DALLAS (FWAA) – 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.
For the fifth straight year the top first-year coach in the FBS will be honored at a special reception Feb. 23, 2026 at Spurrier's Gridiron Grille in Gainesville, Fla. The Spurrier Legends Awardee Coach and Freshmen Players of the Year will also be honored.
Here are the top performances from Week 9, the weekend of Oct. 25:
FIRST-YEAR PLAYERS: THE FRESH FOUR
BYU QB Bear Bachmeier (6-2, 230, Murrieta, Calif.): 22/35, 307 yards, 2 TD; 12 rushes, 49 yards, 1 TD
Bachmeier etched his name in BYU folklore Saturday night, leading the Cougars to a 41-27 comeback win over Iowa State. The true freshman led his team back from a 24-10 deficit halfway through the second quarter, and BYU outscored the Cyclones 24-3 in the second half. Bachmeier, who logged his third game with at least three total touchdowns, is the only FBS freshman quarterback leading an undefeated team into November. Bachmeier and the Cougars have the week off to prepare for a highly anticipated road trip to Texas Tech on Nov. 8.
Utah QB Byrd Ficklin (6-1, 200, Muskogee, Okla.): 10/22, 140 yards, 2 TD; 20 rushes, 151 yards, 1 TD
Ficklin silenced any doubters about his first career start, leading Utah to a 53-7 beatdown of Colorado. The true freshman replaced injured starter Devon Dampier and helped the Utes top 400 yards rushing for the first time this season. Ficklin and the Utah offense gelled immediately, jumping out to a 43-0 lead by halftime. Ficklin can introduce himself to the country on Saturday by upsetting Cincinnati, which boasts a 5-0 conference record.
North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker (6-4, 211, Austin, Tx.): 37/49, 608 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
Mestemaker might have had the best statistical performance in all of college football last week as North Texas hammered Charlotte 54-20. The redshirt freshman’s 608 yards passing set a school record. Mestemaker torched the 49ers secondary with touchdown passes of 70 and 41 yards in the win. Mestemaker will face a tougher defense this Saturday when undefeated Navy visits.
Tennessee LB Edwin Spillman (6-1, 230, Nashville, Tenn.): 15 tackles
Tennessee’s defense was far from perfect in a 56-34 win at Kentucky, but Spillman had a breakout game. The redshirt freshman transfer from Lipscomb led the Volunteers with 15 tackles, and the team’s No. 2 tackler only had six. Spillman tallied double-digit tackles for the first time in his career as Tennessee held the Wildcats to just 146 yards rushing on 39 attempts. Spillman and the Volunteer run defense will be tested this Saturday when Oklahoma visits Knoxville.
STEVE SPURRIER FIRST-YEAR COACHES
Jake Dickert, Wake Forest: Dickert’s Demon Deacons upset 5.5-point favorite 13-12 last Saturday. Kicker Connor Calvery snuck a 50-yard field goal just over the crossbar as time expired to give Dickert the biggest win of his young tenure. Dickert’s defense held SMU to 246 yards of offense, forced three turnovers and allowed four third-down conversions in 17 attempts. Wake Forest can earn bowl eligibility and a winning record in conference play with at Florida State this Saturday.
Charles Huff, Southern Miss: The Golden Eagles exploded for a season-high seven touchdowns in a 49-21 win over ULM. Huff’s offense tallied 445 total yards and averaged over five yards per rush and 10 yards per pass. Southern Miss led just 21-14 at halftime before pulling away for their fourth consecutive win. Huff’s Golden Eagles have the week off to prepare for a trip to Arkansas State on Nov. 8.
Jerry Mack, Kennesaw State: Mack’s resurgent Owls had no problem taking their momentum on the road, beating Florida International, 45-26. Kennesaw State jumped out to a 14-0 lead and never looked back in its fifth consecutive win. Mack’s Owls averaged over five yards per rush and 16 yards per pass. Mack can lead Kennesaw State to its first FBS bowl with another road win at UTEP on Tuesday.
Jimmy Rogers, Washington State: Rogers’ Cougars pulled a slight upset against Toledo by a 28-7 final. Washington State exploded for 21 points in the second quarter to take control for good. Quarterback Zevi Eckhaus sandwiched a rushing touchdown with passing touchdowns on three consecutive drives in the quarter. Rogers will prepare for one of two regular season games against fellow Pac-12 survivor Oregon State on Saturday.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516.