AP TOP 25 EXTRA POINTS: NO. 23 MEMPHIS GIVES STATE OF TENNESSEE 3 TEAMS IN RANKINGS FOR FIRST TIME
Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Memphis are no strangers to The Associated Press college football poll. Until now, the three schools from the Volunteer State had never been ranked in the Top 25 together.
Memphis is the first Bowl Subdivision team to go 6-0 and achieve bowl eligibility, and Sunday the Tigers received their first ranking of the season at No. 23.
“Hopefully we continue to win football games and hopefully there continues to be positive headlines about this group and about this program,” sixth-year coach Ryan Silvefield said. “We want to continue to see that leaping Tiger, that Memphis logo, on national television week after week and people talking about us in a positive light — not only about this athletic department, this football program, but our great city.”
The Tigers, who won 34 games over four seasons with Seth Henigan at quarterback, have rallied around Brendon Lewis and are among the front-runners for the Group of Five bid in the College Football Playoff. Lewis, who transferred from Nevada, leads an offense averaging 40.5 points per game to rank second in the American Conference and 450 yards per game to rank third.
Memphis’ season highlight so far is its 32-31 win over Arkansas in a game in which it trailed by 18 points in the second quarter. The Tigers have lopsided wins over Florida Atlantic and Tulsa since. Their toughest remaining games, against No. 24 South Florida and Tulane, are at home.
No. 12 Tennessee, the state’s flagship institution, has appeared in at least one poll in all but eight seasons since 1985. They’ve been absent in only two polls since the start of the 2022 season, and their 642 total weeks as a ranked team are 13th-most.
The Vols (4-1) go into this week’s home game against Arkansas with the nation’s top scoring offense, at 51 points per game. They’ve scored over 40 points in five consecutive games for the first time. Their four defensive touchdowns lead the Southeastern Conference and rank second in the FBS.
No. 20 Vanderbilt, anchored at the bottom of the Southeastern Conference for most of its football history, appeared in only seven polls from 1959-2023. The Commodores were ranked two weeks last year and Sunday were in a fourth straight poll, a school record.
The Commodores, coming off a 30-14 loss at now-No. 8 Alabama, are 5-1 and off to their best start since 2008. Their next game is at home Oct. 18 against No. 11 LSU.
Middle Tennessee, the state’s other FBS program, has never been ranked in its three decades in the FBS. Tennessee is among 13 states that have had at least three teams ranked simultaneously over the 89-year history of the poll.
Franklin’s flop
A season that began with so much promise for Penn State is spiraling and James Franklin’s proverbial seat is blistering hot.
“There’s going to be a lot out there to divide, divide, divide,” Franklin said minutes after the Nittany Lions’ 42-37 loss at UCLA made them the first top-10 team since 1985 to lose to an opponent that was 0-4 or worse.
A columnist for the Patriot-News, a central Pennsylvania newspaper covering Penn State football, suggested the school and Franklin come up with an exit strategy on the plane ride home from the West Coast. Other media outlets tempered discussion of a firing with Franklin’s seemingly prohibitive buyout, which the Patriot-News reported to be $56 million if he’s let go this year. Names of replacements have been bandied.
Franklin said the Nittany Lions must tune out the noise and stick together. “Not going to be easy,” he said, “but I think we’ll do that.”
Penn State, following its emotional loss to Oregon, was supposed to use the UCLA game to get right and was a 24 1/2-point favorite.
The Lions opened as a 22 1/2-point favorite at home against Northwestern on Saturday, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Proceed with caution, bettors. Penn State is 0-5 against the spread this season.
Red Raiders’ eye on prize
No. 9 Texas Tech has its highest ranking since 2008 and is among 15 unbeaten teams along with Big 12 mate BYU. Those teams play in Lubbock on Nov. 8. Quarterback Behren Morton says the Red Raiders are only concerning themselves with this week’s home game against Kansas. Texas Tech is bidding for its first Big 12 championship and CFP bid.
“Standings are cool, but at the end of the day what matters is us and the standard is the standard,” Morton said. “And we’re going to play to our standard of football every week and we’ll see where the polls take us.”
Extra points
Saturday’s Red River Rivalry game between No. 6 Oklahoma and Texas in Dallas will be the first since 2017 that won’t be a Top 25 matchup. Texas fell out of the rankings following its loss to Florida. … No. 1 Ohio State has not allowed a first-half touchdown or given up more than nine points in a game through five games. The last season the Buckeyes had more than five consecutive games when it held opponents to 10 points or fewer was 1979. … No. 2 Miami is the only team with three wins over ranked teams. … In two SEC games, No. 5 Texas A&M has held opponents to a combined 1 of 23 on third-down conversions.
