WEEK 6 // 2024
QUOTE OF THE WEEK QUOTE THE WEEK
“I like running [over] people, anybody in front of me. I’m not going to fall backwards. I’m going to fall forward always, that’s just who I am.”
- Penn State running back Kaytron Allen on his physical running style to gain positive yardage in Penn State’s victory over Illinois, 21-7
TEAM TO WATCH
ALABAMA
Alabama had Tuscaloosa on fire, scoring on four straight drives to race out to a 28-0 lead against SEC rival Georgia. However, with 2:31 remaining in the game, Alabama found itself trailing 34-33 after a furious Georgia rally. The hotly contested matchup boiled down to two key plays in the final minutes, with Alabama edging Georgia, 41-34.
Carson Beck and Dillon Bell connected for Georgia’s go-ahead score when Bell hauled in a 67-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs ahead, 34-33. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe connected with freshman standout Ryan Williams for a 75-yard touchdown pass to retake the lead.
Georgia’s final attempt at a comeback to tie the game came up short when Alabama’s Zabien Brown intercepted Beck in the end zone to seal the win for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama rose to No. 1 in the Week 6 AP Poll. The Crimson Tide travel to Vanderbilt on Saturday, October 5. Kickoff is set for 1:15 p.m. PHX on SEC Network.
TEAM of the week
KENTUCKY
Kentucky’s defense held then No. 6 Ole Miss to just 17 points and 353 total yards, paving the way for the program’s highest-ranked road win since 1977. The Wildcats defense came up big repeatedly as part of the fourth quarter comeback in the 20-17 victory.
A second straight Ole Miss three-and-out gave Kentucky’s offense the ball back with 4:48 to play. Facing a 4th-and-7 from its own 20-yard line, Kentucky extended the drive when Brock Vandagriff found Barion Brown for a 63-yard reception.
Two plays later, Kentucky took the lead, 20-17, with 2:25 to play with a little luck. Gavin Wimsatt had the ball knocked loose on a run and Josh Kattus recovered it in the end zone. Ole Miss lined up for a game-tying 48-yard field goal with less than a minute to play, but the kick hooked left, preserving the Wildcats’ upset.
Kentucky has a bye week and will kick off at home against Vanderbilt at 4:45 pm PHX on Saturday, October 12 on SEC Network.
GAMES Watch
For a full schedule of Week 6 games, click here. (All times in PHX)
2024 BOWL PREDICTIONS
GAME OF THE WEEK
#8 MIAMI AT CALIFORNIA
After a week off, Cal hosts undefeated No. 8 Miami on Saturday in Berkeley.
Miami enters following a 38-34 win over Virginia Tech, that had some late drama. On the final play of the game, Virginia Tech appeared to pull off the upset of Miami with a 30-yard Hail Mary pass, but after lengthy review by officials, the touchdown call was overturned. With the win, Miami remained undefeated at 5-0 overall and 1-0 in ACC play.
After going 3-0 in non-conference play, Cal made its ACC debut in a narrow 14-9 loss at Florida State on September 21. Cal dominated the game statistically but failed to score a touchdown in all five of its red zone opportunities.
ESPN’s College GameDay will be in Berkeley for the first time ever on Saturday, October 5, prior to the teams’ first meeting since 2008. Kick off is set for 7:30 p.m. PHX on ESPN.
Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols shined in the best outing of his NFL career on a familiar field against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The eighth-year pro had eight carries for a career-high 68 yards and two touchdowns.
Before the game, Head Coach Dan Quinn named McNichols a team captain. A 27-yard run in the second quarter showcased McNichols tiptoeing along the sideline and into the end zone for the first time since 2020. McNichols added another touchdown run in the 42-14 victory.
As a freshman in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, McNichols led No. 20 Boise State with 59 kickoff return yards in a 38-30 victory over No. 10 Arizona. With the victory, Boise State moved to 3-0 all-time in the Fiesta Bowl.
The Commanders return home to host Cleveland on Sunday, October 6 at 10:00 a.m. PHX on FOX.
highlight alumni notable performances JEREMY MCNICHOLS
Donovan Ezeiruaku –Boston College
Boston College defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance in the Eagles victory over Western Kentucky, 21-20, last weekend.
