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 14, the weekend of Nov. 29:
FIRST-YEAR PLAYERS: THE FRESH FOUR
North Texas RB Caleb Hawkins (6-2, 200, Shawnee, Okla.): 25 rushes, 186 yards, 4 TD; 2 receptions, 28 yards
Hawkins’ first three touchdowns helped North Texas take a dominant 35-7 halftime lead in a 52-25 win over Temple. The freshman logged his fourth game this season with at least four touchdowns. Hawkins has scored 16 rushing touchdowns in November and now leads the nation with 23 on the season. Hawkins and fellow freshman phenom quarterback Drew Mestemaker can punch their College Football Playoff ticket with an American Conference title at Tulane on Friday.
Cal QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (6-3, 225, Ewa Beach, Hawaii): 31/40, 330 yards, 4 TD
Sagapolutele led California to one of the top upsets of rivalry weekend, toppling SMU 38-35. The true freshman made highlight throws throughout the night, including several on a game-winning touchdown drive with less than a minute left. Sagapolutele notched the first four-touchdown game of his career against an SMU defense that has averaged just 20.7 points allowed per game this season. Sagapolutele and the Golden Bears finished the season at 7-5 and will await their bowl fate.
Ohio State QB Julian Sayin (6-1, 208, Carlsbad, Calif.): 19/26, 233 yards, 3 TD; 7 rushes, 4 yards
Sayin looked nothing like a freshman against one of college football’s toughest defenses in a hostile environment with harsh weather conditions. The redshirt freshman didn’t let an early interception derail a dominant performance as he led top-ranked Ohio State to a 27-9 win at Michigan. Sayin, who protected his hopes for the Heisman Trophy, would be the first freshman to win the award since Jameis Winston in 2013. Sayin aims to dominate another conference powerhouse when Ohio State faces Indiana in the Big Ten Championship on Saturday.
Miami WR Malachi Toney (5-11, 188, Liberty City, Fla.): 13 receptions, 126 yards, 1 TD; 5 rushes, 30 yards, 1-2 passing, 9 yards, 1 TD
Toney might have had the most diverse statistical performance of the season in Miami’s 38-7 blowout of Pittsburgh. The true freshman had over 100 yards receiving for the second straight week and not only caught a touchdown pass, but he also threw one. Toney took a direct snap, rolled to his right and connected with a wide-open Elija Lofton to take the lead for good. Toney and the Hurricanes’ College Football Playoff hopes are still alive, and they will wait for their postseason fate to be announced on Sunday.
STEVE SPURRIER FIRST-YEAR COACHES
Jason Eck, New Mexico: Eck led New Mexico to its best season since 1982, as the Lobos finished 9-3 with a 23-17 double overtime win over San Diego State. Eck signed a five-year extension with New Mexico following the gutsy win. New Mexico finished the season on a six-game winning streak. Eck and the Lobos will await their postseason fate and will chase the program’s first 10-win season since 1982.
Blake Harrell, East Carolina: East Carolina scored all six of its touchdowns in a 42-3 domination of Florida Atlantic by halftime. Harrell’s Pirates outgained the Owls 524-338 and forced five turnovers. East Carolina imposed itself at the line of scrimmage, rushing for 266 yards while limiting Florida Atlantic to 39. The Pirates finished 8-4 and will await their postseason fate.
Charles Kelly, Jax State: Kelly’s Gamecocks pulled a slight upset of Western Kentucky by a 37-34 count. Kelly’s offense masterfully burned four minutes and 18 seconds off the clock on an 11-play, 50-yard drive ending in a 28-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. Freshman quarterback Caden Creek led the Gamecocks with 204 passing yards and two touchdowns and another 143 yards and another score on the ground. Jax State finished the season 8-4 and will await its postseason opponent.
Dan Mullen, UNLV: Mullen has the Rebels back in the Mountain West Championship after a 42-17 domination of Nevada. Mullen’s first season back in coaching since 2021 has been a success, as he led the Rebels to their second 10-win season in program history. UNLV’s conference championship path looked slim after consecutive losses in the middle of the season, but the Rebels rallied and went 4-0 to finish the regular season. Mullen now faces the task of avenging last season’s conference title game loss at Boise State, which also hammered UNLV 56-31 earlier this season.
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.