Football Writers Association of America News

Mr. College Football takes a look at the first CFP Rankings of the 2025 season

North Texas safety Quinton Hammonds snagged two second-half interceptions to stall any Navy comeback as the Mean Green ended the Midshipmen’s undefeated run with a 31-17 home win. For his two picks to go with four tackles that helped North Texas keep pace at the top of the American Conference standings, Hammonds earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for the weekend of Nov. 1, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Utah surged past No. 17 Cincinnati, 45-14, on Saturday with an offense that rolled up 480 total yards powered by dominant push up front. Offensive tackle Spencer Fano played a large role in the key Big 12 win as the highest-graded FBS offensive lineman from last weekend’s games and has earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Nov. 1, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Duke is the winner of the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week for Week 10 as Sahmir Hagans followed a late touchdown run with a two-point conversion catch to give the Blue Devils a 46-45 win at Clemson, as selected by the All-America Commitee of the Football Writers Association of America.

The SMU Mustangs upset No. 10 Miami, 26-20, in overtime Saturday with a dramatic final-minute rally, taking a win over its highest-ranked opponent since the 1983 Cotton Bowl. For a career-high performance from its quarterback and winning at home against its highest-ranked opponent since 2016, SMU earned the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week for games the weekend of Nov. 1, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

Each week during the 2025 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage.

Linebacker Xavier Atkins led Auburn’s defense with a career-high 13 tackles Saturday, including a pair of sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss as the Tigers came from behind to take a 33-24 win at Arkansas. For his play leading the Tigers in tackles for a fifth straight SEC game, Atkins earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for the weekend of Oct. 25 by the Football Writers Association of America.

Iowa dominated Minnesota early on and continued to pound the ball throughout its 41-3 win over their Big Ten rival. In the middle of the offensive line that graded as the country’s best last weekend is center Logan Jones. For his role in keeping the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy in Iowa for another season, Jones is the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 25, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Tony Barnhart  takes a look at the CFP chances of several contending teams. 

Texas is the winner of the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week for Week 9 as Ryan Niblett capped a furious fourth-quarter rally with a 75-yard punt return to tie the game and set up the Longhorns for an improbable 45-38 overtime win at Mississippi State, as selected by the All-America Commitee of the Football Writers Association of America.

The Houston Cougars broke out to a 24-0 lead and their defense stood firm in the second half Saturday in a 24-16 win at No. 24 Arizona State. For taking their first road win over a ranked opponent since 2017, the Cougars earned the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week for games the weekend of Oct. 25, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

Each week during the 2025 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage.

DALLAS (FWAA) – Notre Dame bullied its way to a 34-24 win over USC on Saturday, rushing for a season-high 306 yards against a formidable defense and paving the way for another prospective run to the College Football Playoff. Junior guard Billy Schrauth led the way for running back Jeremiyah Love to post the most rushing yards (228) ever by a Notre Dame player at Notre Dame Stadium. For his role in a dominant performance against the Trojans, Schrauth is the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 18, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

DALLAS (FWAA) – Alabama cornerback Zabien Brown produced one of the highlight plays of this past weekend’s games, intercepting a Tennessee pass intended for the Crimson Tide end zone and taking it back 99 yards for a touchdown, a back-breaking pick-six in the final moments of the first half in its 37-20 win over the Vols. That play, plus his pass coverage that allowed only 16 yards, earned Brown the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for the weekend of Oct. 18 by the Football Writers Association of America.

Mr. College Football highlights the important games of this past weekend.

Tulane is the winner of the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week for Week 8 as Shazz Preston made a spectacular juggling touchdown catch with 27 seconds left in a 24-17 win over Army, as selected by the All-America Commitee of the Football Writers Association of America.

The UAB Blazers stood firm at their goal line in the final minute Saturday, holding off No. 22 Memphis four times from its one-yard line to win the “Battle for the Bones," 31-24. For taking its first victory over a ranked team since 2021 and snapping Memphis’ FBS-long 10-game win streak, UAB earned the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week for games the weekend of Oct. 18, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

Each week during the 2025 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage.

FWAA Columnist Mark Blaudschun tries to make some correct reads about the tough seasons at Penn State, North Carolina and Texas.

Auburn’s Alex McPherson is this week’s nominee for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. McPherson, a fourth-year junior, overcame Crohn’s disease to return to kicking for the Tigers this season.