Football Writers Association of America News

Missouri State’s Connor Lair is this week’s nominee for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Lair, a redshirt junior fullback, beat stage four Hodgkin’s lymphoma to return to the field for the Bears.

Miami safety Jakobe Thomas stole an interception, forced a fumble and had a sack Saturday as the Hurricanes went into Tallahassee, Fla., and recorded a 28-22 win over No. 18 Florida State. The takeaways and leadership behind a resurgent Miami defense has Thomas selected as the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Players of the Week for the weekend of Oct. 4 by the Football Writers Association of America.

Cincinnati left tackle Joe Cotton protected the country’s top-rated quarterback and led the push from one of the nation’s top offenses last week in a 38-30 win over No. 14 Iowa State. For his efforts up front with the surging Bearcats, Cotton earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 4, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Jack Leo takes a look at the top first-year performances last Saturday.

The UCLA Bruins stunned No. 7 Penn State, 42-37, at the Rose Bowl on Saturday for their first win over an AP Top-10 opponent since 2010. The previously-winless Bruins (1-4) jumped on top early – their first time to lead in a game this season – and held on late to earn the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week for games the weekend of Oct. 4, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

Georgetown is the winner of the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week for Week 6 as Jimmy Kibble leaped and grabbed a 49-yard Hail Mary pass as time expired in a thrilling 27-24 win over Morgan State, as selected by the All-America Commitee of the Football Writers Association of America.

North Carolina’s Max Johnson is this week’s nominee for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Johnson, a sixth-year senior quarterback, overcame a potentially debilitating knee injury to return to the field for the Tar Heels this season.

Calling for Volney Meece Scholarship applications.

Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor played every snap in Saturday’s knock-down, drag-out win over Georgia and graded out at a team-high 89 percent as the Crimson Tide made a statement to open SEC play with a 24-21 road win in Sanford Stadium. For his play not allowing a quarterback pressure or a sack protecting and blocking for an Alabama offense that helped end Georgia’s 33-game home win streak, Proctor has earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 27, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Ohio State’s inside-outside defensive force of Kayden McDonald at tackle and Caden Curry on the end helped the top-ranked Buckeyes limit Washington to just 61 yards on the ground and take a 24-6 road win in Seattle. Curry’s five tackles for loss tied the school record to go with a career-high 11 tackles, and McDonald’s career-high seven tackles included three for losses that earned the duo a share of the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Players of the Week for the weekend of Sept. 27, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Jack Leo catalogues the best first-year performances from last Saturday.

Oregon is the winner of the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week for Week 5 as safety Dillon Thieneman ended a 30-24 overtime win at Penn State with a leaping interception, as selected by the All-America Commitee of the Football Writers Association of America.

The Virginia Cavaliers knocked off then-No. 8 Florida State in overtime Friday, setting loose a wild celebration as Virginia won its fourth home game of the season, 46-38. For taking its highest-ranked win at Scott Stadium in the last 20 years, Virginia has earned the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week for games the weekend of Sept. 27, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

Mr. College Football takes a look at games last Saturday.

Jesse Temple, formerly of The Athletic, has been named the winner of the FWAA's Steve Ellis Beat Writer of the Year Award for the 2024 season, the association announced on Thursday. He still covers Wisconsin, but now reports for Badger Connect.

Michigan’s Ernest Hausmann is this week’s nominee for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Hausmann, a senior linebacker, has overcome numerous childhood hardships to develop into a captain for the Wolverines who has started his own charity and poured his heart into numerous causes for the underserved.

Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had a hand in two turnovers Saturday to go with a team-leading 11 tackles as the Red Raiders more than contained then-No. 16 Utah in a statement 34-10 road win. For his game-changing plays and defensive leadership in Texas Tech’s Big 12 Conference opener, Rodriguez has earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for the weekend of Sept. 20 by the Football Writers Association of America.

Oklahoma defensive tackle Jayden Jackson posted a career-high 2.5 sacks among a school-record defensive punch by the Sooners in a 24-17 home win Saturday over No. 22 Auburn. Jackson doubled his career sack total in the game and has earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 20, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Jack Leo reviews the top first-year coach and player performances during last Saturday's games.

Mr. College Football takes a look at the results of last weekend and offers some opinions.