MIAMI’S CARSON BECK JOINS OREGON’S DANTE MOORE ATOP HEISMAN RACE
The Miami Hurricanes have knocked off three ranked opponents through their first five games of the season, helping quarterback Carson Beck vault to the forefront of the Heisman Trophy race.
A co-favorite at one point earlier this season, Beck drifted back a few spots before leading a convincing win Saturday night at No. 18 Florida State. In his first road game as a Hurricane, Beck threw four touchdowns in the 28-22 victory.
The primetime win over an in-state rival saw Beck’s Heisman odds trimmed from +1200 to +500 at BetMGM. That moved him ahead of Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who had emerged as the latest in a growing list of favorites at +750 last week. He is now +700, ahead of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson and Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith at +800.
Smith, who has the shortest odds among non-quarterbacks by a wide margin, opened at +1300 but has seen his odds steadily shorten while catching 35 passes for 463 yards and six touchdowns through the top-ranked Buckeyes’ 5-0 start.
Meanwhile, DraftKings is still offering Moore as the slight +600 favorite ahead of Beck (+650) and Simpson (+700), with Smith a bit further back at +1000.
HEISMAN TROPHY ODDS*
PLAYER, POS, TEAM, OPEN, WEEK 6, CURRENT
Carson Beck, QB, Miami (+2000), (+900), (+500)
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon (+2000), (+750), (+700)
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (+5500), (+1000), (+800)
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (+1300), (+1000), (+800)
Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (+5500), (+1300), (+1300)
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss (OFF), (+1500), (+1500)
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State (+2000), (+1700), (+1500)
Joey Aguilar, QB, Tennessee (+5000 Week 2), (+1300), (+2000)
CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame (+5000), (+2500), (+2000)
Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State (+4000), (+2000), (+2000)
Marcel Reed, QB, Texas A&M (+4000), (+1500), (+2000)
Arch Manning, QB, Texas (+900), (+2000), (+8000)
The Heisman field does appear to be whittling down to those four with several other previous leading candidates seeing their hopes dashed by poor performance or injury.
That includes preseason favorite Arch Manning, whose odds have tumbled to +8000 at BetMGM while Texas has plummeted out of the Top 25. His fall stands to be a big win for sportsbooks, with BetMGM reporting the Longhorns quarterback to be its second-biggest Heisman liability as Manning leads all players with 11.3 percent of all money wagered backing him to win.
The book’s biggest liability has not threatened the Heisman picture since the season kicked off. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love was a popular longshot choice at +5000, but his odds are still only +4000 with the Fighting Irish having suffered a pair of losses.
Other favorites also have stumbled: LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier (+4000) due to mediocre play and fellow quarterbacks LaNorris Sellers (+8000) of South Carolina and Oklahoma’s John Mateer (+3000) due to injury. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who also rose to favorite status in September, remains in the conversation at +1300.
Mateer is the third biggest liability and Sellers the fifth, with Smith being the only one among the top 5 who remains in the thick of the race. He has been backed by 7.2 percent of the money and 8.0 percent of the total bets, second behind only Manning’s 8.6 percent.
AUBURN SHIFTS 2026 GAME VS. BAYLOR TO ATLANTA FOR NIL BOOST
Auburn shifted its 2026 matchup with Baylor from Jordan-Hare Stadium to the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, set for Sept. 5, 2026, the school announced Monday.
The game had been slated as the Tigers’ home date in the home-and-home series following the 2025 meeting in the season opener in Waco, Texas. As part of the new arrangement, the Peach Bowl and Aflac Kickoff will tie event promotions to name, image and likeness opportunities for Auburn players.
“Any time we have the ability to advance Auburn student-athletes’ ability to earn third-party NIL compensation, we will take that opportunity,” Auburn athletic director John Cohen said. “The exposure of playing on a national stage against a Power Four opponent in one of the premier neutral-site games in the country will not only benefit our student-athletes financially, but it will also enhance their brands.”
Peach Bowl, Inc. COO David Epps called the plan a new template for neutral-site games.
“As college football adapts to the new NIL world, we have to find creative ways to make sure everyone gets a win in games like these,” Epps said. “We worked in partnership with Auburn to create a new model for neutral-site games — one that moves the chains financially for the universities and student-athletes.”
