DALLAS (FWAA) The Georgia Bulldogs (3-1) stayed perfect in the Southeastern Conference with a thrilling 44-41 win over No. 6 LSU, marking the first time that Georgia has posted two wins over Top 10 teams at home in the same season (the other came against then-No. 6 South Carolina). In winning their 15th consecutive home game, the Bulldogs earned the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Sept. 28.
The announcement came exclusively on SiriusXM Radio's "College Sports Today," hosted by Mark Packer and Eddie George.
Aaron Murray was 7-for-7 through the air for 95 yards and threw touchdowns to close each of Georgia's first two drives and ended with 298 yards and four touchdown passes. The Georgia defense came up with four sacks from four different players, and Josh Harvey-Clemons led the team with 16 tackles, including five solo stops.
"In the moment of truth, we took care of business. That had to be fun for America to watch and for our fans to watch," Georgia head coach Mark Richt said. "You don't get many opportunities like that and have it come out the way it did. It's been an emotional day for me, for the players and coaches, for the fans. We knew it would take everything we had in this game."
Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Sept. 28 included:
East Carolina (3-1): The Pirates went to Chapel Hill and beat in-state rival North Carolina for the first time since 1975, 55-31. Vintavious Cooper was the catalyst, registering career highs of 186 rushing and 70 receiving yards. Shane Carden threw three touchdown passes and ran for three more.
Northern Illinois (4-0): The Huskies knocked off a second Big Ten team this season, blasting Purdue 55-24 on the road. It's the first time a Mid-American Conference school has pulled off that feat. NIU had five takeaways, including four interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Jordan Lynch completed 14 of his first 15 passes en route to a three-touchdown night.
West Virginia (3-2): The Moutaineers held No. 11 Oklahoma State in check in a 30-21 win to open their Big 12 schedule. One week after being shut out against Maryland, WVU found its offense to roll up 388 total yards, and scored 17 unanswered points in the first half to take a 24-14 lead into the half.
The Football Writers Association of America has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the ninth season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
Members of the FWAA All-America Committee decide the weekly honor. Each remaining Monday during the 2013 college football regular season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week.
Founded in 1971, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has hosted seven games that have decided the college football national championship, including four Bowl Championship Series title games. This season, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl will be played on Jan. 1, 2014, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., and the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl will be played on Dec. 28, 2013, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.
The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization
founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,200 men and women who cover college football.
The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key
executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas
that include gameday operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For
more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson
at tiger@fwaa.com or 972-713-6198.
For more information on the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week, go to footballwriters.com or fiestabowl.org.