DALLAS (FWAA) – 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.
For the second straight week, the Longhorns rallied to avert an upset loss on the road. This time it was with a 24-point fourth quarter that was highlighted by Niblett's second 75-yard punt return for a touchdown that knotted the game at 38. Two weeks ago, the sophomore from Houston sealed the 23-6 win over Oklahoma with a late 75-yard burst.
Texas trailed the Bulldogs, 38-21, with 12:29 left in the game, then scored 24 unanswered points, including a 10-yard scoring pass in overtime from reserve quarterback Matthew Caldwell to Emmett Mosley on 2nd and 8.
The win keeps Texas' SEC championship hopes alive, as the Longhorns sit a 6-2, 3-1 in conference play.
The 2025 season marks the first year the FWAA has presented the award under its new name, the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week, spotlighting the single most decisive play from the weekend’s games. Each winning team receives a custom Cheez-It care package delivered to its campus.
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Kellanova (NYSE: K) is a leader in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North America frozen foods with a legacy stretching back more than 100 years. Powered by differentiated brands including Pringles®, Cheez-It®, Pop-Tarts®, Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats®, RXBAR®, Eggo®, MorningStar Farms®, Special K®, Coco Pops®, and more, Kellanova's vision is to become the world's best-performing snacks-led powerhouse, unleashing the full potential of our differentiated brands and our passionate people. Our net sales for 2024 were $13 billion. For more detailed information about our commitments, our approach to achieving these goals, and methodology, please visit our website at kellanova.com.
ABOUT FLORIDA CITRUS SPORTS
FCS is a not-for-profit event management organization dedicated to positively impacting the Orlando region while enhancing the quality of life in Central Florida through world-class events, including the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, the Pop-Tarts Bowl, the Florida Blue Florida Classic, the Camping World Kickoff and the FC Series. For more information, visit FloridaCitrusSports.com.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,100 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.