For handing Arizona State its first home non-conference loss since 2017 and becoming the first Mid-American Conference team to beat a Pac-12 Conference team in the regular season, the Eagles (2-1) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Sept. 17, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.
This is the first time for . . .
The Eagles are no stranger to showing early-season prowess and its success came from a handful of new stars. EMU jumped out to a 3-0 lead when Jesus Gomez hit his first career field goal attempt from 27 yards out. Sophomore quarterback Austin Smith came off the bench in the second quarter and on his second possession led a 13-play, 75-yard scoring drive that he extended with a 20-yard run on a third-down play. He threw for 60 yards – the first passing yards of his career – and later threw for a touchdown along with 62 rushing yards. EMU scored on five of its first six possessions.