2019 College Football Insider | Week 9

2019 // week 9

WEEK 9 WHAT’S NEW QUOTE OF THE WEEK “What guys realized tonight, if you play for each other and just do your job, maybe you can play good football, and that’s exactly what they did.”

Vanderbilt Head Coach Derek Mason following the Commodores’ victory over No. 22 Missouri, after a 1-5 start Photo credit of Frederick Breedon, Getty

TEAM OF THE WEEK: ILLINOIS They were popping champagne in Champaign on Saturday after Illinois scored 17 points over the final 16 minutes to beat then No. 6 Wisconsin and end a 24-game losing streak to ranked opponents. James McCourt kicked the game-winning field goal from 39 yards as time expired for the 24-23 victory.

Wisconsin had not trailed this season but turned the ball over twice in critical situations. Illinois seeks a two-game Big Ten win streak with a road game at Purdue on Saturday at 9 a.m.

TEAM TO WATCH: MINNESOTA The Golden Gophers are off to their first 7-0 start since winning the national title in 1960, with last week’s 42-7 victory providing the first win as a ranked team in five years. Minnesota hosts Maryland atop the Big Ten West and controls its destiny in the quest for a spot in the Big Ten Conference championship game.

That said, the road to the division title will get more difficult, with No. 6 Penn State, No. 20 Iowa, and No. 13 Wisconsin in the regular-season finale still on the docket. The most heartwarming story of the weekend was four-time cancer survivor Casey O’Brien stepping onto the field and serving as holder for three extra points.

WEEK 9 RANKINGS 1. Alabama 2. LSU 3. Ohio State 4. Clemson 5. Oklahoma

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

For full rankings, click here.

BOWL PREDICTIONS ESPN Bonagura: Ohio State vs Oklahoma

ESPN Bonagura: TCU vs Arizona

CBS: Clemson vs Oklahoma

CBS: Kansas State vs Wyoming

Stadium McMurphy: Ohio State vs Oklahoma

Stadium McMurphy: Oklahoma State vs Arizona

USA Today: Alabama vs Oklahoma

USA Today: TCU vs Arizona

247 Sports: Clemson vs Ohio State

247 Sports: Texas Tech vs Arizona State

Sporting News: Clemson vs Ohio State

Sporting News: TCU vs Washington State

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2019 | WEEK 9

WEEK 9 WHAT’S ON TAP GAMES OF THE WEEK

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT: NICK BOSA One of the many Ohio State players to participate in the Fiesta Bowl and advance onto the NFL, Nick Bosa was a key cog in the San Francisco 49ers shutout over Washington this weekend.

The 6-foot-4, 266-pound rookie was the second overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and had a monster performance with seven total tackles, four tackles for a loss, one sack and quarterback hit. The Niners are a perfect 6-0 this season and host Carolina this Sunday.

#13 WISCONSIN AT #3 OHIO STATE 10.26 | 9 AM | FOX

#5 OKLAHOMA AT KANSAS STATE 10.26 | 9 AM | ABC

#9 AUBURN AT #2 LSU

FIESTA BOWL FOOTBALL FOCUS PODCAST EPISODE 2 – MIKE LEACH

10.26 | 12:30 PM | CBS

#15 TEXAS AT TCU 10.26 | 12:30 PM | FOX

#8 NOTRE DAME AT #19 MICHIGAN 10.26 | 4:30 PM | ABC

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

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.

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WHERE IS COLLEGE GAMEDAY? ESPN’s College Gameday is heading down out west for a top FCS matchup. One of the most popular college football pregame shows will broadcast from Brookings, South Dakota, as No. 1 North Dakota State travels to No. 3 South Dakota State. Gameday has a tradition of visiting top FCS sites and North Dakota State has twice hosted Gameday, with a perfect 2-0 record. The home team has won in each of the last three weeks. Kickoff on Saturday, October 12 at Noon.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2019 | WEEK 9

FIESTA BOWL FACTS FIESTA FEATURE: DEREK MASON

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Vanderbilt posted a huge win over Missouri on Saturday, in the face of a challenging season. That adversity didn’t deter Phoenix Camelback High School graduate Derek Mason, who motivated the Commodores to the SEC East win. Mason has roots to the first-ever Fiesta Bowl, with his uncle scoring the first touchdown in bowl history, giving Arizona State a 7-0 lead over Florida State in 1971. Learn more about Mason and his journey to becoming an SEC head football coach.

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

CHARITY SPOTLIGHT This week is the Wells Fargo Fiesta Bowl Par 3 Challenge and the one-year anniversary of CBS5’s Sean McLaughlin taking home the Media Shootout and earning $2,000 for the Franciscan Renewal Center. Also a recipient of a Fiesta Bowl Charities grant, the Franciscan Renewal Center uses the funds to help assist in improving the Center’s facilities and their programs, including building a new conference center.

“When people talk about the Franciscan Renewal Center, it’s about this being an organization that cares about everyone,” GM Charlie Brown said. “Whether you’re Jewish, Muslim, or Christian or Atheist, all are welcome.

Our job is to meet people at the door and walk with them on their journey of faith, whatever that is.”

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

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER | 2019 | WEEK 9

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