2021 College Football Insider | Week 10

2021 · Week 10 COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 10

Quote of the week “They understood the assignment. They came out in orange for a spooky Halloween game. They turned us on, and we needed them.”

- Auburn Cornerback Jaylin Simpson on the home crowd during the Tigers’ win against Ole Miss

TEAM TO WATCH:

Michigan State

Unbeaten rivals, both in the AP Top 10, going headto-head in the national spotlight. The stage was set on Saturday for a big statement and Michigan State rose to the occasion, upsetting then-No. 6 Michigan 37-33.

The Spartans are No. 3 in the CFP Rankings and remain the only undefeated team in the Big Ten. The biggest contributor to Michigan State’s win was RB Kenneth Walker III, who scored all five of the Spartans’ touchdowns. He rushed for 197 yards in total and became the fastest Spartan to reach 1,000 career rushing yards. For his performance, Walker earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. Walker now leads the nation with 149.2 rushing yards per game, ranks second with 1,194 total rushing yards and is third with 14 rushing TDs. All eyes will be on Walker, a potential Heisman Trophy candidate, and on Michigan State as they continue their run for CFP consideration. The Spartans next challenge will be at Purdue on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 12:30 p.m. (AZ Time) on ABC.

TEAM OF THE WEEK:

Houston

Houston picked up a big victory on Saturday, handing SMU its first loss of the season. The Cougars defeated then-No. 19 SMU, 44-37, in a thrilling upset.

The highlight of the game came when Cougars return man, CB Marcus Jones, shocked SMU with a 100-yard kickoff return, immediately after the Mustangs had evened the score at 37-37.

The Cougars led 17-0 and kept SMU out of the end zone until the final seconds of the first quarter. From there, the two teams went back and forth, with SMU taking the lead in the third quarter and Houston reclaiming it in the fourth.

The Cougars will hope to carry this momentum forward as they visit South Florida on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. (AZ Time) and the game will air on ESPNU.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 10

games of the week #5 OHIO STATE AT NEBRASKA 11.6 | 9:00 AM | FOX

#9 WAKE FOREST AT NORTH CAROLINA 11.6 | 9:00 AM | ABC

TULSA AT #6 CINCINNATI 11.6 | 12:30 PM | ESPN 2

#3 MICHIGAN STATE AT PURDUE 11.6 | 12:30 PM | ABC

INDIANA AT #7 MICHIGAN 11.6 | 4:30 PM | FOX For a full schedule of Week 10 games, click here. (All times in AZ time)

CFP Week 10 Rankings 1. GEORGIA

6. CINCINNATI

2. ALABAMA

7. MICHIGAN

3. MICHIGAN STATE

8. OKLAHOMA

4. OREGON

9. WAKE FOREST

5. OHIO STATE

10. NOTRE DAME

For full rankings, click here.

game of the week #13 AUBURN AT #14 TEXAS A&M In the midst of a five-game schedule gauntlet, Auburn will visit College Station to face Texas A&M in the only ranked matchup of the week. Ranked No. 13 and No. 14 in the initial CFP rankings with identical 6-2 records this season, the game is predicted to be a close one. Texas A&M is favored to win by 4.5 points and the over/ under opened at 50.

Auburn is coming off a big upset over former No. 10 Ole Miss.

Tigers QB Bo Nix showcased his all-around athleticism with one passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns. He went 22-of30 and threw for 276 yards. Tigers LB Zakoby McClain earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his 14 tackles, including 10 solo, with two sacks and two tackles for loss.

Meanwhile, the Aggies are coming off a bye week. Having two weeks to prepare solely for Auburn, Texas A&M should be wellrested and strategically primed for the matchup.

The teams will face off on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 12:30 p.m. (AZ Time) on CBS.

2021-22 Bowl PREDICTIONS: PLAYSTATION ® FIESTA BOWL

GUARANTEED RATE BOWL

ESPN Bonagura – Oklahoma State vs. Notre Dame

ESPN Bonagura – West Virginia vs. Maryland

ESPN Schlabach – Wake Forest vs. Notre Dame

ESPN Schlabach – West Virginia vs. Maryland

CBS – Kentucky vs. Notre Dame

CBS – Washington State vs. Purdue

USA Today – Cincinnati vs. North Carolina State

USA Today – Washington vs. Maryland

Action Network – Iowa vs. Cincinnati

Action Network – West Virginia vs. Purdue

The Athletic – Michigan vs. Notre Dame

The Athletic – West Virginia vs. Purdue

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 10

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT:

MANNY MOLINA

First year as Yellow Jacket Committee Member: 1998 Why did you become a volunteer?: Fiesta Bowl Founder Karl Eller recruited me to join and I dove in immediately. I didn’t want to embarrass Karl, so I committed myself to being as involved as I could possibly be, from hosting coaches and administration, working games, scouting teams and working the events.

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT:

Anthony Brown

Anthony Brown had a career night on Saturday that led No. 4 Oregon to a dominant win over Colorado.