The Tigers last played in Atlanta in 2018 and have appeared in the kickoff event three times previously (2012, 2015, 2018). The move trims Auburn’s 2026 home slate to six contests (Southern Miss, Jacksonville State, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Florida and LSU).
Auburn and Baylor opened this season in Waco, where the Tigers won 38-24. The series dates to 1954 and stands 2-2-1 after that result.
FORMER NO. 1 TEXAS TUMBLES TO UNRANKED AHEAD OF RIVALRY GAME WITH NO. 6 OKLAHOMA
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas has troubles.
The preseason No. 1 is now unranked. Preseason Heisman Trophy favorite quarterback Arch Manning has struggled and is taking a beating behind an offensive line that can’t protect him.
Next up: resurgent No. 6 Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl in one of the great rivalries in college football. And the Sooners will be eager for payback after taking a beating in Dallas last season.
After two consecutive appearances in the College Football Playoff, the Longhorns’ season is on the brink at the midway point. The Longhorns (3-2, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) were beaten by Florida last week and now try to avoid consecutive losses for the first time since 2021.
“There’s no such thing as a championship team without going through some adversity,” said Texas safety Michael Taaffe, who also predicted the Longhorns were about to go on a “crazy run” to put the season back on track.
“The only ranking that matters is at the end of the year,” Taaffe said.
What ails Texas starts with Manning, who has struggled to live up to the hype.
Manning’s 16 total touchdowns and 1,151 yards passing stand up as respectable. But they belie a 60% completion rate, indecisive throws and misfires of open receivers.
Manning has had his moments, and put up a gritty performance against Florida, but he and the entire offense have been inconsistent at best.
A rebuilt offensive line has had him constantly on the run and is committing penalties at an alarming rate. The Gators sacked Manning six times and held the Longhorns to 52 yards rushing.
Still, Manning earned praise from coach Steve Sarkisian and his Longhorns teammates for playing hard while taking so many hits last week.
“I found out he’s a tough dude,” Sarkisian said. “He stood in there and showed a lot of contact courage … Does he need to play better? Sure. We need to play better around him.”
The defense has yet to deliver on its potential as well. A unit led by preseason All-Americans Colin Simmons, Anthony Hill Jr., and Taaffe dominated San Jose State, UTEP and Sam Houston. But it has no sacks in two games against Power 4 opponents and got pushed around by the Gators, who also ripped the secondary for big plays.
Rivalry week could be a scary prospect for a struggling team, and yet it may be just what Texas needs.
Beat Oklahoma (5-0, 1-0) and the Longhorns are back in the thick of the SEC title chase. And that’s the first step into getting the Longhorns back into the march toward the 12-team playoff. Texas made it to the conference title game with one loss last season.
“We’ve got a talented group. We’re going to get better each week. We’re going to be tough to beat,” Manning said. “We’re going to play better than (against Florida). I feel confident about that.”
But lose to Oklahoma and the panic in Austin hits new levels in a season that could threaten to mirror 2010.
That year, Texas was coming off an appearance in the 2009 national championship game. The Longhorns started the season No. 5 behind quarterback Garrett Gilbert, a 5-star recruit expected to be the next big thing after Heisman Trophy finalist Colt McCoy.
Texas started 3-0 but was showing early cracks in the armor before cratering to a 5-7 finish.
“You’re never going to feel great after a loss, but it’s a time to come together,” said defensive lineman Hero Kanu, who transferred from last season’s national champion Ohio State. “I need to lean on my brothers right now.”
