Football Writers Association of America News

Louisville offensive lineman Lance Robinson started at right tackle on Friday night, but played most of the evening at left tackle and helped clear the way for the Cardinals to roll up 397 rushing yards and six touchdowns in a 44-20 homefield romp over Florida State. For his efforts up front, Robinson was selected as the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 10, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

DALLAS (FWAA) – Sophomore defensive end/linebacker Andre Porter provided UNLV’s first points Saturday in what became a defensive battle at Allegiant Stadium, and the Rebels needed all of them in a key 13-7 win over previously-undefeated North Dakota State. For his pick-six and a sack that halted a late Bison scoring drive and seal what is now UNLV's three-game win streak, Porter was selected as the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for the weekend of Oct. 10 by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Oklahoma Sooners scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams before Tate Sandell kicked a 47-yard field goal as time expired to defeat No. 1 Texas, 27-24, Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. For rallying from a 10-point halftime deficit and defeating the nation’s top-ranked team, the Sooners earned the Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 10, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

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. Here are the top performances from Week 6, the weekend of Oct. 10.

The Playoff crowd could get thinned out this week.

Jerry Emig claims the FWAA's Bob Holt Lifetime Achivement award after successful career as Ohio State communicator. 

Cayden Green provided complete protection from his offensive tackle spot Saturday, sufficient to assist Missouri in rolling up 220 rushing yards and 560 total yards in its 45-17 romp over No. 8 Florida. For his mistake-free play in Missouri’s first regular-season win over a top-10 team since 2013, Green earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 3, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Two game-changing plays by linebacker Cameron Cooper, one which provided a score and another that took away a opponent's potential score, led to San Diego State’s 31-29 win over Texas State in both teams’ Pac-12 Conference openers Saturday. For his field goal block and fourth-quarter pick-six, Cooper was selected as the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for the weekend of Oct. 3 by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Idaho Vandals scored a touchdown as time expired and converted a two-point attempt to defeat Montana State, the No. 1 team in the country in the Football Championship Subdivision, 35-34, on Friday night at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. For their historic comeback that snapped the defending FCS champions’ 19-game winning streak, the Vandals earned the Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 3, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

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. Here are the top performances from Week 5, the weekend of Oct. 3.

Volney Meece Scholarship applications now being accepted.

Week No. 5 is full of conference matchups.

Colin Simmons set a Texas single-game record with 5.5 sacks Saturday in the Longhorns’ 20-17 win at Tennessee. For his historic mark that ties for the third-best total in FBS history since sacks became an official NCAA statistic in the 2000 season, the junior edge rusher was selected as the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for the weekend of Sept. 26 by the Football Writers Association of America.

Minnesota’s Greg Johnson moved from guard to center for the first time this season and produced one of the top grades among FBS offensive lineman during the Gophers’ 27-24 win at Washington in the Big Ten opener for both teams. For his versatility and high grade that helped Minnesota snap a five-game road losing streak, Johnson earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 26, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Florida Gators rushed for 302 yards, scored touchdowns on their first five possessions of the second half and defeated No. 4 Ole Miss, 52-28, before 90,683 fans at The Swamp. For their first victory over a top-five opponent in six years, the Gators earned the Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Sept. 26, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

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. Here are the top performances from Week 4, the weekend of Sept. 26.

Illinois’ Ismael Kante is this week’s nominee for 2026 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Kante, a fifth-year linebacker, took an improbable journey to become a leader for the Fighting Illini.

The SEC has several key clashes this Saturday.

Ole Miss defensive tackle Will Echoles pressured the LSU backfield all night, making three tackles behind the line of scrimmage and a sack, as the No. 8 Rebels won the weekend’s most-hyped matchup in dramatic fashion over No. 7 LSU, 32-24. For his play up front in leading the Rebels’ charge in front of a Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium record crowd, Echoles earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 19, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Two fourth-quarter takeaways were the highlights of a tremendous overall game Saturday by Arizona State linebacker Owen Long. The junior’s fumble recovery and interception came late in the Sun Devils’ 24-17 win over Kansas in the Union Jack Classic at London’s Wembley Stadium and led to him being selected as the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for the weekend of Sept. 19 by the Football Writers Association of America.