 26, 2023

F I E S TA B O W L . O R G /FIESTABOWL

@FIESTA_BOWL

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023

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Week 8