DALLAS (FWAA) – Each week during the 2026 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 sixth straight year, the top first-year coach in the FBS will be honored at a special reception on Monday Feb. 22, 2027 at Spurrier's Gridiron Grille in Gainesville, Fla. The Spurrier Legends Awardee Coach and Freshman Players of the Year will also be honored.
Here are the top performances from Week 6, the weekend of Oct. 10:
FIRST-YEAR PLAYERS: THE FRESH FOUR
Notre Dame RB Jonaz Walton (5-10, 214, Carrollton, Ga.): 13 rushes, 181 yards, 2 TD; 2 rushes, 28 yards
Notre Dame scored 58 points in its demolition of Stanford, but perhaps no player was more explosive than Walton. He displayed elite speed on touchdown runs of 97 and 40 yards. Walton appears to have established himself as the top running back for the Fighting Irish, as he led Notre Dame in carries and yards rushing for the second consecutive week. Walton can introduce himself to the country when Notre Dame visits No. 8 BYU.
USC WR Trent Mosley (5-10, 180, Chicago, Ill.): 9 receptions, 111 yards, 1 TD; 1 rush, 9 yards
Mosley has scored a touchdown in all four games he’s played, and that included the first points of USC’s 31-23 win over Penn State. Mosley set the tone for the win with a 19-yard touchdown catch on the Trojans’ first possession. He also displayed his physicality with a high-point catch and his catch-and-run ability on short receptions. Mosley and the Trojans have a week off before hosting Wisconsin on Oct. 24.
Oregon State WR Jesse Legree (5-10, 172, Baltimore, Md.): 10 receptions, 191 yards, 3 TD
Legree caught three touchdowns for the second consecutive week in a 66-14 domination of San Diego State. The young deep threat had touchdown catches of 11, 71 and 31 yards in the win. Legree also surpassed Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith for the most receiving yards in the FBS (932). Legree will try to erupt again in the Beavers’ rivalry contest against Washington State.
Arizona State RB Cardae Mack (5-10, 215, Houston Texas): 13 rushes, 154 yards, 2 TD
Mack picked Arizona State’s 30-12 win over Hawaii for a breakout game. He had 60 yards to his name before Saturday, when he led the Sun Devils in touches and total yards of offense. Mack also delivered a knockout blow on his 67-yard touchdown sprint, which gave Arizona State a 24-6 lead late in the third quarter. Mack can make his name on a national stage this Saturday when the Sun Devils visit No. 8 Sun Devils.
STEVE SPURRIER FIRST-YEAR COACHES
Ryan Beard, Coastal Carolina: Beard’s Chanticleers exploded out to a 27-0 lead over slight favorite Marshall and held on for the victory. The 27-21 win was Beard’s first conference — and FBS — victory as a head coach. Coastal Carolina was outgained 505-308 but compensated by winning the turnover margin 6-1. The Chanticleers will try to win another Sun Belt game when the host Appalachian State on Friday.
Bob Chesney, UCLA: It was far from pretty, but Chesney’s Bruins pulled off a momentous upset at Oregon by a 17-15 count. UCLA committed three turnovers but forced seven of their own to stifle the Ducks’ offense. Chesney’s defense was also elite on pivotal plays — Oregon was 1-for-14 on third and fourth down conversion attempts. The No. 12-ranked Bruins can move to 6-0 for the first time since 2022 against Wisconsin on Saturday.
Tosh Lupoi, California: Lupoi won his first ACC home game in dramatic fashion. Ashten Emory gave California its game-winning touchdown against Virginia Tech on a two-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left in the game. In his first career start, Jackson Brousseau led the Golden Bears with 29 completions for 321 yards and a touchdown. California can earn its first ranked win of the season when it hosts No. 21 Wake Forest on Saturday.
Will Stein, Kentucky: Stein's Wildcats converted a walk-off two-point conversion in overtime for a 35-34 win for the second consecutive week. This time, the Wildcats did it to upset No. 10 LSU, their second upset of a top-10 win this season. Quarterback Kenny Minchey, who completed 23 passes for 246 yards, delivered the final blow with a short scramble. Standing at third in the SEC, Kentucky aims to keep its momentum rolling at Oklahoma on Saturday.