2021 College Football Insider | Week 2

2021 season · Week 2 COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER • 2021 season • WEEK 2

Quote of the week “I didn’t have time to process any emotions.

It felt like it was three years ago and I was just playing ball.”

- Florida State quarterback McKenzie Milton on returning to the field after his severe knee injury

TEAM TO WATCH:

Penn State

Penn State carried the end of last season’s momentum into 2021 with a 16-10 victory over then No. 12 Wisconsin, putting the Big Ten on notice. Before Saturday’s loss, the Badgers boasted a 25-game home opener win streak.

Penn State’s defense ensured a victory by forcing a fumble and two fourth quarter interceptions in front of a hostile Camp Randall crowd.

Senior safeties Jaquan Brisker and Ji’Ayir Brown were responsible for silencing the Badger faithful.

On a fourth-and-goal in the fourth quarter, Brisker picked off Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz and, minutes later with :26 seconds left on the clock, Brown iced the game with an interception in Penn State’s territory.

Penn State will have its home opener on Saturday against Ball State with kickoff set for 12:30 p.m. (AZ time) on FS1.

TEAM OF THE WEEK:

Georgia

Georgia’s defense was dominant on Saturday against then No. 3 Clemson and the college football world took notice. The Bulldogs D held the Tigers to just 180 total yards and scored the only touchdown of the game on the way to a 10-3 win.

Senior defensive back Christopher Smith found the end zone with a 74-yard pick-six and the Bulldogs front seven only allowed two yards rushing while sacking Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei seven times. Uiagalelei finished 19-of-37 for 178 yards and an interception.

Smith’s interception had Georgia leading 7-0 entering halftime and held that score until 9:08 left in the game. The Tigers kicked a field goal and had a chance to tie the game with 7:35 left on the clock.

The Georgia defense disrupted Clemson’s drive just as it had all night and a failed fourth-down conversion sealed the game.

Georgia will host UAB on Saturday for its home opener at 12:30 p.m. (AZ time) on ESPN2.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER • 2021 season • WEEK 2

games of the week #13 FLORIDA AT USF 9.11 | 10:00 AM | ABC

AIR FORCE AT NAVY 9.11 | 12:30 PM | CBS

#10 IOWA VS. #9 IOWA STATE 9.11 | 1:30 PM | ABC

#15 TEXAS AT ARKANSAS 9.11 | 4:00 PM | ESPN

#21 UTAH AT BYU 9.11 | 7:15 PM | ESPN For a full schedule of Week Two games, click here. (All times in AZ)

AP Week 2 Rankings 1. ALABAMA

6. CLEMSON

2. GEORGIA

7. CINCINNATI

3. OHIO STATE

8. NOTRE DAME

4. OKLAHOMA

9. IOWA STATE

5. TEXAS A&M

10. IOWA

For the full AP Top 25 Rankings, click here.

game of the week #12 OREGON AT #3 OHIO STATE The No. 3 ranked Buckeyes open as a two-touchdown favorite when they host No. 12 Oregon on Saturday at 9 a.m. (AZ time). The Over/Under is set at 63.

Ohio State is coming off a 45-31 win at Minnesota and was led by new quarterback C.J. Stroud’s 294 yards and four touchdowns. Oregon is also fresh off a close win as it defeated Fresno State, 31-24, thanks to a 30-yard rushing touchdown with 2:57 left on the clock by quarterback Anthony Brown. The difference maker in this game could be whether or not potential top-5 pick Kayvon Thibodeaux is available after leaving Saturday’s game with a lower body injury.

Fiesta Bowl fans can bet online beginning NOW with Caesars Sportsbook. Download the app today and place your bets!

