FWAA 2023 Season News

Navy’s Xavier McDonald is this week’s nominee for the 2023 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. McDonald, a senior, has overcome a challenging upbringing in St. Petersburg, Fla., to earn a Service Academy appointment.

Missouri is the winner of the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Play of the Week for Week 4. The winning play is Ricky Pearsall's miraculous one-handed grab vs. Charlotte.

Penn State notched a 31-0 home win over Iowa behind an offensive line that is allowing the Nittany Lions to reach historic heights so far this season. Offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu is the stalwart up front at Penn State, which has scored at least 30 points in 11 consecutive games for only the second time in program history. For creating the FBS’ longest active streak of 30-plus-point games, Fashanu earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 23, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston set a school record and tied a Southeastern Conference record with two interception returns for touchdowns Saturday in the Wildcats’ 45-28 win at Vanderbilt. For the 29- and 54-yard scoring returns plus an all-around game that included four tackles and three pass breakups, Hairston earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 23, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

It doesn’t get much closer, and it doesn’t get much better than the Ohio State Buckeyes' 17-14 win at Notre Dame on Saturday. The No. 6 Buckeyes scored on their final play from a yard out, esssentially walking off past the No. 9 Fighting Irish in a memorable rally in primetime. For completing what was a 15-play, 65-yard drive to rally late and win, the Buckeyes (4-0) are the Cheez-It National Team of the Week, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

This is the fourth installment of the Football Writers Association of America's weekly Freshman Focus for the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award, Freshman Player of the Year and the 2023 FWAA Freshman All-America Team.

Virginia's Mike Hollins is the first weekly nominee for the 2023 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Hollins, a graduate student, has played in all three games for the Cavaliers this season after surviving the Nov. 13, 2022 shootings that took the lives of three of his UVA teammates.

Missouri is the winner of the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Play of the Week for Week 2. The winning play is Harrison Mevis' SEC-record 61-yard field goal on the final play that gave Missouri a 30-27 upset win over Kansas State.

Offensive tackle Joe Alt and Notre Dame earned another dominant win Saturday, besting Central Michigan, 41-17, as the Fighting Irish (4-0) rolled up 578 total yards. Alt helped pace a 236-yard ground effort and protected quarterback Sam Hartman well, allowing him to throw for 330 yards and three touchdowns. For creating the holes springing the FBS’s current rushing yardage leader, Alt earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 16, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Carlton Johnson snagged three interceptions and spearheaded Fresno State’s commanding defensive effort in a 29-0 win at Arizona State, tying for the most picks in an FBS game this season. The senior cornerback’s takeaways plus three tackles that led to the Bulldogs’ first shutout of a Power 5 opponent since 1986 earned Johnson the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 16, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

This is the third installment of the Football Writers Association of America's weekly Freshman Focus for the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award, Freshman Player of the Year and the 2023 FWAA Freshman All-America Team.

The South Alabama Jaguars scored on their opening possession and never trailed in a 33-7 win at Oklahoma State, gaining 6.3 yards per play while rolling up 395 total yards en route to their first win over a Big 12 opponent. For romping to the program’s second win over a Power Five opponent, South Alabama earned the Cheez-It National Team of the Week honor, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

Rice is the winner of the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Play of the Week for Week 2. The winning play is Luke McCaffrey's one-handed 32-yard touchdown reception that helped set the tone for the Owls' first win over city rival Houston since 2010 and returns the Bayou Bucket to the Rice campus.

Guard Anez Cooper was the top-graded offensive lineman from a Miami Hurricanes blocking front facing a stiff test against Texas A&M. For helping the Hurricanes gain 451 total yards averaging 8.4 yards per play in their 48-33 win over the No. 25 Aggies, the Miami guard earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Sept. 9, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Edge Ron Stone Jr. spearheaded a Washington State defensive front tallying two sacks and two tackles-for-loss among five total tackles as the Cougars topped No. 19 Wisconsin, 31-22. For the three solo tackles and two forced fumbles as the Cougars hosted – and defeated – a ranked Power 5 team in a non-conference game for the first time, Stone earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Sept. 9, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

This is the second installment of the Football Writer's Association of America's Weekly Freshman Focus for the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award, Freshman Player of the Year and the 2023 FWAA Freshman All-America Team.

Florida Citrus Sports and Pop-Tarts are teaming up to present the Pop-Tarts ‘Crazy Good’ Play of the Week during the 2023-24 college football season. Each week the winning play will be selected in conjunction with the Football Writers Assocation of America.

Duke is the first-ever winner of the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Play of the Week. The winning play is quarterback Riley Leonard’s 44-yard go-ahead touchdown run in the second half of the Blue Devils’ 28-7 upset of then-No. x Clemson on Monday night.

Center Tanor Bortolini paced a Wisconsin offensive line that helped create 312 yards on the ground and two 100-yard rushers as the Badgers opened the season with a 38-17 win over Buffalo. For his play blocking for the current top two running backs in the Big Ten, Bortolini earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the extended weekend of Sept. 2, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Harking back to a bygone era of two-way players, Travis Hunter put on one of the most dynamic performances seen in years as the Colorado cornerback doubling as a wide receiver came up with two touchdown-saving plays on defense while also catching 11 passes as one of four 100-yard receivers in the Buffaloes’ stunning 45-42 win at No. 17 TCU. For his specific defensive play that included a pass breakup and three tackles, Hunter earned the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games during the extended weekend of Sept. 2, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.