Week 13 // 2023
Week 13
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
QUOTE OF THE WEEK “You could just kind of get a sense that when you think you’re a good team and feel like you’re a good team, you can see it. And our guys, they play confidently. They believe in one another. They believe in what the mission is.” – Arizona Head Coach Jedd Fisch said of the No. 15 Wildcats’ 42-18 rout over then-No. 16 Utah TEAM OF THE WEEK
NEW MEXICO STATE The New Mexico Aggies stunned the Auburn Tigers, 31-10, on the road for their first-ever victory over a Southeastern Conference team. New Mexico State had previously lost its first 27 all-time games to SEC teams.
T E A M T O W AT C H
KANSAS STATE Rallying from an 11-point deficit, Kansas State snuck past No. 25 Kansas, 31-27, to claim its 15th straight victory in the Sunflower Showdown. The Jayhawks were up 21-16 at halftime and Devin Neal opened the third quarter with a 2-yard touchdown, extending their lead even further. However, the Wildcats pushed back when DJ Giddens scored on a one-yard rush followed by a two-point conversion from Will Howard to close out the third quarter. Howard, who threw for two touchdowns, put Kansas State on top with a go-ahead 15-yard touchdown rush with less than 11 minutes left.
The Aggies outgained the Tigers, 414-213, and scored on all four of their appearances in the red zone. Diego Pavia passed for 201 yards and three touchdowns, hitting 11 different receivers. Kordell David and Eli Stowers each had four receptions and one touchdown. New Mexico State dominated the time of possession 38:50 to 21:10. Defensively, Andre Seldon and Gabe Peterson led the efforts with six tackles each. The historic upset earned New Mexico State Cheez-It National Team of the Week. New Mexico State (9-3, 5-1) has already clinched its spot in the CUSA Championship Game against No. 25 Liberty on December 1. Until then, the Aggies close out their regular season with a home game versus Jacksonville State on Saturday, November 25, at 3 p.m. PHX on ESPN+.
With the win, the No. 19 Wildcats (8-3, 6-2 Big 12) kept their Big 12 title game aspirations alive and will wrap up their regular season at home against Iowa State on Saturday, November 25, at 6 p.m. PHX on FOX.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
Week 13
GAMES OF THE WEEK #12 OLE MISS AT MISSISSIPPI STATE 11.23 // 5:30 PM // ESPN
#16 OREGON STATE AT #6 OREGON
CFP WEEK 13 RANKINGS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Georgia Ohio State Michigan Washington Florida State
6. Oregon 7. Texas 8. Alabama 9. Missouri 10. Louisville
For the full CFP Top 25 Rankings, click here.
11.24 // 6:30 PM // FOX
#15 ARIZONA AT ARIZONA STATE 11.25 // 1:30 PM // ESPN
WASHINGTON STATE AT #4 WASHINGTON
GAME OF THE WEEK #2 OHIO STATE AT #3 MICHIGAN The Buckeyes (11-0, 8-0) and Wolverines (11-0, 8-0) meet for the second consecutive year as undefeated and top-3 ranked teams, with Michigan leading the all-time series 60-52-6. These Big Ten rivals battle it out in Ann Arbor on Saturday, November 25, at 10 a.m. PHX on FOX.
11.25 // 2 PM // FOX
#5 FLORIDA STATE AT FLORIDA 11.25 // 5 PM // ESPN For a full schedule of Week 13 games, click here. (All times in PHX)
2023 BOWL PREDICTIONS
Ohio State and Michigan own the two top defenses in the NCAA, in addition to the top two offenses in the Big Ten. Michigan leads the country in scoring defense (9 points per game) and in total defense (234.8), followed closely by Ohio State who is No. 2 in scoring defense (9.27) and No. 3 in total defense (252.9). On the offensive side, Wolverines running back Blake Corum leads the nation with 20 total touchdowns and Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is tied for second in receiving touchdowns (13). Can Michigan defeat its biggest rival for the third straight year, or will Ohio State end Michigan’s two-year reign as Big Ten Champions by clinching a spot in the Big Ten Championship for itself? Find out this weekend in The Game that decides it all.
