WEEK 4 // 2024
QUOTE OF THE WEEK QUOTE THE WEEK
“He’s breaking three 300-pounders off his neck and running for 15 yards. He’s got that dog mentality.”
- Pitt linebacker Kyle Louis on teammate Eli Holstein after he completed 21-of-30 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns in the 38-34 comeback victory over West Virginia
TEAM TO WATCH
UNLV
In a rematch of the 2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl, the UNLV Rebels took down Kansas, 23-20. UNLV is undefeated through three games to start the season for the first time in 40 years.
The Rebels earned their second road win of the year over a Big 12 team after they opened the season with a 27-7 victory at Houston.
UNLV snatched a pair of key interceptions and took 9:31 off the clock in a 75-yard game-winning drive. Running back Kylin James forged into the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 2:00 left in the game. The Rebel defense secured the win by turning Kansas over on downs.
The Rebels, ranked for the first time in program history at No. 25 in the Coaches Poll, have a bye week before opening Mountain West play, hosting Fresno State on Saturday, September 28. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. PHX on FS1.
TEAM of the week
Washington State
Washington State beat rival Washington in the first meeting since the defending national runner-up transitioned to the Big Ten. Playing on a neutral field at the Seattle Seahawks’ Lumen Field, the Cougars won 24-19 to earn the Apple Cup for only the third time since 2008.
The Apple Cup has been up for grabs since 1963, with Washington dominating the all-time series 76-34-6. However, the day belonged to the Cougars, who claimed victory for the first time since 2021.
Cougars quarterback John Mateer ran for two scores and threw for another. With two minutes left in the game, Washington State displayed stunning defense with four straight stops inside of its own 10-yard line to keep Washington out of the end zone, including the final stop on a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line with 1:07 remaining.
The Cougars host San Jose State on Friday, September 20. Kickoff is at 7:00 pm PHX on The CW Network.
GAMES Watch
For a full schedule of Week 4 games, click here. (All times in PHX)
GAME OF THE WEEK
#12 UTAH AT #14 OKLAHOMA STATE
A top 15 battle in Stillwater is set this Saturday when No. 12 Utah and No. 14 Oklahoma State clash as new conference foes.
Utah improved to 3-0 last week with a 38-21 win over rival Utah State, even after losing starting quarterback Cam Rising in Week 2. Rising is expected to be back against the Cowboys. The Utes offense is averaging 35.3 points per game and has been backed by a strong defense, only allowing 11 points per game.
Oklahoma State is also undefeated at 3-0 following a 45-10 win at Tulsa. With a roster full of returners, the Cowboys offense is posting 40 points per game. Running back Ollie Gordon II ranks No. 11 in the FBS with four rushing touchdowns, and quarterback Alan Bowman ranks No. 6 in the FBS with 967 passing yards.
Kickoff is 1:00 pm PHX on Saturday, September 21, on FOX.
highlight alumni
Quentin Johnston
Quentin Johnston hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass on the first drive of the game for the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday as part of the first multi-touchdown game of his career. The Chargers are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2012 after a 26-3 win over the Carolina Panthers.
In the second quarter, Johnston found an opening in the end zone and caught his second touchdown pass from five yards out. Johnston finished with five receptions for 51 yards and two touchdowns, tying his career-total entering the game.
A first-round pick in 2023, Johnston’s performance on Sunday came as no surprise to TCU fans. In the 2022 CFP Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Johnston was named Offensive Player of the Game after he led No. 3 TCU to a stunning upset against undefeated No. 2 Michigan, totaling six receptions for 163 yards and one game-changing touchdown.
Johnston and the Chargers look to remain undefeated against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 22, at 10:00 am PHX.
.
notable performances
Jalen Milroe – Alabama
In another remarkable five-touchdown performance, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe led the Crimson Tide to a breezy 42-10 win over Wisconsin.
Milroe threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more. Milroe finished 12-of-17 for 196 yards and he carried 14 times for 75 yards. He now has 14 touchdowns through three games, becoming the first FBS player to have multiple rushing and passing touchdowns in three straight games since 2012.
Milroe, the AP National Player of the Week, is responsible for 84 of Alabama’s 147 points thus far this season.
Travis Hunter – Colorado
Colorado’s dynamic two-way star Travis Hunter did it all last week, finishing with two touchdowns and a crucial interception as Colorado cruised to a 28-9 win over Colorado State.
