WEEK 9 // 2024
QUOTE OF THE WEEK QUOTE THE WEEK
“It’s magical. It’s spiritual. How can you not be romantic about this game?”
- BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff after he connected with Darius Lassiter in the final seconds for a game-winning touchdown to beat Oklahoma State, 38-35
TEAM TO WATCH
TEAM of the week
INDIANA GEORGIA
Indiana moved up to No. 13 in the AP rankings this week after beating Nebraska, 56-7, improving to 4-0 in Big Ten play and 7-0 overall. The Hoosiers have yet to trail this season and are first nationally in scoring with 48.7 points per game. The last time Indiana started with seven consecutive wins was 1967.
Nebraska was the nation’s only defense to not allow a rushing touchdown entering this week’s game, but surrendered five to the Hoosiers. Indiana totaled 495 yards from scrimmage and eclipsed 40 points for the sixth-straight game, extending its own program record.
While the offense once again dominated, Indiana’s defense forced five Nebraska turnovers (three interceptions, two fumbles).
The 49-point win margin is the Hoosiers’ largest against a Big Ten opponent in program history. On Saturday, October 26, Bloomington hosts ESPN’s College GameDay for the second time ever. Indiana takes on Washington with kickoff at 9:00 a.m. PHX on Big Ten Network.
Then No. 5 Georgia knocked off top-ranked Texas, 30-15, in Austin. Georgia’s defense produced seven sacks and four turnovers while running back Trevor Etienne ran for three scores to lead the offense. It is the third win against a No. 1 ranked team for Georgia under Head Coach Kirby Smart.
The Bulldogs overcame three interceptions by quarterback Carson Beck due to a hefty defensive effort. The defense recorded 10 tackles-for-loss and forced four turnovers that Georgia converted to 17 points.
Georgia shut out Texas in the first half and held the Longhorns to a season-low 259 total offensive yards on the night. Jalon Walker finished with a team-high eight tackles and three sacks.
With the win, the Bulldogs rose to No. 2 in the AP Poll heading into its bye week. Georgia faces rival Florida on Saturday, November 2, at 12:30 p.m. PHX on ABC.
GAMES Watch
For a full schedule of Week 9 games, click here. (All times in PHX)
GAME OF THE WEEK
#8 LSU AT #14 TEXAS A&M
The SEC’s last two undefeated programs in conference play fight for sole possession of first place in the league on Saturday when No. 14 Texas A&M hosts No. 8 LSU.
The Aggies improved to 4-0 in conference play after a 34-24 road win over Mississippi State. Running back Le’Veon Moss has posted 674 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season, to help the Aggies win six straight since a season-opening loss to Notre Dame.
The 3-0 Tigers rolled over Arkansas in Week 8, winning 34-10. LSU, who like the Aggies have won six straight since a loss to USC in Week 1, is led by quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who has tallied 2,222 passing yards and 18 touchdowns through seven games.
Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. PHX on Saturday, October 26, on ABC.
highlight alumni
In his first game against the team that drafted him second overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, Saquon Barkley exploded for one of his best games as a pro against the New York Giants. Barkley ran around and through his former teammates for 176 yards and a touchdown, leading Philadelphia to a 28-3 victory over its division rival.
Barkley finished with the second-best rushing total of his career on only 17 carries and scored the game’s first touchdown from three yards out after ripping off a 55-yard burst early in the second quarter. Barkley added runs of 38 and 41 yards in the third quarter, setting up two more Eagles touchdowns.
Barkley led Penn State to a 35-28 victory over Washington in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl, including a Fiesta Bowl and Penn State record 92-yard touchdown run. Barkley carried the ball 18 times for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
The Eagles travel to Cincinnati on Sunday, October 27, with kickoff at 10:00 a.m. PHX on CBS.
notable performances SAQUoN BARKLEY
ETHAN GARBERS - UCLA
Ethan Garbers set career highs with four touchdown passes and a 49-yard touchdown run in UCLA’s first Big Ten Conference win in program history.
Garbers completed 32-of-38 passes for 383 yards in the 35-32 road win at Rutgers. UCLA came into the game as the only team in FBS to not score 20 points in a game this season. That streak was over by halftime as UCLA took a 21-10 lead.
