Week 1 // 2025
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
I’m kind of nervous right now, more than when I kicked the game-winning field goal, speaking English is tough. I enjoyed the moment and when we gave up the second touchdown to Stanford and I was like, ‘Oh, this is going to be my game.’ I just prepared for the game-winning field goal, I just focused on myself.
- Hawaii placekicker Kansei Matsuzawa on how he felt kicking the game-winning field goal in the win over Stanford
GAMES WATCH to
TEAM TO WATCH TEAM oF THE WEEK
PENN STATE Iowa state
Coming off a CFP Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl victory in the 2024-25 season, Penn State enters its season with national championship aspirations.
The Nittany Lions expect to once again have a high-powered offense at their disposal with the return of Drew Allar at quarterback. Allar begins his senior season ranks first all-time at Penn State in completion and interception percentage along with third all-time with the program in touchdown passes and passing efficiency. Running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, who each had over 1000 yards last season, return for the Penn State offense.
Defensively, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP Zakee Wheatley returns for the Nittany Lions.
Head Coach James Franklin leads Penn State into its season opener against Nevada in Beaver Stadium on Saturday, August 30, at 12:30 pm PHX time on CBS.
In its opener to the 2025 season, No. 22 Iowa State notched a 24-21 victory over No. 17 Kansas State as quarterback Rocco Becht passed for two touchdowns and ran for another score.
After Kansas State cut a 10-point Cyclones lead to three with 6:23 left, Iowa State possessed the ball the rest of the game. With 2:26 left in the game, Iowa State Head Coach Matt Campbell had his team go for it on fourth-and-3 at the K-State 16-yard line. Becht found Carson Hansen for 15 yards to seal the win.
Becht was 14-for-28 for 183 yards. He found Dominic Overby for a 23-yard touchdown in the first quarter and passed to Brett Eskildsen for a 24-yard score in the third quarter.
The win in the Aer Lingus Football Classic marked Campbell’s 100th career win and the fifth time in the past six seasons Iowa State defeated Kansas State. The Cyclones return to the States for its home opener versus South Dakota on Saturday, August 30, at 12:30 pm PHX on FOX.
For a full schedule of Week 1 games, click here. (All times in PHX)
2025 BOWL PREDICTIONS
GAME OF THE WEEK
Texas opens 2025 as the preseason No. 1 team and the Longhorns look to make a statement against the defending national champions. The Longhorns will immediately have a chance to validate that ranking when Texas travels to No. 3 Ohio State at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday.
Ohio State continues to build on their momentum coming off winning its ninth national championship. In their playoff run for the national championship, the Buckeyes took down Tennessee, Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame in a historic run to the title. This rematch against Longhorns could be the first of multiple meetings this year.
The showdown kicks off at 9:00 am PHX time on Saturday, August 30, on FOX.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
avery johnson
K-State quarterback Avery Johnson had a 70.0 percent completion range against conference foe Iowa State in the Aer Lingus Football Classic as he threw for 273 yards for two touchdowns.
Johnson, who concluded his sophomore campaign in last season’s Rate Bowl, threw 195 yards in his team’s comeback win against Rutgers. Johnson set a Kansas State record for most touchdown passes in a season as he wrapped up the 2024 season at the Rate Bowl with 25 scoring passes.
Johnson and the Wildcats return to Manhattan on Saturday looking to bounce back as they host North Dakota on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. PHX time.
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Tickets Now Available for Purchase for College Football Playoff
Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on January 8
With another exciting season of college football about to kick off, tickets to close out the season at the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl are now on sale to the public. With a berth in the CFP National Championship on the line, the CFP Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl will kick off on January 8, at 5:30 p.m. MST at State Farm Stadium.
Game tickets and premium experiences for the CFP Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl are available by visiting fiestabowl.org/tickets, calling 480.350.0911 or emailing tickets@fiestabowl.org. Those interested in premium experiences may contact 602-480-9004 or premium@fiestabowl.org.
BIG NEWS
The Rate Bowl features Bowl Season’s only Big 12 vs. Big Ten matchup at a new afternoon time of 2:30 p.m. MST on Friday, December 26. As we eagerly await kickoff in downtown Phoenix, we’re bringing you weekly game highlights, player reports and other updates from the two conferences. Here’s the BIG news heading into Week 1:
BIG 12
• Defending conference champion Arizona State is ranked No. 11 in the preseason AP Poll. The Sun Devils are one of four preseason ranked Big 12 teams, third-most among conferences
• In addition, No. 17 Kansas State, No. 22 Iowa State and No. 23 Texas Tech reside in the top 25 with Baylor, Colorado, TCU and Utah all receiving votes
• Kansas State, coached by Chris Klieman, is the defending Rate Bowl champion following a 44-41 victory over Rutgers – the third bowl victory in four seasons. After falling to Iowa State in Dublin, Kansas State returns home for a Week 1 matchup against North Dakota
• No. 22 Iowa State, winner of the 2021 Fiesta Bowl, has been ranked in 15 of the last 16 AP polls. After winning the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, the Cyclones face South Dakota at home
• Texas Tech was voted into the AP Preseason Top 25 for the first time since 2008. The Red Raiders, led by fourth year head coach Joey McGuire, open their season against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Lubbock
• In addition to Utah at UCLA and Cincinnati vs. Nebraska, Week 1 will feature another Power Four matchup with TCU traveling to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina on Monday
BIG TEN
• The Big Ten boasts six teams in the preseason AP Poll, second only to the SEC’s 10 ranked teams. Of the six ranked Big Ten teams, three occupy spots in the top 10, led by No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 7 Oregon. No. 12 Illinois, No. 14 Michigan and No. 20 Indiana round out the top 25 while Iowa, Nebraska and USC all received votes
• No. 3 Ohio State, the defending national champion following a 34-23 win over Notre Dame, begins a new year with a top three matchup against No. 1 Texas on Saturday
• In its first year in the Big 10, No. 7 Oregon won the Big Ten championship and will begin the 2025 season hosting Montana State on Saturday. The Ducks achieved their first undefeated regular season since 2010 and went 13-0 last season for the first time in program history
• Illinois, ranked No. 12, begins the season in the AP poll in the top 15 for the first time since 1990. The Fighting Illini will open their season at home against Western Illinois on Saturday
• No. 20 Indiana qualified for the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history last season. In Head Coach Curt Cignetti’s first season at the helm, he led the Hoosiers to their first 10-overall win, sevenconference win season in program history. Indiana will face Old Dominion at home on Saturday
• The Week 1 Big Ten slate will feature some nonconference matchups with Power Four opponents including Utah at UCLA on Saturday, along with Nebraska vs. Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Thursday
news in the foundation
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION IN COLLABORATION WITH LEGACY FOUNDATION EXPANDS IMPACT ON ARIZONA SCHOOLS THROUGH AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR (AED) EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING
In the second year of the Fiesta Sports Foundation AED Assistance Program presented by BHHS Legacy Foundation, 21 total schools across Phoenix received certified AED training and equipment. As a result of the training and equipment, more than 9,400 students and 1,200 teachers were positively impacted.
Following the trainings, Fiesta Sports Foundation and BHHS Legacy Foundation presented a total of 25 AED units at celebration ceremonies with members from all 21 schools.
Interested schools who would like to receive benefits from the AED program in future years may complete an interest form here
CFP SEMIFINAL AT THE Vrbo FIESTA BOWL JANUARY 8, 2026 RATE BOWL DECEMBER 26, 2025