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ESPN Bonagura - Oregon vs. Penn State ESPN Schlabach - Washington vs. Penn State Action Network - Washington vs. Alabama Bleacher Report - Washington vs. Texas FOX Sports - Washington vs. Missouri Sporting News - Alabama vs. Oregon
ESPN Bonagura - West Virginia vs. Illinois ESPN Schlabach - Kansas vs. Northwestern College Football News - Kansas vs. Nebraska Athlon Sports - Kansas vs. Maryland College Football Network - West Virginia vs. Nebraska The Athletic - Kansas vs. Northwestern
Week 13
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT
BROCK PURDY It was a picture-perfect day for Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers who defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-14, putting them at the top of the NFC West. Purdy completed 21-of-25 attempts for 333 yards and three touchdowns against the Buccaneers, becoming the first Niners quarterback in history to attempt 20 or more passes and post a perfect 158.3 passer rating in the same game. In the 2021 Fiesta Bowl, Purdy completed 20-for-29 passes for 156 yards and one touchdown and added nine carries for 39 yards and a score, earning him Offensive Player of the Game in Iowa State’s 34-17 victory over Oregon. Up next for the Niners is a Thanksgiving Day matchup at the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, November 23, at 6:20 p.m. PHX on NBC.
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 13:
BIG TEN
BIG 12
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In the latest CFP Top 25 rankings, No. 2 Ohio State leads the Big Ten, followed by No. 3 Michigan, No. 11 Penn State and No. 17 Iowa. Seven Big Ten squads rank in the top 25 for scoring defense: Michigan (1st, 9.0 points per game), Ohio State (2nd, 9.3), Iowa (3rd, 12.4), Penn State (4th, 12.5), Nebraska (19th, 18,7), Rutgers (20th, 19.1) and Wisconsin (24th, 19.4). Eight Big Ten teams are Bowl eligible after Northwestern and Wisconsin posted their sixth win last week. Minnesota, Nebraska and Illinois all have one final chance to pick up their sixth victory with home games this week. Michigan’s Mike Sainristil earned Defensive Player of the Week after recording two picks for his first career two-interception game in a win over Maryland. Iowa’s Tory Taylor received Special Teams POW after punting eight times (51.6 yards) in the 15-13 victory over Illinois to clinch the outright Big Ten West Division title and became the school’s record holder for career punts (274).
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
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Four Big 12 squads find themselves in the newest batch of CFP rankings: No. 7 Texas, No. 13 Oklahoma, No. 19 Kansas State and No. 20 Oklahoma State. Among conferences, the Big 12 is first in rushing yards per game (170.4), second in total yards (419.1) and third in passing yards (248.7) and scoring (29.7). Eight Big 12 teams are Bowl eligible after Texas Tech beat UCF last week. The Knights still have a home game against Houston to post their sixth win, and TCU and BYU also aim for the postseason this week. In the latest Big 12 Football Weekly Awards, four Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl teams are represented: Jared Wiley (TCU, offensive), Billy Bowman (Oklahoma, defensive), Jahiem White (West Virginia, newcomer) and Keenan Garber (Kansas State, special teams). It was the first career honor for each recipient.
Week 13
CHARITY SPOTLIGHT ARIZONA FRIENDS OF FOSTER CHILDREN FOUNDATION The Fiesta Bowl Organization is dedicated to enhancing the lives Arizona’s youth by providing millions of dollars in funding to nonprofits across the state. Through the 2023-24 Fiesta Bowl Charities grant cycle, Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (AFFCF) was one of 20 nonprofit organizations positively impacted. With over 10,000 Arizona children in the foster care system, many of them unfortunately miss out on ordinary childhood experiences. Funds from the Fiesta Bowl Charities grant help provide these children with everyday leisures such as tutoring, prom expenses, swimming lessons, athletic activities and much more. Read the full story here.
FIESTA BOWL PARADE LEGACY FLOATS FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION 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 game’s 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.
Week 13
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
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Week 13