ILLINOIS, NEBRASKA, OHIO STATE AND UCLA EARN WEEKLY FOOTBALL HONORS
Offensive Player of the Week
Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
QB – So. – Long Beach, Calif. – Warren
· Accounted for five touchdowns and 294 yards of total offense to lead UCLA to a 42-37 upset against No. 7 Penn State
· Set single-game career highs in rushing yards and touchdowns and tied a program record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback
· Led UCLA to the program’s first home win over a top 10 AP team since 2007, the most points allowed and rushing yards (269) by Penn State in a regular season game since 2022
· Had a 52-yard scramble in the third quarter, a career-long rush and UCLA’s longest play of the season
· Last UCLA Offensive Player of the Week: Ethan Garbers (Oct. 21, 2024)
Defensive Player of the Week
DeShon Singleton, Nebraska
S – Sr. – Greensburg, La. – St. Helena
· Led a Nebraska defense that produced three takeaways, including two interceptions by Singleton, in a win vs. Michigan State
· Became the first Husker to record a pair of interceptions in a game since 2023
· Added six tackles as Nebraska limited Michigan State to a total of 240 yards, including just 84 rushing yards
· Last Nebraska Defensive Player of the Week honoree: JoJo Domann (Oct. 4, 2021)
Special Teams Player of the Week
David Olano, Illinois
K – Jr. – Naperville, Ill. – Naperville North
· Perfect 5-for-5 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra points to account for 19 points in #22 Illinois’ 47-23 road win at Purdue
· Most field goals made in a game by a Big Ten player this season and tied the Illinois record for field goals made in a game
· Second Illini ever and the first since 1982 to make five field goals in a road game
· Last Illinois Special Teams Players of the Week: David Olano (Sept. 29, 2025)
Freshman of the Week
Julian Sayin, Ohio State
QB – Carlsbad, Calif. – Carlsbad
· Completed 23 of 27 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in Ohio State’s 42-3 win over Minnesota
· He found Jeremiah Smith for touchdown scores of six and nine yards and Carnell Tate on a 44-yard play
· He completed 14 of 17 passes for 237 yards and two scores in the first half as Ohio State built a 21-3 lead, and then he was even sharper in a 21-point second half with nine completions in 10 attempts
· Leads the nation in completion percentage (80.2), is third in efficiency (196.99) and eighth in touchdown passes (13)
· Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week: Julian Sayin (Sept. 8, 2025)
MAC ANNOUNCES WEEK 6 FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MAC Football Offensive Player of the Week
Victor Snow, Buffalo, Wide Receiver
R-Junior, Webster, NY (Webster-Schroeder)
Victor Snow had six receptions for a career-high 136 yards and two touchdowns and scored the go-ahead touchdown in overtime on a nine-yard run to help the Bulls defeat Eastern Michigan, 31-30. With the Bulls trailing, 7-0, Snow caught a pass over the middle and dashed 75 yards for a touchdown. Down seven late in the third quarter, Snow caught a 19-yard touchdown pass to tie the game once again. He scored the go-ahead touchdown in overtime on a nine-yard run.
MAC Football Defensive Player of the Week
Nathan Voorhis, Ball State, Defensive End
Senior, Stroudsburg, Pa. (Stroudsburg HS)
Ranked third nationally in sacks prior to Saturday’s game, Nathan Voorhis slammed the Ohio backfield for a part in four different sacks against elusive Ohio QB Parker Navarro. Voorhis was credited for 3.5 sacks and now leads the country with eight total sacks and 1.60 per game. Voorhis ignited a Cardinals defense that limited Ohio to just 95 total yards in the second half. Voorhis led the Ball State defense with eight total tackles. He nearly created another sack but was credited with a QB hurry.
MAC Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Dylan Drennan, Buffalo, Punter
R-Freshman, Dallas, TX (Jesuit Dallas)
Dylan Drennan averaged 56.6 yards on five punts, including a career-long 76-yard boot in Buffalo’s win over Eastern Michigan. He had three punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He had a 57-yard punt down at the one-yard line, a 50-yard punt downed at the six-yard line and his 76-yard punt was downed at the eight.
BIG 12 FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR WEEK SIX
Offensive Player of the Week:
Noah Fifita, QB, Arizona and Josh Hoover, QB, TCU
Defensive Player of the Week:
Jake Golday, LB, Cincinnati and Namdi Obiazor, LB, TCU
Special Teams Player of the Week:
Stone Harrington, K, Texas Tech and Connor Hawkins, K, Baylor
Freshman of the Week:
Bear Bachmeier, QB, BYU
Offensive Line of the Week:
Cincinnati
Defensive Line of the Week:
Texas Tech
IRVING, Texas – Cincinnati, TCU and Texas Tech had multiple weekly honorees in the Big 12 Conference awards for Week Six. The quarterback duo of Arizona’s Noah Fifita and TCU’s Josh Hoover (offensive) received awards alongside Cincinnati’s Jake Golday and TCU’s Namdi Obiazor (defensive). Place kickers Stone Harrington from Texas Tech and Connor Hawkins from Baylor (special teams) took home honors, and BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier was named Freshman of the Week for the third time this season. Cincinnati also had the Offensive Line of the Week, while Texas Tech was recognized with the Defensive Line of the Week.
