2019 College Football Insider | Week One

2019 // week 1

WEEK 1 WHAT’S NEW “

BEST OFFSEASON QUOTE I am honored to be here. It’s a pleasure to come back to a place that I’ll never forget. Some great memories I’ll always have and some of the greatest people I’ve ever been around.

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Former head coach and keynote speaker, Urban Meyer at the 2019 Arizona Bank & Trust Fiesta Bowl Kickoff Luncheon

TEAM TO WATCH: THE PAC-12 After missing the College Football Playoff the last three seasons, the Pac-12 is desperate to get back. Washington (13), Utah (14), Washington State (23) and Stanford (25) are all ranked to begin the season, with USC knocking on the door. The Pac-12 preseason media poll has Utah winning the title over Oregon by a slim margin. One person that bought into the Utes’ preseason hype was ESPN’s Lee Corso, who selected Utah to upset Clemson in the College Football Playoff to reach the National Championship.

With the Fiesta Bowl hosting a College Football Playoff Semifinal this season, it would be a short trip for the Pac-12 to have some redemption.

BEST OFFSEASON HEADLINE In its first running with the new title sponsor, the Cheez-It® Bowl became an instant classic. The Cal-TCU matchup was the #1 trending topic on Twitter the night of December 26, as the two teams combined for nine interceptions in a 10-7 defensive battle.

The College Football world loved every second of it: “One of the more modest destinations in the Big 12’s bowl game lineup had instantly become a greater talking point than many highly-billed New Year’s Six games would be the ensuing week.”

– Dallas Morning News “Twenty years from now, you won’t remember most things from the 2018 college football bowl season, but I guarantee you’ll remember watching the Cheez-It® Bowl.” – Tom Fornelli on ranking the Cheez-It® Bowl No. 1 bowl game of 2018.

BOWL PREDICTIONS CBS: Clemson vs Oklahoma SI Dellenger: Clemson vs Michigan USA Today: Alabama vs Ohio State

“The first half of the Cheez-It Bowl belongs in a museum.” − @ErickKellyTV

247 Sports: Georgia vs Michigan

“Twitter was loving the Cheez-It Bowl” – The Score

Bleacher Report: Clemson vs Michigan

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The Athletic Mandel: Georgia vs Alabama

PRESEASON RANKINGS 1. Clemson 2. Alabama 3. Georgia 4. Oklahoma 5. Ohio State

6. LSU 7. Michigan 8. Florida 9. Notre Dame 10. Texas

For full rankings, click here.

CBS: Nevada vs Arizona State Athlon: Baylor vs USC USA Today: Kansas State vs Washington State 247 Sports: Texas Tech vs Arizona The Athletic Mandel: Fresno St. vs Stanford Bleacher Report: Arizona vs West Virginia

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2019 | WEEK 1

WEEK 1 WHAT’S ON TAP

GAMES OF THE WEEK GEORGIA TECH AT #1 CLEMSON 8.29 | 5:00 PM | ACC Network

#14 UTAH AT BYU

WHERE IS COLLEGE GAMEDAY? College GameDay made its 2019 debut in Orlando for a Week Zero matchup featuring No. 8 Florida and Miami. For Week One, one of the most popular college football shows in the country will head to Arlington, Texas, for a Top-25 contest with No. 11 Oregon vs No. 16 Auburn at AT&T Stadium.

The Pac-12 will look to make an early statement while Auburn and freshman QB Bo Nix aim to build off last season’s momentum.

8.29 | 7:15 PM | ESPN

NORTHWESTERN AT #25 STANFORD 8.31 | 1:00 PM | FOX

#11 OREGON AT #16 AUBURN 8.31 | 4:30 PM | ABC

THIS WEEK IN CFB150 CFB150 is a year-long celebration that will feature local game activations with a national focus on select early games, Anniversary Week (October 31-November 9) and the postseason.

Schools have been encouraged to showcase their own history by including the Anniversary in home game presentations throughout the 2019 season, specifically during Anniversary Week.

CFB150 FEATURED WEEK 1 GAMES:

HOUSTON AT #16 OKLAHOMA 9.1 | 4:30 PM | ABC

For a full schedule of Week One games, click here.

Chick-Fil-A Kickoff (Alabama vs Duke) 8.31 | 12:30 PM | ABC Belk College Kickoff (South Carolina vs North Carolina) 8.31 | 12:30 PM | ESPN Advocare Classic (Auburn vs Oregon) 8.31 | 4:30 PM | ABC

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2019 | WEEK 1

FIESTA BOWL FACTS CFB150 AND THE FIESTA BOWL The game got to the place it is today because of moments. Countless great memories were made over the last 150 years for fans and players alike. Three of those moments – and many more depending on who you ask – took place here in Arizona at the Fiesta Bowl.

The following games helped shape the landscape of college football and are part of the reason the 150th celebration means so much. Click here to read more.

SHORT AND TWEET Ticket packages are now on sale! Secure yours today for the PlayStation® @Fiesta_Bowl and @CheezItBowl. Buy here: fiestabowl.org/tickets

Applications for the Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers, powered by @DriveTime open on September 4! AZ teachers can apply for a chance at a $5,000 grant for their classroom! More: fiestabowl.org/charities/wishes-for-teachers

MORE THAN JUST A GAME Fiesta Bowl Charities has once again hit a new standard in college football with the announcement that it is donating $3 million in charitable giving during the 2019-20 Fiesta Bowl season. Over 40 nonprofit organizations across the state of Arizona will benefit from Fiesta Bowl Charities giving, which is the most of any college football bowl organization.

Full release here.

The @WellsFargo Fiesta Bowl Par 3 Challenge presented by Chapman Automotive is right around the corner! Prizes on every hole including a chance at $1 MILLION. Reserve your foursome today: Fiestabowl.org/events/fiesta-bowl-par-3challenge

TWEET OF THE WEEK

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2019 | WEEK 1

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