Football Writers Association of America News

Florida Citrus Sports and Pop-Tarts have teamed up to present the Pop-Tarts ‘Crazy Good’ Play of the Week during the 2024-25 college football season, with each week's play selected in conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America. Illinois is the winner of the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Play of the Week for Week 8.

This is the the Week 8 installment of the Football Writers Association of America's weekly Freshman Focus for the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award, Freshman Player of the Year and the 2024 FWAA Freshman All-America Team.

The Georgia Bulldogs, the nation's top-ranked team earlier in the season, went into Austin Saturday night and put on a defensive show to knock off top-ranked Texas. For its 30-15 road win in front of a stadium-record crowd of 105,215 that featured seven sacks and four forced turnovers, Georgia (6-1) earned the Cheez-It National Team of the Week award for games played the weekend of Oct. 19, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

Quit complaining about college football

Navy’s Kush’i Abraham is this week’s nominee for the 2024 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Abraham, a sophomore safety, was homeless during different parts of his childhood and overcame an unstable upbringing to become a member of the Naval Academy’s football team.

Arizona State linebacker Caleb McCullough finished with a career-high 12 tackles and impacted the Sun Devils’ 27-19 win over No. 16 Utah with two interceptions last Friday. For keying ASU’s first win over a ranked opponent since 2019, McCullough earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games played the weekend of Oct. 12, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. was a force up front for Texas on Saturday as the top-ranked Longhorns pushed aside No. 18 Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, 34-3. For having the offensive line’s highest individual grade that helped produce 406 total yards, Banks earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 12, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Florida Citrus Sports and Pop-Tarts have teamed up to present the Pop-Tarts ‘Crazy Good’ Play of the Week during the 2024-25 college football season, with each week's play selected in conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America. Penn State is the winner of the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Play of the Week for Week 7.

The Oregon Ducks came from behind twice in the fourth quarter – capped by a game-winning 19-yard field goal from Atticus Sappington – to take down Ohio State, 32-31, in a top-five clash of Big Ten and national title contenders Saturday. For grabbing the win in front of a stadium-record 60,129 fans, the Ducks (6-0) earned the Cheez-It National Team of the Week award for games played the weekend of Oct. 12, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

This is the the Week 7 installment of the Football Writers Association of America's weekly Freshman Focus for the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award, Freshman Player of the Year and the 2024 FWAA Freshman All-America Team.

Indiana’s Aiden Fisher is this week’s nominee for the 2024 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Fisher, a junior linebacker, has overcome the loss of both his father and his stepfather to lead the Big Ten in tackles.

Offensive tackle Gunnar Hansen helped Vanderbilt hold the ball and maintain drives against No. 1 Alabama last Saturday, leading to the season’s most surprising upsets as the Commodores kept scoring and never trailed in a 40-35 takedown of the Crimson Tide. For his top blocking grades and leadership up front in the Commodores’ first win over a top-ranked team in program history, Hansen earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games played the weekend of Oct. 5, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Syracuse defensive end Fadil Diggs came up with a third-down sack in overtime that forced No. 25 UNLV to settle for a field goal, creating the opportunity for the Orange to grab a ranked win on the road, 44-41. For tying his career-high with two sacks and his play on the defensive front, Diggs earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 5, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Florida Citrus Sports and Pop-Tarts have teamed up to present the Pop-Tarts ‘Crazy Good’ Play of the Week during the 2024-25 college football season, with each week's play selected in conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America. Texas A&M is the winner of the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Play of the Week for Week 6.

DALLAS (FWAA) – The Vanderbilt Commodores earned the Cheez-It National Team of the Week earlier this season celebrating their first win in two years over a team receiving votes in the national polls. Saturday the Commodores climbed the scales and took down No. 1 Alabama in a thrilling 40-35 home win. For the program’s first win over a top-ranked team, Vanderbilt has again earned the Cheez-It National Team of the Week award for games played the weekend of Oct. 5, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

This is the the Week 6 installment of the Football Writers Association of America's weekly Freshman Focus for the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award, Freshman Player of the Year and the 2024 FWAA Freshman All-America Team.

Dave Jones wins FWAA Lifetime Achievement Award 

Michigan State’s Armorion Smith is this week’s nominee for the 2024 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Smith, a redshirt junior defensive back, is helping to raise five siblings after the recent passing of his mother.

Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter was an unwanted nemesis in the Illinois backfield last Saturday, logging a career-high four tackles for loss as well as two sacks as the Nittany Lions won their Big Ten Conference opener, 21-7. For his efforts in shutting down the upstart Illini, Carter earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games played the weekend of Sept. 28, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Notre Dame defensive tackle Howard Cross III helped contain Louisville’s high-powered offense and was the nation’s top-graded interior defensive lineman against the pass as the Fighting Irish improved to 4-1 with a 31-24 win over the Cardinals. For his shut-down play and grade, Cross earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 28, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.