Fifita found the endzone five times and guided the Wildcats to 41 points in their win over Oklahoma State. The Arizona quarterback threw for 376 yards, completed 28 of his 38 passes, and matched his career high with five touchdown passes. Fifita eclipsed 300 passing yards for the ninth time in his career as he moved into fourth and third in school history in career passing yards and passing touchdowns, respectively.
Accounting for all five of TCU’s touchdowns in a win versus Colorado, Hoover was the catalyst of the Horned Frog offense with 23-of-33 passing for 275 yards and four touchdowns. He added 20 yards on the ground and a score and helped his team erase an early 14-point deficit. The victory also makes the seventh game of four or more touchdown passes in his career, which leads all active FBS quarterbacks.
Golday earned his second Big 12 weekly honor of the year in Cincinnati’s 38-30 win over then-No. 14 Iowa State. He finished the day with 13 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. The Arlington, Tennessee native also had a game-saving fourth-and-1 stop in the red zone to secure UC’s highest-ranked win in Nippert Stadium since 2006. Golday leads the Big 12 with 49 tackles this season, which is tied for 13th nationally.
As the only Big 12 player with double-digit tackles, a forced fumble and an interception in Week Six, Obiazor finished TCU’s win against Colorado with 10 tackles and a sack to go along with his interception and forced fumble. He was part of a defensive unit that held Colorado to 217 yards passing with three interceptions. The win also marked Obiazor’s fifth game of double-digit tackles and second interception of his career.
Harrington made a trio of kicks in Texas Tech’s win in Houston as part of a kicking operation that set a program record with five field goals. His three field goals were from 23, 26 and 26 yards out while booting five kickoffs for touchbacks to limit the Cougars’ return game. Harrington’s kickoffs that were returned had an average starting position inside the 20-yard line.
Winning Conference honors for the second time this season after kicking another game-winning field goal, Hawkins made both of his field goal attempts and all three extra points in Baylor’s 35-34 victory over K-State. He opened the game with a make from 30 yards out before sending in the game winner from 53 yards in the final minute. Hawkins’ 53-yarder ties the longest made field goal by a Baylor player in McLane Stadium history, matching Isaiah Hankins in 2023.
Bachmeier was named Big 12 Freshman of the Week for the second straight week, and the third time this season, after guiding BYU to a 38-24 win versus West Virginia. He completed 72% of his 25 pass attempts for 351 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 43 yards and a score. His 351 passing yards were the second-most by a freshman QB in school history and included an 85-yard pass to Chase Roberts, which was BYU’s longest completed pass since 1996.
Earning Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week for the third time this season and for the second consecutive week, Cincinnati’s front line was instrumental in its 38-30 win over then-No. 14 Iowa State. The Bearcats did not allow a sack for the fourth time this season while amassing 474 yards of total offense, including 260 rushing yards to become the third Big 12 team to surpass 250 yards on the ground in a game this season.
The Texas Tech defensive line posted a banner performance in the Red Raiders’ 35-11 win at Houston, holding the Cougars to just 267 yards of total offense. Tallying 22 total quarterback pressures in the game, Texas Tech recorded two sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble versus Houston. The Red Raiders finished the week ranked ninth in FBS in total defense.
WEEK 6 ACC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference has announced its Football Players of the Week following standout performances in Week 6. Honorees were selected by a vote of a select media panel.
QUARTERBACK – Carson Beck, Sixth Year, QB, Miami (Jacksonville, Florida)
- Completed 20-of-27 passes for 241 yards and four touchdown passes in Miami’s 28-22 road win over No. 18 Florida State.
- Threw two touchdown passes apiece to Malachi Toney and CJ Daniels.
- Finished with a 190.4 passer rating and no turnovers in the top-20 win.
RUNNING BACK – Hollywood Smothers, R-So., RB, NC State (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- Averaged an incredible 30.8 yards per rush in the 56-10 win over Campbell.
- Rushed just four times but recorded his fourth 100-yard game of the season with 123 total yards (all in the first half).
- 59-yard rush for a score was the longest run of his career.
- Hit paydirt again on a 16-yard pass from CJ Bailey, as one of his two receptions for 30 yards in the contest.
- Leads the ACC and ranks second in the FBS in rushing yards with 693 (115.5 ypg).
RECEIVER – Chris Bell, Sr., WR, Louisville (Yazoo City, Mississippi)
- Led all ACC receivers with 170 yards on 12 receptions in the overtime contest versus No. 24 Virginia.
