COLLEGE
FOOTBALL INSIDER 2017 /// WEEK 15
WEEK 15 WHAT'S NEW
Quote of the Week
Team of the Week: Georgia
Washington is coming to the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl for the first time in program history, however head coach Chris Petersen has been here before. Petersen commented on his excitement on Sunday,
The No. 6 University of Georgia Bulldogs claimed their first SEC Championship since 2005 with a 28-7 victory over No. 2 Auburn at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. With 13:04 remaining in the second quarter, linebacker Davin Bellamy disrupted the Auburn offense on the 16-yard line, forcing the ball out of quarterback Jarrett Stidham’s hands. The fumble and ensuing Georgia recovery, led to a seven-play, 83-yard Bulldog scoring drive and helped Georgia take a 10-7 lead over the Tigers going into halftime. Georgia running back D’Andre Swift exploded for a 64-yard carry, the longest Georgia rush in an SEC championship game. From there, the Georgia offense took control of the game as the Bulldogs walked away with the win, the SEC title and earned their first trip to the College Football Playoff.
“I can’t tell you how excited and honored we are to come back here. There’s no better bowl. I’ve been to a bunch of them. The way we were treated… we have so much respect for the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.” Click here for the full story.
New Year’s Six Destinations Goodyear Cotton Bowl: No. 8 USC vs. No. 5 Ohio State | 12/29 | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN PlayStation Fiesta Bowl: No. 11 Washington vs. No. 9 Penn State | 12/30 | 2 p.m. | ESPN Capital One Orange Bowl: No. 10 Miami vs. No. 6 Wisconsin | 12/30 | 6 p.m. | ESPN Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: No. 12 UCF vs. No. 7 Auburn | 1/1 | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN Rose Bowl College Football Playoff Semifinal: No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Georgia | 1/1 | 3 p.m. | ESPN Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff Semifinal: No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Alabama | 1/1 | 6:45 p.m. |ESPN College Football Playoff National Championship: Rose Bowl Champion vs. Sugar Bowl Champion | 1/8 | 6 p.m. | ESPN Cactus Bowl: Kansas State vs. UCLA | 12/26 | 7 p.m. | ESPN For a full list CFP rankings, click here.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2017 | WEEK 15
GET TO KNOW O U R T EA M S Kansas State
UCLA
As the representative from the Big 12 Conference, Kansas State (7-5, 5-4) enters the Cactus Bowl for the fourth time in program history with an overall record of 2-1. The program’s most recent trip to the Cactus Bowl came in December 2013, beating Michigan, 31-14. Additionally, the Wildcats have made three trips to the Fiesta Bowl where they are 1-2.
Coming out of the Pac-12 Conference, UCLA (6-6, 4-5) used an undefeated record at home to become bowl eligible and earn a trip to the Cactus Bowl for the first time in program history. The Bruins have come to the Fiesta Bowl twice, once in 1978 where they tied Arkansas, 10-10, and again in 1985, beating Miami, 39-37.
Washington
Penn State
After finishing the season with a 41-14 win over rival No. 18 Washington State, Washington (10-2, 7-2) enters the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl for the first time in program history. Washington is in the New Year’s Six for the second straight year and is the first Pac-12 team to play in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl since Arizona in 2014.
The Nittany Lions (10-2, 7-2) have a perfect 6-0 record in Fiesta Bowl games, the most recent being a 38-15 win over Texas in 1997. Penn State defeated Miami 14-10 for the 1987 national championship at the Fiesta Bowl in one of college football’s greatest games ever and played in the game three times in a five-year stretch from 1977-82.
Key Players: D.J. Reed, Defensive Back and Return Specialist; Skyler Thompson, Quarterback Coach: Bill Snyder
Key Players: Vita Vea, Defensive Tackle; Jake Browning, Quarterback Coach: Chris Petersen
Key Players: Josh Rosen, Quarterback; Linebacker Kenny Young Coach: Jedd Fisch (Interim)
Key Players: Saquon Barkley, Running Back; Trace McSorley, Quarterback Coach: James Franklin
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2017 | WEEK 15
FIESTA BOWL
FACTS Fiesta Bowl Charities
Join Fiesta Bowl Charities on December 8, to be a part of the unveiling of the renovated Fiesta Bowl Charities Reading and Learning Center at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central AZ headquarters in Phoenix. We invite you to come and enjoy the new space and meet a few of the members that will be enjoying it daily. If you plan on attending, please come wearing your Yellow Jacket. There is plenty of parking around the building and the BBBS office will be on the second floor. The reception will start at 4:00 pm and end around 6:00 pm. To RSVP, please email Taylor Bond at tbond@fiestabowl.org
Fiesta Bowl History
The Penn State Nittany Lions are a perfect 6-0 in the Fiesta Bowl and are returning for the first time in 20 years. This will be Washington’s first Fiesta Bowl appearance ever but head coach Chris Petersen coached in one of the Fiesta Bowl’s greatest games, guiding Boise State to a 43-42 overtime win in 2007 over Oklahoma.
Short and Tweet
Help share Fiesta Bowl news with your network by posting the below to your social channels! @UW_Football and @PennStateFball will meet in the 47th Annual @PlayStation #FiestaBowl! Get your tickets TODAY to see two top teams battle it out in the desert! https://fiestabowl.org/fiesta-bowl/ It’s all going down on December 26. Music, food and football. Head to Cactus Bowl LIVE! at 4:00p.m. presented by @DesertSchools to see @LOCASH before the Oasis pregame party. Tickets are on sale now. $40 gets you concert and game ticket.
The 47th Annual @NBAZInteractive Parade is on Dec. 30 at 9am! Get your tickets today or watch live on @azfamily! https://fiestabowl.org/events/ fiesta-bowl-parade/
The countdown is on! Make a difference in the community by sending a vet, kid or teacher to the #CactusBowl! Packages are NOW on sale. To learn more visit https://fiestabowl.org/partnerships/fundraising-donation-programs/.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2017 | WEEK 15
FOLLOW US St a y c o nnecte d w ith th e Fie sta Bow l! F o llo w us a nd "like " u s s o you don 't mis s a be at. F I E S TA B O W L . O R G / F I E S TA B O W L
/CACTUSBOWLAZ
@ F I E S TA _ B O W L
@CACTUS_BOWL
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