SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Weekly Notes (11/23)
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Notes
BIG TEN: The East Division participant in the Big Ten Football Championship Game presented by Discover will be decided with the winner of the Michigan-Ohio State game earning the right to face Northwestern on Dec. 1. Big Ten Standings here.
C-USA: The final week of the 2018 regular season has already arrived. The final full Saturday will provide plenty of intrigue with a schedule that stretches throughout the day. C-USA Standings here.
HASKINS STANDS ALONE: Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins threw for 405 yards against Maryland on Saturday, giving him 3,685 passing yards on the season to break Joe Germaine’s school single-season record set in 1998. The sophomore QB also threw three TD passes for 36 this season, topping J.T. Barrett’s Ohio State record for passing touchdowns set last year.
SHOWDOWN IN SUNSHINE STATE: A huge showdown in the East Division takes place when Marshall visits FIU. The Panthers control their destiny to win the division and play in their first C-USA Championship Game with a victory in this one. The Thundering Herd are getting ready for their fifth bowl appearance in six years.
TAYLOR JOINS ELITE COMPANY: Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor ran for a career-high 321 yards in a win over Purdue, the third-highest total in school history. The sophomore has 3,846 career rushing yards, breaking fellow Badger Ron Dayne’s FBS record for combined rushing yards as a freshman and sophomore. Dayne and Georgia’s Herschel Walker are the only other FBS players to tally at least 3,500 rushing yards in their first two seasons.
C-USA WEST IMPLICATIONS: The game with the biggest implications is UAB at Middle Tennessee. A Blazer victory will mean that West Division champ UAB finishes league play 8-0 and hosts the 2018 Globe Life C-USA Championship Game on Dec. 1. A Blue Raiders victory could mean that the championship game is held in Murfreesboro, depending on the result of FIU’s game.
IN THE NEWS
Michael Marlot of the Associated Press writes in that Indiana and Purdue share the same goal going into Saturday: Win and go to a bowl. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. Give it a read here.
Brett Vito (@BrettVito) of the Denton Record-Chronicle writes that North Texas has taken advantage of depth at its skill positions all season, making it easy on quarterback Mason Fine. Find out why here.
Don Markus (@SportsProf56) of the Baltimore Sun tells the tale how lessons from his father pay off for Aazaar Abdul-Rahim and for Maryland defensive backs. Click for the rest here.
Cory Diaz (@CoryDiaz_TNS) of the Monroe News Star tells us that self-motivating LA Tech is hungry and angry heading into WKU game after USM loss. Get the rest of the story here.
TICKETS ON SALE: Tickets for the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl are now on sale at www.firstresponderbowl.com. Tickets range from $25 for a general admission seat, to $75 for a reserved lower bowl seat and $150 for a mid-field chair back seat.
Fans will again be able to help thank first responders by “Sponsoring a Responder.” Fans can choose to purchase “additional” tickets for $15 that will be distributed to first responder members and their families. These generous ticket sponsors will be recognized during the game on Dec. 26.
PROJECTING THE MATCHUP
ESPN (Bonagura): BYU vs. North Texas
ESPN (Sherman): BYU vs. North Texas
SBNation: Arkansas State vs. North Texas
USA Today: Tulane vs. LA Tech
SI.com: BYU vs. North Texas
CBS Sports: San Diego State vs. W. Michigan
Sporting News: Marshall vs. Louisiana-Monroe