- Had touchdown catches of 15 and 13 yards, giving him nine career touchdown receptions.
- With his 170 yards, he recorded the fourth 100-yard receiving game of his career.
- His 170 receiving yards are the highest total by a Louisville player in a single game since Dez Fitzpatrick had 182 yards at Boston College in 2020.
- Earned the Receiver of the Week honor for the second consecutive week.
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN – James Brockermeyer, R-Sr., OL, Miami (Fort Worth, Texas)
- Anchored a strong offensive line that powered Miami to 404 total yards (272 passing, 132 rushing) in a 28-22 win at No. 18 Florida State.
- While at center, he helped protect Carson Beck, who threw for four touchdowns.
- Helped lead a unit that did not allow a sack in the win.
- Miami’s offense converted 4-of-5 third downs for the game.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN – Mitchell Melton, Gr., DE, Virginia (Silver Springs, Maryland)
- Recorded the first multi-sack game of his career in Virginia’s 30-27 overtime win over Louisville.
- To go along with his 2.0 sacks, he added five tackles (three solo), a forced fumble and a pass breakup.
- One of seven ACC players with multiple forced fumbles this season.
- Earned the Defensive Lineman of the Week honor for the second straight week.
LINEBACKER – Kam Robinson, Jr., LB, Virginia (Tappahannock, Virginia)
- Registered a team-high 10 tackles (six solo), one tackle-for-loss and one quarterback hurry in Virginia’s 30-27 overtime win at Louisville.
- Gave UVA its first lead of the second half by returning an interception 47 yards for a touchdown.
- Marked the second interception return for a touchdown for his career and the first by a Cavalier since his pick-six against Louisville in 2023.
- Recorded double-digit tackles in each of the last two games.
DEFENSIVE BACK – Jakobe Thomas, Fifth Year, DB, Miami (Tullahoma, Tennessee)
- Delivered a standout defensive effort in Miami’s 28-22 win at No. 18 Florida State.
- Finished the game with five tackles, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and two pass breakups.
- Helped the Hurricanes move to 5-0 on the season and record their third win over a top-25 ranked opponent this year.
SPECIALIST – Elijah Slibeck, Jr., P, Virginia (Fishers, Indiana)
- Punted five times for a total of 243 yards, an average of 60.8 yards per punt.
- Blasted a 71-yard punt in the third quarter that pinned Louisville at the 1-yard line and led to a three-and-out by the Cavalier defense.
- The 71-yarder is tied for the fourth-longest punt in FBS this season.
- Long punt was the longest by a UVA punter since Nash Griffin booted a 78-yard punt in 2019, also at Louisville.
- One of only 11 punters in Virginia history to record a punt of at least 71 yards.
ROOKIE – Mason Heintschel, Fr., QB, Pitt (Oregon, Ohio)
- Became the first true freshman quarterback at Pitt to win his first career start since Kenny Pickett in 2017, when he defeated No. 2 Miami.
- Completed 30-of-41 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns in Pitt’s 48-7 win over Boston College.
- Became the first ACC true freshman with 300 passing yards and four touchdowns in his first career start since Deshaun Watson in 2014.
- Became the first Pitt freshman to throw for 300 yards and four touchdowns in a game without an interception since at least 1995, and the first Pitt quarterback overall to do so since Kenny Pickett against Georgia Tech in 2021.
- Also, the first ACC freshman to accomplish that feat since Drake Maye did it three times in 2022.
SEC FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: OCT. 6
OFFENSIVE
DJ Lagway, QB, Florida
- Lagway completed 21-of-28 passes (75.0%) for a season-high 298 yards (third-highest total of career) and two touchdowns.
- Was a perfect 4-for-4 for 31 yards on Florida’s opening drive.
- He posted the third-best quarterback rating of his career (180.8) while completing at least 75% of his passes for the second time in five starts this season.
- Has posted a QB rating above 130.0 in nine of his last 11 games.
- Lagway delivered a 150.0-plus rating for the eighth time in his career. He has thrown a touchdown in 10 out of his last 12 contests.
- Lagway’s 60-yard connection with WR Vernell Brown III marked his 14th-career completion of 40-plus yards.
DEFENSIVE
Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama
- Led the Alabama defense with 14 total tackles against No. 16/17 Vanderbilt.
- Registered a team-best nine solo stops and five assisted tackles.
- More than tripled the next-closest tackler on the team.
