2019 College Football Insider | Week 8

2019 // week 8

WEEK 8 WHAT’S NEW QUOTE OF THE WEEK “These guys are gonna give me a heart attack. I said, ‘What are y’all doing? I’m 65 years old, what are you guys doing?’”

Arizona State Head Coach Herm Edwards following the Sun Devils’ sixth victory by fewer than four points during his tenure.

Photo credit of Mark Rebilas, USA Today

TEAM TO WATCH: MICHIGAN Michigan is 5-1 with its only loss to now No. 6 ranked Wisconsin.

Since that loss, the Wolverines have outscored their opponents 104-28 and notched a top-15 win. Jim Harbaugh’s squad faces its biggest test to date, heading to Penn State for one of the only ranked matchups this weekend.

This game, as well as a late November matchup against No. 4 Ohio State, will help determine if the Wolverines are a Big Ten title contender. The game of the week kicks off at 4:30 p.m. and will be featured on ESPN’s College Gameday.

Photo credit of Kevin C. Cox-Getty Images

TEAM OF THE WEEK: SOUTH CAROLINA South Carolina took a trip to upset city last Saturday and shocked the nation (not to mention the College Football Playoff outlook). The Gamecocks defeated third-ranked Georgia, 20-17, as a game-closing field goal attempt by the Bulldogs sailed wide. This double overtime victory is the first time South Carolina has beat a ranked team since 2016.

Now 3-3, the Gamecocks’ next venture is at home hosting No. 9 Florida on Saturday, October 19 at Noon.

WEEK 8 RANKINGS 1. Alabama 2. LSU 3. Clemson 4. Ohio State 5. Oklahoma

6. Wisconsin 7. Penn State 8. Notre Dame 9. Florida 10. Georgia

For full rankings, click here.

BOWL PREDICTIONS ESPN Bonagura: Oklahoma vs Clemson

ESPN Bonagura: Kansas State vs Stanford

CBS: Clemson vs Oklahoma

CBS: Nevada vs Colorado

Stadium McMurphy: Ohio State vs Oklahoma

Stadium McMurphy: West Virginia vs Cal

USA Today: Alabama vs Oklahoma

USA Today: Kansas State vs Washington State

247 Sports: Clemson vs Ohio State

247 Sports: Texas Tech vs Arizona State

Sporting News: Clemson vs Ohio State

Sporting News: Kansas State vs Washington State

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2019 | WEEK 8

WEEK 8 WHAT’S ON TAP GAMES OF THE WEEK #3 CLEMSON AT LOUISVILLE 10.19 | 9 AM | ABC

#9 FLORIDA AT SOUTH CAROLINA 10.19 | 9 AM | ESPN

#12 OREGON AT #25 WASHINGTON 10.19 | 12:30 PM | ABC

#17 ARIZONA STATE AT #13 UTAH 10.19 | 3 PM | PAC12

#16 MICHIGAN AT #7 PENN STATE 10.19 | 4:30 PM | ABC

For a full schedule of Week Eight games, click here. (All times in AZ)

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT: JA’MARR CHASE A member of the 2019 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl champion, Ja’Marr Chase helped No. 2 LSU defeat conference rival No. 9 Florida this past weekend. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound sophomore had 127 yards and scored the first and last touchdowns of the game, including a thrilling, game-clinching 54-yard scoring catch. At last year’s PlayStation Fiesta Bowl, Chase had a then career-high 93 receiving yards and one touchdown. Next up, the undefeated Tigers head one state over to play Mississippi State.

FIESTA BOWL FOOTBALL FOCUS PODCAST EPISODE 2 – MIKE LEACH This week we are joined by Washington State Head Coach Mike Leach. The former Cheez-It ® Bowl champion talks hunting, teaching, the state of college football and reminisces on his time at Texas Tech, when he headed the largest comeback in bowl history here in the Valley in 2006.

We’ll bring you a new interview-style conversation twice a month with some of the biggest names in college football and college athletics.

Please subscribe and keep an eye out for our updated episodes.

LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE

WHERE IS COLLEGE GAMEDAY? The next stop for ESPN’s College Gameday is State College, Pennsylvania. For Week 8, the travelling popular college football pregame show will feature ranked matchup between No. 16 Michigan at No. 7 Penn State. This exciting matchup will be one to watch on Saturday, October 19 at 4:30 p.m. The Wolverines are 5-1 with their only loss to undefeated Wisconsin and the Nittany Lions are 6-0. The last time these Big Ten rivals played each other was last season when Michigan won by a significant margin, 42-7.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2019 | WEEK 8

FIESTA BOWL FACTS TWEET OF THE WEEK

FIESTA FEATURE: PLAYWORKS October is Bullying Prevention Month and Fiesta Bowl Charities grant recipient Playworks runs a peer focused anti-bullying program in schools with a mission aimed at de-escalating bullying and teaching leadership skills. Playworks is using its 2019 grant money to help fund more in-depth content for the Junior Coaches Leadership Program. Junior Coaches is an afterschool program for kids in fourth and fifth grade led by Playworks Site Coordinators.

“They inspire pride in their schools, pride for Playworks and pride in their community,” CEO Kerryann Tomlinson said. “This program wouldn’t be possible without support of partners like the Fiesta Bowl.”

CHARITY SPOTLIGHT On October 16 and 17, Fiesta Bowl Charities, alongside UnitedHealthcare, built two playgrounds at schools in need. On the 16th, approximately 50 volunteers helped complete a new playground at Palm Lane Elementary in Phoenix. The next day, Helen Keeling Elementary in Tucson received its new playground. This event is part of UnitedHealthcare’s Do Good. Live Well. volunteer initiative to help decrease hunger and obesity, according to their website.

These events include painting, gardening, rock and flooring on the new playground as well as a ribbon cutting ceremony and group photo.

SHORT AND TWEET Who will be this year’s draft picks?

Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers, powered by @DriveTime will host draft day on Tuesday, October 29. Live stream will be available on fiestabowl.org

Purchase tickets today! Get your tickets for the PlayStation @Fiesta_Bowl and @CheezItBowl before they’re sold out. Buy here: fiestabowl.org/tickets

The @WellsFargo Fiesta Bowl Par 3 Challenge presented by Chapman Automotive is on October 24-25! Prizes on every hole including a chance at $1 MILLION. Last chance to reserve your foursome win awesome prizes: Fiestabowl.org/events/fiesta-bowl-par-3-challenge

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2019 | WEEK 8

FOLLOW US Stay connected with the Fiesta Bowl!

“Like” us so you don’t miss a beat.

FIESTABOWL.ORG

DECEMBER 27, 2019 CHASE FIELD

/FiestaBowl

DECEMBER 28, 2019 STATE FARM STADIUM

@Fiesta_Bowl @CheezItBowl