Week 12 // 2023
Week 12
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
QUOTE OF THE WEEK “This will be one they remember for the rest of their lives on Senior Night.” – UNC Head Coach Mack Brown said of the Tar Heels’ 2OT 47-45 victory over rival Duke
TEAM OF THE WEEK
UCF
The upset of the weekend belonged to UCF, who routed No. 15 Oklahoma State, 45-3, for its second Big 12 victory and first Top-15 win since 2015.
T E A M T O W AT C H
MISSOURI It was a historic day for Missouri running back Cody Schrader as he led the Tigers past No. 13 Tennessee, 36-7, in a Top-20 SEC matchup. Schrader totaled 321 yards (205 rushing and 116 receiving) and one touchdown against Tennessee with 198 yards (105 rushing, 93 receiving) in the first half alone. He is one of 10 players in FBS history and the only SEC athlete with 200 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in the same game. The Tigers offense scored 33 unanswered points and the defense pitched a second half shutout, holding the Volunteers to 83 total yards. Missouri’s final score came off a pick six by defensive back Daylan Carnell, who returned a 38-yard touchdown.
In a matchup showcasing two of the nation’s best running backs, RJ Harvey outshined Ollie Gordon II with a career-high 206 yards on 24 carries and three touchdowns, while the defense held Gordon to 25 yards. Harvey’s day was highlighted by a 92-yard touchdown, marking the longest play in the Big 12 this season and the second-longest rushing touchdown in UCF history. The Knights’ defense was equally dominant, holding the Cowboys to 52 rushing yards and only a single field goal. Lee Hunter recorded eight tackles and two tackles for loss in Head Coach Gus Malzahn’s 100th career win. One more win clinches bowl eligibility for UCF when the Knights visit Texas Tech on Saturday, November 18, at 3 p.m. PHX on FS2.
Another SEC battle is on the line as No. 9 Missouri hosts Florida on Saturday, November 18, at 5:30 p.m. PHX on ESPN.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
Week 12
GAMES OF THE WEEK #22 UTAH AT #17 ARIZONA 11.18 // 12:30 PM // PAC-12 NETWORK
#1 GEORGIA AT #18 TENNESSEE
CFP WEEK 12 RANKINGS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Georgia Ohio State Michigan Florida State Washington
6. Oregon 7. Texas 8. Alabama 9. Missouri 10. Louisville
For the full CFP Top 25 Rankings, click here.
11.18 // 1:30 PM // CBS
#20 NORTH CAROLINA AT CLEMSON 11.18 // 1:30 PM // ESPN
#21 KANSAS STATE AT #25 KANSAS 11.18 // 5 PM // FS1
#5 WASHINGTON AT #11 OREGON STATE 11.18 // 5:30 PM // ABC For a full schedule of Week 12 games, click here. (All times in PHX)
2023 BOWL PREDICTIONS
GAME OF THE WEEK UCLA AT USC Fiesta Bowl’s College Football Game of the Week viewing party spotlights the Battle of Los Angeles as USC hosts rival UCLA on Saturday, November 18, at 1:30 p.m. PHX on ABC. The Trojans lead the all-time series 50-33-7 and are No. 3 nationally in scoring offense with 43.8 points per game. Caleb Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, is at the forefront of USC’s powerful offense, standing at No. 2 in passing yards (3,249) and passing touchdowns (29). Meanwhile, the Bruins’ defense is No. 1 in rushing defense (70.8), No. 4 in sacks (3.6), No. 9 in scoring defense (16.4) and No. 10 in total defense (289.9). Headlining UCLA’s defensive line is Laiatu Latu, who is No. 1 in tackles for loss per game (1.8) and fourth in sacks per game (1.1). In their final meeting as Pac-12 opponents before both squads move to the Big Ten in 2024, it will be a gritty contest between USC’s offense and UCLA’s defense at the Coliseum. For more information and previous Game of the Week matchups, click here.