- Added one sack (-11 yards) and a forced fumble on the day.
- His sack came on 1st-and-10 of Vandy’s final drive to put the Commodores behind the sticks and lead to an eventual turnover on downs in that sequence, ending any comeback hopes.
- Jefferson’s forced fumble on Diego Pavia came at the UA 13 as Vanderbilt was threatening to take a two-score lead early in the first quarter.
- The turnover led to an eventual touchdown on the Tide’s very next drive.
- Played a key role on an Alabama defensive unit that limited Vanderbilt to 333 yards of offense and only 14 points, well-below their season averages of 494.4 ypg and 49.0 ppg, respectively.
Daymion Sanford, LB, Texas A&M
- Nine tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 1 INT versus Mississippi State.
- Recorded career highs in tackles, while earning his first career INT … posted a 82.9 overall defensive grade, a 81.9 run defensive grade, a 82.3 tackling grade and a 70.2 pressure grade, according to Pro Football Focus.
- Logged 0.5+ sack for the third consecutive game … over the last three games, has totaled 18 tackles, 4.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks … secured his seventh career game with 7+ tackles.
- Led a Texas A&M defense which limited Mississippi State to 9 total points – 29.6 points below the Tigers’ season average (38.6) … anchored a defense that limited the Bulldogs to 1-for-10 performance on 3rd down & just 77 rushing yards, including a mere eight, six, and nine yards in the second, third and fourth quarter, respectively.
- Helped the defense limit Mississippi State to 219 total yards, which was more than 200 yards below the Bulldogs’ season average entering the game (429.8).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Tate Sandell, PK, Oklahoma
- Redshirt junior K Tate Sandell was 3 for 3 on field goal attempts and 5 for 5 on PAT tries in Oklahoma’s 44-0 win over Kent State in Norman.
- He made field goals from 49, 39 and 55 yards.
- His 55-yard field goal was a personal career long, tied for the seventh longest in school history and tied for OU’s fourth longest at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
- He improved to 9 for 10 on field goals and 18 for 18 on PATs this season.
Taylor Spierto, WR, Florida
- Spierto blocked a punt to force a safety in the second quarter.
- It marked Florida’s first blocked punt since Derek Wingo vs. Charlotte on Sept. 23, 2023 and the Gators’ first safety since Nov. 25, 2023 vs. FSU.
- The play also represented Florida’s first blocked punt in SEC play since Jordan Pouncey at LSU on Oct. 16, 2021.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama
- Directed Alabama’s offensive line unit in the Crimson Tide’s 30-14 win over No. 16/17 Vanderbilt.
- Played all 69 snaps at center.
- Graded out at an 88 percent by the UA coaching staff.
- Did not allow a sack, pressure or quarterback hit on the afternoon.
- Registered a team-high 11 knockdown blocks against the Commodores.
- Helped Alabama rack up 486 total yards, including 146 on the ground against the SEC’s third-ranked run defense.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Cashius Howell, DE, Texas A&M
- Three tackles, 3.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, one PBU versus Mississippi State
- Posted a 85.1 defensive grade, including a 86.2 pressure grade, according to Pro Football Focus … his pressure grade was the eighth highest in Week 6 among FBS edge rushers who played at least 30 snaps … the 3 tackles accounted for minus-26 total lost yards (1.0 sack for minus-7 yards, 1.0 sack for minus-12 yards & 1.0 sack for minus-7 yards).
- Led a Texas A&M defense which limited Mississippi State to 9 total points – 29.6 points below the Tigers’ season average (38.6) and just three points in the first half.
- Anchored a defense that limited the Bulldogs to 1-for-10 performance on 3rd down & just 77 rushing yards, including a mere eight, six, and nine yards in the second, third and fourth quarter, respectively.
- Helped the defense limit Mississippi State to 219 total yards, which was more than 200 yards below the Bulldogs’ season average entering the game (429.8).
FRESHMAN
Dallas Wilson, WR, Florida
- Had a game-high six receptions, 111 yards and two touchdowns in his first collegiate game and start.
- Set UF records for receptions, yards and touchdowns for a true freshman wide receiver in their first career start.
MW FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK – OCT. 6
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Old Trapper Mountain West Football Players of the Week have been announced for Week 6. San José State quarterback Walker Eget has been tabbed the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, while fellow Spartan and senior cornerback Jalen Bainer was named MW Defensive Player of the Week. UNLV wide receiver Kayden McGee MW Special Teams Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week honors.