Offensively, Hunter led the Buffaloes with 13 catches for 100 yards with both of his touchdowns coming in the second half as Colorado opened up a 28-3 lead. On defense, he registered five tackles, one pass breakup and a third quarter interception that set up his second touchdown of the evening, showcasing his versatility.
For the season, Hunter has played 388 snaps, an average of 129 per game, through three games. Hunter was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week and is considered one of the Heisman Trophy favorites.
big news
The Guaranteed Rate Bowl will once again feature Bowl Season’s only Big Ten vs. Big 12 matchup at a new afternoon time of 3:30 pm on Thursday, December 26. As we eagerly await kickoff in downtown Phoenix, we’re bringing you weekly game highlights, player reports and other updates from the two conferences. Here’s the BIG news for Week 4:
BIG TEN
• The AP poll included seven of the Big Ten’s 18 teams with Ohio State leading the conference for the fourth week in a row at No. 3. No. 9 Oregon, No. 10 Penn State, No. 11 USC, No. 18 Michigan, No. 22 Nebraska and No. 24 Illinois follow
• Of the 43 teams who remain undefeated, nine of them reside in the Big Ten: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Rutgers and USC
• The Big Ten is the only conference with more than seven unbeaten teams
• Michigan State defensive back Charles Brantley had a 100-yard interception return for touchdown in Saturday’s 40-0 win over Prairie View. The redshirt junior’s pick six was the 16th 100-yard interception return for touchdown in Big Ten history
• After Saturday’s 27-0 win over Nevada, Minnesota has recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time since October 1962
• Two Big Ten showdowns in the top 25 highlight Week 4. To start, No. 24 Illinois is at No. 22 Nebraska on Friday night. On Saturday, No. 11 USC travels to Ann Arbor to face No. 18 Michigan
BIG 12
• Four Big 12 teams were ranked in the AP Top 25 this week. Utah, Kansas State and Oklahoma State are No. 12, 13 and 14 with Iowa State coming in at No. 20
• The Big 12’s non-conference performance last Saturday was the highest winning percentage of the Power 4 conferences at 88.9% (8-1)
• Big 12 programs are 12-2 this season when ranked in the Top 25
• Seven of the top 20 passers in FBS football are from Big 12 schools: Josh Hoover (TCU), Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), Behren Morton (Texas Tech), Alan Bowman (Oklahoma State), Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati), Noah Fifita (Arizona) and Jake Retzlaff (BYU). Hoover, Sanders, Morton and Bowman rank third, fourth, fifth and sixth respectively
• For the first time ever, head coaches Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State) and Kyle Whittingham (Utah) face one another on Saturday in a meeting of the second-longest active tenured coaches in the nation. Both are in their 20th season at their respective institutions.
• The Big 12 led all FBS conferences with nine 100+ yard receiving performances in Week 3
news in the foundation news in the foundation
Fiesta Bowl Friday Night Showdown Features 5A State Championship Rematch, Flag Football Showdown Kicks off at Campo Verde
Expanding on a successful first season that elevated youth and scholastic football, Fiesta Bowl Friday Night Showdown returns with games across Arizona and featuring the state’s top programs. In addition, a three-game Flag Football Showdown has been added to place a spotlight on the fast-growing sport of girls flag football.
Fiesta Bowl Friday Night Showdown continues this week to highlight boys football athletes in a rematch of last year’s 5A State Championship with Higley hosting Desert Edge. Last year’s title game came down to a last second two-point conversion attempt. Ultimately, Higley won the title, 42-41.
Meanwhile, the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Showdown kicks off this Thursday with Highland at defending 5A State Champion Campo Verde.
To view the full season’s schedule, click here.
CHARITy spotlight
PALO VERDE FIESTA BOWL CHARITIES WISHES FOR TEACHERS
After a record-breaking season in 2023, the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program returns this fall to deliver $1.25 million straight into Arizona classrooms. In Arizona’s most robust teacher support program, 500 teachers will receive $2,500 each for the second consecutive year as the program enters its ninth year overall.
All Arizona K-12 public and charter school teachers, staff and coaches are eligible to receive much-deserved funding for their classrooms. The application process is simple, requiring only a few minutes to fill out how a teacher will use a $2,500 wish to help fill a need for students. Accessible through WishesForTeachers.org, the application is open through Monday, September 30, at 10 p.m.
CFP QUARTERFINAL AT THE Vrbo FIESTA BOWL
DECEMBER 31, 2024 | 5:30 PM GUARANTEED RATE BOWL
DECEMBER 26, 2024 | 3:30 PM