WEEKLY NOTES
Nov. 23, 2016
BIG TEN UPDATE
The stakes are high entering the final weekend, with seven teams contending for division titles and five still alive for a spot in the
Championship Game. Standings here.
Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016
11 a.m. (CT)/Noon (ET)
Cotton Bowl Stadium
Dallas, Texas
Year: 7th (Began in 2011)
TV: ESPN
Radio: Heart of Dallas Bowl Network
Teams: Big Ten vs. Conference USA
Executive Director: Brant B. Ringler
MEDIA INFORMATION
Media Contact: Art Garcia
Phone: (817) 797-8379
Email: [email protected]
Website: theheartofdallasbowl.com
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 25 Times CT
#16 Nebraska @ Iowa (ABC)
2:30 pm
Louisiana Tech @ Southern Miss (ESPNews) 3 pm
Saturday, Nov. 26 Purdue @ Indiana (ESPNU)
11 am
Illinois @ Northwestern (BTN)
11 am
Rutgers @ Maryland (ESPNews)
11 am
#3 Michigan @ #2 Ohio State (ABC)
11 am
FIU @ Old Dominion (ESPN3)
2:30 pm
Michigan State @ #7 Penn State (ESPN) 2:30 pm
Minnesota @ #6 Wisconsin (BTN)
2:30 pm
North Texas @ UTEP
3 pm
Florida Atlantic @ Middle Tennessee
4:30 pm
Charlotte @ UTSA
6 pm
Western Kentucky @ Marshall (ESPNU)
6 pm
Rice @ #24 Stanford (Pac-12 Net)
7 pm
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BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP SCENARIOS
EAST: Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State
are in a three-way tie for first, with the
Wolverines and Buckeyes meeting in Columbus. Michigan clinchs a berth in the
Championship with a win, while Penn State
could do likewise with a win over Michigan State, coupled with an Ohio State win.
The Buckeyes need a victory and Michigan
State win to book their ticket to Indy.
WEST: Nebraska and Wisconsin are tied for
first, one game ahead of Iowa and Minnesota. The Hawkeyes and Golden Gophers
could forge a four-way split of the West
Division title with wins over Nebraska
and Wisconsin this weekend, respectively.
However, the Cornhuskers and Badgers are
the only schools still contending for a berth
in the Championship. Wisconsin secures its
spot with a win over Minnesota or an Iowa
victory, while Nebraska needs a win over
the Hawkeyes and a Minnesota victory.
BIG TEN BOWLING
Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska,
Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin
are bowl eligible. Indiana, Maryland and
Northwestern need one win.
CONFERENCE USA UPDATE
The following is a “simple” evaluation of
the league’s 2016 football race and bowl
outlook. Standings here.
CHAMPIONSHIP SCENARIOS
EAST: WKU (6-1) wins the Division by winning at Marshall. WKU can also win the East
with a loss to Marshall if Old Dominion loses to FIU on Saturday. ODU (6-1) wins by
beating FIU and having WKU lose.
WEST: Louisiana Tech (6-1) has clinched.
C-USA BOWLING
Four teams have at least six wins: Louisiana
Tech (8-3), WKU (8-3), Old Dominion (8-3)
and Middle Tennessee (7-4). Three teams
are one win away from bowl eligibility –
North Texas (5-6), Southern Miss (5-6) and
UTSA (5-6).
IN THE NEWS
Brad Stephens of the Bowling Green Daily
News reminds us that Western Kentucky
went to Huntington two Novembers ago to
spoil a party. This year Marshall will have
the chance to play spoiler. Read more here.
Isaiah Hole (@isaiahhole) of Wolverine247
writes that it’s been five years since Michigan last beat Ohio State and sixteen years
since they last beat them on the road -- but
that doesn’t matter to this group of Wolverines. Read the rest here.
Jason Munz (@Munzly) from the Hattiesburg American is writes that confidence
can be a fickle thing for Southern Miss,
once 4-1, in its quest for bowl eligibility.
Get more here.
Jason Galloway (@Jason_Galloway) of the
Wisconsin State Journal writes that Wisconsin has more at stake against Minnesota than any of the previous 125 meetings
with its biggest rival. Read why here.
TICKETS ON SALE
Tickets for the 2016 Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl are on sale at www.heartofdallasbowl.com. Tickets range from $25 for general admission, to $75 for a reserved lower
bowl and $125 for a mid-field chair back.
HOLIDAY CHEER IN BIG D
The seventh Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl
will be played Tuesday, Dec. 27, at the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium on the grounds
of Fair Park. This year’s Zaxby’s Heart of
Dallas Bowl featuring teams C-USA and the
Big Ten is slated to kick off at 11 a.m. CT
(noon ET) on ESPN.
PROJECTING THE MATCHUP
Current projections from college football
writers for the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl:
Colin Becht
Jerry Palm
(CNNSI)
(CBS Sports)
Maryland vs. WKU Colorado State vs. WKU
Bill Bender
(Sporting News)
WKU vs. Vanderbilt
Mark Schlabach
(ESPN)
Hawaii vs. North Texas
Brett McMurphy
Stewart Mandel
(ESPN)
(FOX Sports)
Eastern Michigan vs. MTSU Army vs. LA Tech