Brown completed over 80% of his pass attempts and threw for 306 yards, both career highs. He tossed three touchdowns to contribute to the Ducks’ 52-29 victory.

During last season’s PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl, Brown led the Ducks offensively by scoring the team’s only touchdowns in their 34-17 loss to Iowa State. Brown went 12-of-19 for 147 yards and rushed for 36 yards and two touchdowns.

Oregon has remained a CFP contender since week three thanks in part to Brown’s offensive effort.

Brown and the Ducks will face Washington on the road at 4:30 p.m. (AZ Time) Saturday, Nov. 6, on ABC.

What’s your favorite Fiesta Bowl event?: The annual Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe. One thing I am proud of is getting the Hispanic media, the radio people and the broadcast people involved in the parade.

I was also able to bring my media company on board, donating space and putting up Spanish-language billboards.

Charity Spotlight: The annual La Familia Golf Tournament which I helped found in 2013. It started as a sort of a fun family gettogether and turned into a nice charity organization that’s helping Hispanic families.

To read more about Molina’s career and tenure with the Fiesta Bowl, click here!

Helmet Giveaway!

Be sure you follow the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Instagram (@GuranteedRateBowl) for your chance to win an authentic Kansas State helmet signed by former Head Coach Bill Snyder!

You just have to follow the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Instagram, tag two friends and wait for the random selection. It couldn’t be easier!

The Guaranteed Rate Bowl and Fiesta Bowl social media accounts will be doing giveaways all season, so be sure to follow on all platforms for your chance at one-of-a-kind prizes!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 10

2021 MAYO CLINIC COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

BIG NEWS The Guaranteed Rate Bowl features Bowl Season’s only Big 12 vs. Big Ten matchup. As we eagerly await the Dec. 28 kickoff, we’re bringing you weekly game highlights, player reports and other updates from the two conferences. Here’s the BIG news from week ten:

BIG 12 • Oklahoma’s 17-game win streak leads the nation. The Sooners are the only undefeated team in the Big 12 and the only team in the CFP Top 10 at No. 8 • The Big 12 is the first in scoring (32.0), rushing yards per game (117.5), pass completion percentage (65.4), passer rating (150.6) and yards per play (7.5) among FBS leagues The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), in association with The Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Bowl Organization has selected three college football student-athletes — Ryan Hubley, a senior wide receiver for Johns Hopkins University; Ricky Miezan, a senior linebacker for Stanford University; and Cameron Rising, a sophomore quarterback for the University of Utah — as nominees for the 2021 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award.

They join 20 previous nominees: Terrel Bernard (LB, Baylor); Yohance Burnett (LB, Tulsa); Noah Cain (RB, Penn State); Sean Chambers (QB, Wyoming); Jack Coan (QB, Notre Dame); Tobias Harris (DB, West Texas A&M); Aidan Hutchinson (DE, Michigan); Brian Kearns, Jr (RB, Stonehill College); Alex Keith (DL, Washington & Jefferson College); Cole Maxwell (DL, Baylor); McKenzie Milton (QB, Florida State); John Mitchell (TE, Florida Atlantic); Jeremiah Moon (LB, Florida); Patrick Paul (OL, Houston); Reggie Roberson, Jr (WR, SMU); Justyn Ross (WR, Clemson); Avery Samuels (OL, Stetson); Corey Sutton (WR, Appalachian State); Skylar Thompson (QB, Kansas State); and J.J. Weaver (LB, Kentucky).

In December, three of the 30 nominees will be chosen as winners of the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award and will be recognized at a special ceremony during the PlayStation® Fiesta Bowl on Saturday, January 1, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

• Sooners QB Caleb Williams was named Offensive Player of the Week – his third Big 12 weekly honor – after setting an Oklahoma true freshman record with 402 passing yards and tying the school freshman record with six touchdown passes • Kansas State DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah registered eight tackles, four sacks for 20 yards, four tackles for loss and forced two fumbles against TCU to earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. His four sacks tied the program record and was one shy of the Big 12 record

BIG 10 • No. 3 Michigan State is the only undefeated team in the Big Ten and one of six undefeated FBS teams.

Michigan State’s win over Michigan is its first win over a Top 10 team since 2018 • Three Big Ten teams remain in the Top 10 – No. 3 Michigan State, No. 5 Ohio State and No. 7 Michigan.

The Big Ten is one of just two conferences (SEC) with multiple teams in the Top 10 • Wisconsin upset then No. 9 Iowa to earn its fourth straight win and second consecutive victory over a Top 25 team. The Badgers rank No. 1 in the nation in total defense (214.6 ypg) and rushing defense (49.6 ypg) • Purdue’s defense recorded four interceptions against Nebraska, the second time in three games. LB/S Jalen Graham was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after grabbing two interceptions

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 10

JA NUA RY 1 , 2022

DE CE M B E R 28, 2021

F I E S TA B O W L . O R G /FIESTABOWL

@FIESTA_BOWL

GUARANTEEDRATEBOWL

@RATEBOWL

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2021 | WEEK 10