BRYSON DAILY - ARMY
Army quarterback Bryson Daily rushed for five touchdowns and threw for another in a 42-28 victory over East Carolina, making him the first Army player to account for six touchdowns since Elmer Oliphant in 1916.
Daily earned AP National Player of the Week, finishing with 171 yards on 31 carries while completing 7-of-10 passing for 147 yards. He set Army’s single-season record for rushing touchdowns and leads the nation with 19 rushing touchdowns.
big news
The 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 9:
BIG TEN BIG 12
• The Week 9 AP Poll features five Big Ten teams, including three of the top four. Oregon moved up to No. 1, followed by No. 3 Penn State, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 13 Indiana and No. 20 Illinois
• Illinois matched its best seven-game start this century with a win over Michigan, improving to 6-1 for the fourth time and second under Head Coach Bret Bielema. The Illini earned their third ranked win of the season on Saturday, matching a programrecord in 1960
• Special Teams Player of the Week honors went to Michigan State’s Jonathan Kim. Kim split the uprights on a school-record 6-of-7 on field goals, including four of 40+ yards in Michigan State’s 32-20 victory against Iowa. His six field goals tied the Big Ten record, matching Jake Moody of Michigan
• Indiana and Ohio State currently rank among the top 10 nationally in both scoring offense and scoring defense. The Buckeyes rank third in scoring defense (11.0 points per game), while ranking six in scoring offense (43.5 ppg). The Hoosiers lead the nation in scoring offense (48.7 ppg), while ranking seventh in scoring defense (13.7 ppg)
• Three additional Big Ten teams rank in the top 15 for scoring defense: Penn State (9th, 14.5 ppg), Minnesota (11th, 15.9 ppg), Oregon (13th, 16.6 ppg)
• Iowa State leads the Big 12 in the Week 9 AP Poll at No. 10. BYU follows at No. 11 and Kansas State at No. 16
• BYU, Iowa State and K-State give the Big 12 Conference three bowl-eligible teams after eight weeks, with four other teams just one win away
• Big 12 defenses have intercepted 114 passes this season, the most of any conference in FBS
• Baylor’s 59 points on Saturday were the most by an FBS program in Week 8 and tied for the most in a conference game in a Power Four league this season
• Colorado became the first Big 12 team to win consecutive conference road games by 27 or more points in a single season since 2015 when the Buffaloes defeated Arizona, 34-7
• Iowa State’s Jontez Williams owns FBS’s longest active streak of games with an interception (4) heading into Week 9
• The Governor’s Cup dates back to 1902 and this year finds No. 16 Kansas State looking to keep its Big 12 title hopes alive against rival Kansas on Saturday
news in the foundation news in the foundation VOLUNTEER
Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Showdown Highlights Top Five Matchup in the West Valley
Two top five teams in the initial Arizona 6A rankings faced off in Goodyear in the second game of Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Showdown last Tuesday. Millennium used a hot first half to notch an impressive 21-7 victory over Mountain View (Mesa), the defending Arizona 6A State Champions.
The Fiesta Bowl Player of the Game belt was awarded to Andrea Carmona who recorded a team-high six receptions for 48 yards, including her team-leading seventh of the season. Defensively, Carmona notched two interceptions, increasing her season total to seven.
After handing No. 3 Mountain View its first loss of the season, Millennium is ranked No. 6 by the AIA.
To read the full recap, click here.
spotlight
HARRY GAREWAL, LIFETIME LEADER FOR LATINO COMMUNITIES IN ARIZONA
Harry Garewal’s life story is like the bright yellow jacket he proudly wears as a member of the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors—bold, visible and a symbol of service to the community.
Just as the jacket stands out in a crowd, so does Garewal’s commitment to uplifting others and his mission to bridge cultural divides. Garewal acts as a gateway to inclusion, especially in Arizona’s Latino community.
Combining his passions for business and education, Garewal joined the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors in 2019. From initiatives like the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, where mariachis and indigenous dancers take center stage, his influence is expanding the Fiesta Bowl’s connection with all of Arizona’s communities.
Read the full story here
CFP QUARTERFINAL AT THE Vrbo FIESTA BOWL
DECEMBER 31, 2024 | 5:30 PM
RATE BOWL
DECEMBER 26, 2024 | 3:30 PM