Ezeiruaku recorded a career-best game in Boston College’s comeback victory, tallying career-highs with 14 total tackles (10 solo), four tackles for loss for 19 yards and three sacks. He also recorded two quarterback hits and a forced fumble. In the fourth quarter alone as the Eagles rallied from a 13-point deficit, Ezeiruaku totaled four tackles and two sacks.
Ezeiruaku leads college football with eight sacks entering Week 6.
Arch Manning – Texas
Texas quarterback Arch Manning passed for two touchdowns and ran for another score in the Longhorns’ first SEC matchup of the season, beating Mississippi State, 35-13.
Manning completed 26-of-31 passes for 324 yards and no interceptions against the Bulldogs. It marked Manning’s first game with 300 passing yards. He also added 33 yards on six rushing attempts.
Since Texas starter Quinn Ewers suffered an injury against UTSA, Manning has started the last two games for the No. 2 Longhorns. On the season, Manning has thrown for 900 yards and nine touchdowns with three more scores on the ground in four games.
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 6:
BIG TEN BIG 12
• There are seven Big Ten teams ranked in the AP Week 6 Poll, led by No. 3 Ohio State and followed by No. 6 Oregon, No. 7 Penn State, No. 10 Michigan, No. 11 USC, No. 23 Indiana and No. 24 Illinois
• Of the 19 teams who remain undefeated, five of them reside in the Big Ten (Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and Rutgers)
• Under first-year Head Coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana is 5-0 for the first time since 1967
• Abdul Carter of Penn State received Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week recording seven tackles, including a career-high four tackles for loss against Illinois. He also recorded two sacks and a forced fumble
• Tez Johnson became the first Oregon player to record 11-plus receptions in five straight career games
• The No. 10 Michigan Wolverines are traveling to Washington for a National Championship rematch on Saturday. In its first season as Big Ten foes, Michigan aims to remain undefeated in league play against a Washington team that is 3-0 at home this season
• Four Big 12 teams are ranked in the AP Poll, with No. 16 Iowa State, No. 17 BYU, No. 18 Utah and No. 20 Kansas State
• Big 12 programs are 17-6 this season when ranked in the Top 25
• The top two Power 4 rushing performances in Week 5 hailed from the Big 12 with Kansas State’s DJ Giddens totaling 187 yards, the most in a Big 12 Conference game this season, and Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks running for 172 yards
• Kansas State also led the Power 4 with 300 team rushing yards in Week 5
• Colorado’s Travis Hunter is the first player since Kansas State’s Kevin Lockett in 1996 to have 9+ receptions and an interception in a Big 12 Conference game after his performance at UCF last week
• Seven different Big 12 wide receivers rank in the top 25 in FBS in receptions through week 5 with no other conference having more than four.
• The Big 12 Conference leads all FBS conferences in 100-yard receiving performances with 37 through the first five weeks of the season
news in the foundation news in the foundation
Highland downs Campo Verde in Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Showdown
Building on a successful Fiesta Bowl Friday Night Showdown, the Fiesta Sports Foundation brought its signature flair to Gilbert for the first Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Showdown between Highland and Campo Verde. The Highland flag football team beat defending Arizona 5A State Champions Campo Verde in its home opener, 19-7, on Thursday, September 19.
Highland quarterback Alexis Eley recorded two touchdown passes and one rushing to earn the Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Showdown Player of the Game. Highland improved to 2-0, while the Coyotes fell to 1-1 on the season.
Read the full game recap on AZ Central here
CHARITy spotlight
FIESTA BOWL CHARITIES
ANNOUNCES 2024-25 GRANT CYCLE RECIPIENTS
Following another impactful year of delivering impact to one million Arizonans statewide, 22 Arizona nonprofit organizations across the state will receive donations from Fiesta Bowl Charities during this year’s Grant Cycle
A sampling of the programs that will be implemented with the grant awards includes supporting life skills for youth and young adults with autism, creating college preparation programs for first-generation college students, expanding flag football programs for athletes with disabilities and purchasing a van to bring preventative oral health care to underserved youth.
For a full list of the 2024-25 Fiesta Bowl Charities grant recipients, please click here
CFP QUARTERFINAL AT THE Vrbo FIESTA BOWL
DECEMBER 31, 2024 | 5:30 PM GUARANTEED RATE BOWL
DECEMBER 26, 2024 | 3:30 PM