2020-21 Bowl PREDICTIONS: PLAYSTATION ® FIESTA BOWL

GUARANTEED RATE BOWL

ESPN Bonagura – Florida vs. Cincinnati

ESPN Bonagura – Kansas State vs. Northwestern

ESPN Schlabach – Oregon vs. Cincinnati

ESPN Schlabach – West Virginia vs. Michigan State

CBS – Penn State vs. Cincinnati

CBS – San Diego State vs. Minnesota

USA Today – Wisconsin vs. Cincinnati

USA Today – Texas Tech vs. Nebraska

Action Network – Notre Dame vs. UCF

Action Network – Baylor vs. Minnesota

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER • 2021 season • WEEK 2

SEASON TICKET MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:

MATT HOOD

First year as a Season Ticket Member: 1971 Why did you become a Season Ticket Member: My grandfather loved ASU more than life itself and became an inaugural member in 1971 ahead of the first Fiesta Bowl. The tickets have been in my family from the start and I took them over from my parents several years ago.

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT:

Dream PlayStation ® Fiesta Bowl matchup: Ohio State vs. Arizona State

Chris Olave

PlayStation ® Fiesta Bowl fans may remember Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave from the 2019 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation ® Fiesta Bowl. They may think of his three catches for 50 yards and a touchdown or they may remember him being the intended receiver on the game-ending interception in the end zone.

2021-22 PlayStation ® Fiesta Bowl prediction: Clemson vs. Oregon

Olave made sure to give fans new memories this weekend. The senior hauled in four receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns during Ohio State’s 45-31 win over Minnesota. Olave put his game changing ability on display with 4:39 left on the clock as he hauled in a 61-yard touchdown to secure an OSU victory.

Olave and new Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud clearly have chemistry and we can bet this won’t be the last big performance for the duo.

Fiesta Bowl & Caesars Sportsbook The Fiesta Bowl Organization announced it has joined forces with Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR) (“Caesars”) in a first-of-its-kind sports betting and fantasy gaming partnership for a college football Bowl game.

The multi-faceted alliance focuses on fan engagement, the organization’s year-round events and expanding sports gaming and education in Arizona.

With sports betting now open in Arizona, this multi-year relationship will expand Caesars’s footprint across the state by bringing its state-of-the-art platform to college football fans while enhancing the education of responsible gaming and bringing fans closer to the excitement that college football delivers. Download the Caesars Sportsbook app today!

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER • 2021 season • WEEK 2

MORE THAN JUST A GAME® DESERT FINANCIAL FIESTA BOWL

WISHES FOR TEACHERS

In what has become one of Arizona’s most impactful teacher support initiatives, the Desert Financial Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program for the sixth consecutive year will provide grants directly to teachers for use in their classrooms.

Applications are now open for all Arizona K-12 public and charter school teachers through September 24 at 5 p.m. Fill out the online application at wishesforteachers.org, detailing the school or classroom need.

This year’s program will double the amount of teacher recipients, with 400 teachers having their wishes granted. Each will receive a $2,500 grant for a total of $1 million in donations.

ARIZONA MILK PRODUCERS FIESTA BOWL

YOUTH FOOTBALL CLINIC Registration is now open for the Arizona Milk Producers Fiesta Bowl Youth Football Clinic.

Kids ages 7-14 will have the opportunity to participate in this free, non-contact clinic and learn more than just the fundamentals.

Participants will spend the day learning, practicing and going through various drills while developing confidence, a strong work ethic and motivation that will help them succeed on and off the field!

This year’s featured coach is Andre Wadsworth, a former NFL defensive end who played for the Arizona Cardinals. During his time with the Seminoles, Wadsworth made All-ACC teams each of his four years, played his way to a scholarship and won ACC Player of the Year and ACC Defensive Player of the Year his senior season. At this year’s Arizona Milk Producers Fiesta Bowl Youth Football Clinic, Wadsworth will share his story and teach the importance of sportsmanship, perseverance and respect.

Register for the October 23 event at fiestabowl.org/youthfootballclinic

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER • 2021 season • WEEK 2

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 season • WEEK 2