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ESPN Bonagura – Oregon vs. Penn State ESPN Schlabach – Washington vs. Tulane 247 Sports – Washington vs. Alabama College Football News – Washington vs. Penn State On3 – Oregon vs. Missouri Action Network – Washington vs. Alabama
ESPN Bonagura – West Virginia vs. Illinois ESPN Schlabach – Kansas vs. Northwestern 247 Sports – Texas Tech vs. Maryland The Athletic – Iowa State vs. Illinois CBS – West Virginia vs. Maryland Action Network – Kansas vs. Northwestern
Week 12
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT
NOAH BROWN Houston Texans wide receiver Noah Brown played an instrumental role in the team’s 30-27 road win over the Cincinnati Bengals, with a season-high 172 receiving yards on seven receptions. Brown’s final reception was crucial, as his 22-yard catch set Houston up for the game-winning field goal as time expired. Now with consecutive games of more than 150 receiving yards, Brown has 21 catches for 439 yards and one touchdown across five games. The Ohio State alum recorded two receptions for 17 yards in the 2016 College Football Playoff Semifinal against Clemson. The Texans go for their sixth victory of the season when they host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, November 19, at 11 a.m. PHX on CBS.
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 12:
BIG TEN
BIG 12
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No. 2 Ohio State sits atop the Big Ten in the CFP Top 25, followed by No. 3 Michigan, No. 12 Penn State and No. 16 Iowa. Michigan aims to claim its NCAA-leading 1,000th victory when it faces Maryland this weekend. The Wolverines are on a program-record 20-game conference winning streak and have won 26 of their last 27 Big Ten matchups. Big Ten teams hold the top four spots nationally in scoring defense, with seven in the top 25: Michigan (1st, 7.5 points per game), Ohio State (2nd, 9.9), Iowa (3rd, 12.3), Penn State (4th, 13.1), Nebraska (18th, 8.2), Rutgers (19th, 18.3) and Wisconsin (24th, 19.6). After its 22-0 shutout against Rutgers, Iowa earned at least a share of the Big Ten West Division title. The Hawkeyes could claim the title outright and secure a berth in the Big Ten Football Championship Game if they win one of their two remaining games (vs. Illinois and Nebraska).
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
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Five of the CFP Top 25 teams hail from the Big 12: No. 7 Texas, No. 14 Oklahoma, No. 23 Oklahoma State, No. 21 Kansas State and No. 25 Kansas. UCF head coach Gus Malzahn secured the 100th win of his career against Oklahoma State, becoming the fourth active head coach in the Big 12 to reach the century mark. Six of the top 25 teams in total offense belong to the Big 12: Oklahoma (4th, 505.4), UCF (8th, 494.5), Texas (14th, 459.3), TCU (16th, 454.9), Kansas State (20th, 452.5) and Cincinnati (25th, 443.9). Four past Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl Teams are represented in the latest Big 12 Football Weekly Awards: Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel (offensive), UCF’s Demari Henderson (defensive), Iowa State’s Abu Sama III (newcomer) and Texas Tech’s PK Gino Garcia (special teams).
Week 12
PARADE NEWS NEXT GENERATION INFLATABLES 44TH SEASON WITH THE FIESTA BOWL This year, Next Generation Inflatables will celebrate its 44th season with the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe. The company’s partnership with Fiesta Bowl started in 1979 when Next Generation provided the balloons for the halftime show. Since then, the parade’s giant helium balloons have been created and managed by Next Generation since 1980. Andy Steinman, CEO of Next Generation, hasn’t missed a Fiesta Bowl Parade since 1990 and took over his family’s business after his father passed away in 2012. He continues to carry the legacy of his father by providing standard and customized inflatables to the Fiesta Bowl and many other organizations. Read the full story here.
FIESTA BOWL TO HOST FINAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME OF THE WEEK WATCH PARTY IN SCOTTSDALE AND GLENDALE Come join the Fiesta Bowl this Saturday, November 18, for the final 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 previous Game of the Week matchups, click here.
Week 12
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
JA NUA RY 1, 2024
D E C EM B E R 26, 2023
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
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Week 12