FWAA 2025 Season News

Army’s Larry Pickett Jr. is the first weekly nomination for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Pickett, a sophomore safety, rescued a man from a burning car earlier this season.

The Georgia Bulldogs outlasted Tennessee in overtime Saturday, rolling up more than 500 total yards to remain undefeated on the season and win in SEC opener. Drew Bobo was the stalwart up front at center, guiding an offensive line that plugged some injury holes in its starting lineup and still cranked up multiple rallies in the win, including in overtime. For his efforts, Bobo has earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 13, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Snagging a pair of interceptions that included a pick-six as well as guiding the LSU defense to shut down Florida in the second half of their featured game has earned Tigers safety Dashawn Spears the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America.

Quarterback Haynes King engineered a final-minute scoring drive Saturday capped by a walk-off 55-yard field goal from Aidan Birr as Georgia Tech toppled No. 12 Clemson 24-21. For snapping its nine-game losing streak in the series and winning its ACC opener, the Yellow Jackets (3-0) are the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week for games the weekend of Sept. 13, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

Texas A&M is the winner of the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week for Week 3 after its game-winning 11-yard touchdown pass in a thrilling 41-40 victory at No. 8 Notre Dame, as selected by the All-America Commitee of the Football Writers Association of America.

The Missouri Tigers controlled the trenches against rival Kansas on Saturday, grinding out two 100-yard running backs and clearing space for a 300-yard passer in their 42-31 win at Faurot Field. For his play leading the offensive line as Missouri gained 595 total yards and moved to 2-0 for a third consecutive season, guard Dominick Giudice has earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 6, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Army West Point linebacker Collin Matteson intercepted a pass on Kansas State’s final drive, finishing off a stellar performance amidst the Black Knights’ defense in a 24-21 road win at Kansas State. For leading the Army stop crew, Matteson has been named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America.

Mississippi State is the winner of the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week for Week 2 for Brenen Thompson's 58-yard touchdown reception with 30 seconds left as the Bulldogs beat No. 12 Arizona, 27-21, in Starkville. The win marked the first over a top 15 nonconference opponent since 1991 for Jeff Lebby's club.

South Florida claimed its second straight win over a Top 25 opponent Saturday, as Nico Gramatica’s 20-yard walk-off field goal stunned then-No. 13 Florida, 18-16. With ranked wins in back-to-back weeks for the first time in program history, the Bulls (2-0) are the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week for games played the weekend of Sept. 6, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America’s All-America Committee.

Florida State spearheaded a fine start to its season Saturday with the 31-17 win over then-No. 8 Alabama, spurred by an offensive line that didn’t allow a sack for the first time in nearly two full seasons and rushed for 230 yards. At the helm of that line was redshirt senior center Luke Petitbon, who has earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Aug. 30, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Florida State scored 24 consecutive points in the middle quarters and pointed its fortunes forward in a statement win Saturday over No. 8 Alabama, 31-17, at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Seminoles notched their ninth non-conference win of the last 10 seasons against an SEC team, second-most in the country, and earned the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week for games the weekend of Aug. 30, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

Florida Citrus Sports and Cheez-It have teamed up to present the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week during the 2025 college football season, with each week's play selected in conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America.

The Football Writers Association of America has announced the preseason watch list for the 2025 Outland Trophy, recognizing 50 returning standout interior linemen representing nine of the FBS conferences and Independents. The 2025 season will close with the award's 80th winner selected from players spread among at least 35 different programs that includes one returning FWAA All-American.

The Football Writers Association of America released its 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List today, selecting three returning FWAA All-Americans among 60 defensive standouts as contenders for the national defensive player of the year. The list contains players from 41 different schools in eight Division I FBS conferences plus Independents.

Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports is the sixth recipient of the Edward Aschoff Rising Star Award, which is presented annually by the Football Writers Association of America. The award is named after Edward Aschoff, the beloved ESPN college football reporter who died on Christmas Eve in 2019 on his 34th birthday from previously undetected Stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in his lungs.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club in conjunction with the Football Writers Association of America, officially announced today Brian Bosworth, college football defensive legend from the University of Oklahoma, as Keynote Speaker for the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet scheduled for Monday, December 8th.

Staying behind in college for another year didn't suit Ewers  

Mark Blaudschun: The world of college football has evolved tremendously over the past several years--not so much on the field. That continues to provide "the thrill of victory''  and "agony of defeat'' moments. But off the field the sport is barely recognizable from as recently as 10 years ago.

Dennis Dodd mastered the art of college football story-telling from the press box. Yet when pressed to talk about those accomplishments, Dodd is quick to point out a dubious record.  "Let's see, I've been locked into three stadiums …"  Dodd announced his retirement after 27 years at CBS Sports on Thursday. Dodd will cover the 2025 NCAA men's basketball tournament. His last day is April 10. Dodd has covered college football for CBS Sports – formerly CBS SportsLine – since 1998.

Mark Blaudschun: It is only March and the College Football Playoff Selection Committee has already made a great decision for the 2025 season. In adding long-time journalists and FWAA members Steve Wieberg and Ivan Maisel to its group, the CFP made its best move--ever. Here's why.