Football Writers Association of America News

FWAA Columnist Mark Blaudschun tries to make some correct reads about the tough seasons at Penn State, North Carolina and Texas.

Auburn’s Alex McPherson is this week’s nominee for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. McPherson, a fourth-year junior, overcame Crohn’s disease to return to kicking for the Tigers this season.

Indiana left offensive tackle Carter Smith helped pave the way for Indiana’s clinching scores and a sharp offensive effort Saturday in its dramatic 30-20 win at No. 3 Oregon. For his play in the Hoosiers’ first road win over a top-five-ranked team, Smith earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 11, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Bishop Fitzgerald had two interceptions and a timely sack in USC’s 31-13 win over Michigan on Saturday and has emerged one of the top defensive backs in the country. For his performance against Michigan that now places him as the country’s interception leader and leadership that has helped push the Trojans into the upper tier of the Big Ten Conference, Fitzgerald has been selected as the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week for the weekend of Oct. 11 by the Football Writers Association of America.

Mr. Coillege Football takes a look at what happened over the weekend.

The Northwestern Wildcats went into Happy Valley and got their first win over Penn State since 2015 with a statement 22-21 victory. Playing turnover-free and limiting Penn State to its lowest yardage this season, the Wildcats earned the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week for games the weekend of Oct. 11, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

Navy is the winner of the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week for Week 7 as Blake Horvath sprinted 51 yards to the end zone and followed it up with a two-point conversion pass to Alex Tecza to rally for a 32-31 win over Temple, as selected by the All-America Commitee of the Football Writers Association of America.

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.

Missouri State’s Connor Lair is this week’s nominee for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Lair, a redshirt junior fullback, beat stage four Hodgkin’s lymphoma to return to the field for the Bears.

Miami safety Jakobe Thomas stole an interception, forced a fumble and had a sack Saturday as the Hurricanes went into Tallahassee, Fla., and recorded a 28-22 win over No. 18 Florida State. The takeaways and leadership behind a resurgent Miami defense has Thomas selected as the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Players of the Week for the weekend of Oct. 4 by the Football Writers Association of America.

Cincinnati left tackle Joe Cotton protected the country’s top-rated quarterback and led the push from one of the nation’s top offenses last week in a 38-30 win over No. 14 Iowa State. For his efforts up front with the surging Bearcats, Cotton earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Oct. 4, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

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.

The UCLA Bruins stunned No. 7 Penn State, 42-37, at the Rose Bowl on Saturday for their first win over an AP Top-10 opponent since 2010. The previously-winless Bruins (1-4) jumped on top early – their first time to lead in a game this season – and held on late to earn the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week for games the weekend of Oct. 4, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

Georgetown is the winner of the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week for Week 6 as Jimmy Kibble leaped and grabbed a 49-yard Hail Mary pass as time expired in a thrilling 27-24 win over Morgan State, as selected by the All-America Commitee of the Football Writers Association of America.

North Carolina’s Max Johnson is this week’s nominee for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Johnson, a sixth-year senior quarterback, overcame a potentially debilitating knee injury to return to the field for the Tar Heels this season.

Calling for Volney Meece Scholarship applications.

Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor played every snap in Saturday’s knock-down, drag-out win over Georgia and graded out at a team-high 89 percent as the Crimson Tide made a statement to open SEC play with a 24-21 road win in Sanford Stadium. For his play not allowing a quarterback pressure or a sack protecting and blocking for an Alabama offense that helped end Georgia’s 33-game home win streak, Proctor has earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 27, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Ohio State’s inside-outside defensive force of Kayden McDonald at tackle and Caden Curry on the end helped the top-ranked Buckeyes limit Washington to just 61 yards on the ground and take a 24-6 road win in Seattle. Curry’s five tackles for loss tied the school record to go with a career-high 11 tackles, and McDonald’s career-high seven tackles included three for losses that earned the duo a share of the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Players of the Week for the weekend of Sept. 27, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

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.

Oregon is the winner of the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week for Week 5 as safety Dillon Thieneman ended a 30-24 overtime win at Penn State with a leaping interception, as selected by the All-America Commitee of the Football Writers Association of America.