The MW awards are the first for all three players.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
WALKER EGET, SAN JOSÉ STATE
Senior, Quarterback, Santa Clarita, California/West Ranch HS
• Completed 26 of his 30 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns to lead San José State past New Mexico, 35-28.
• Completed his first 13 passes of the game and had another 10-pass completion streak in the contest.
• His 86.7 completion percent for the contest is tied for the FBS lead this season among quarterbacks with at least 30 attempts.
• His 70-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter was the longest pass of Eget’s career.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JALEN BAINER, SAN JOSÉ STATE
Senior, Linebacker, San Marcos, California/San Marcos HS
• Logged a career-high nine tackles, including his first career sack, and two interceptions in SJSU’s 35-28 win over New Mexico.
• Eight of his tackles were solo stops.
• Both interceptions came in the second half, as he ended Lobo drives in the third and fourth quarters.
• Became the first Spartan with multiple interceptions in a game since 2019.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER/FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
KAYDEN MCGEE, UNLV
Redshirt Freshman, Wide Receiver, Muskogee, Oklahoma/Muskogee HS
• Blocked a punt and returned a different blocked punt for a touchdown in UNLV’s 31-17 win at Wyoming.
• In the first quarter, he scooped up a blocked punt and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown to help the Rebels to a 14-3 lead.
• In the second quarter, he blocked a punt that was recovered by UNLV and returned 13 yards for a touchdown to make it 24-3.
• Also helped pin Wyoming deep on two UNLV punts, downing one at the Wyoming 2-yard line and preventing another from entering the end zone by tipping it back into the field of play, where it was downed at the Wyoming 7-yard line.
C-USA: FB: OCTOBER 6 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
DALLAS – Conference USA announced Monday its weekly award winners for week six. The weekly awards are voted on by a panel of the league’s media.
Offensive Player of the Week – Maverick McIvor, WKU – Gr. – QB – San Angelo, Texas
McIvor put together another strong performance in WKU’s 27-24 win at Delaware on Friday, helping the team improve to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in CUSA play with the second road conference win in six days. He finished with 230 yards and a touchdown on 23-31-0 passing and added 36 yards on six rushing attempts. It marked his highest rushing total since he ran for 45 yards on six carries against Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 21, 2023. With the Tops holding a 20-17 lead over the Blue Hens in the third quarter, McIvor led an 80-yard drive to put his team ahead by 10 heading into the final frame. He completed all six pass attempts for 69 yards, including a five-yard touchdown pass to George Hart III.
Defensive Player of the Week – Naeten Mitchell, NM State – R-So. – S – Temple, Texas
Mitchell notched a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown to cap the scoring in a 37-10 win over Sam Houston on Thursday night. It marked the longest pick-six in CUSA this season and the eighth-longest in the nation. He led the Aggies (3-2, 1-1 CUSA) with 10 tackles, including seven solo stops and one tackle for loss. Mitchell’s 10 stops were the second-most by any CUSA player in week six, and he was the only CUSA player with multiple passes defended (two PBU, 1 INT). He currently ranks third in total tackles (44) among all FBS safeties.
Special Teams Player of the Week – Ryan Hawk, NM State – Gr. – K – Columbus, Ohio
Hawk accounted for 13 points in the Aggies’ 37-10 win over Sam Houston as he went a perfect 3-3 on field-goal attempts and 4-4 on extra point tries. He improved to 4-5 on attempts from 40-49 yards this season with his longest make of 45 yards in the fourth quarter. With 1.8 field goals per game, Hawk leads CUSA and ranks 15th nationally. He also recorded seven touchbacks on eight kickoffs, with the only non-touchback coming on an intentional pooch kick that turned into one of the most pivotal plays of the game as the Aggie coverage team jumped on the loose ball at the two-yard line. NM State scored three plays later to take a commanding 27-10 lead.
Freshman of the Week – Marvis Parrish, WKU – Fr. – RB – Valdosta, Ga.
Parrish posted 27 yards on five rushing attempts with a long of 11 yards in WKU’s 27-24 victory at Delaware on Friday, helping the Hilltoppers improve to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in Conference USA play with their second league road win in six days. His 5.4 yards per carry was his highest tally of the year. Parrish leads the Hilltoppers in rushing attempts with 47 and is second on the team in rushing yards (184) and receptions (23).
Offensive Lineman of the Week – Laurence Seymore, WKU – R-Sr. – LG – Miami Gardens, Fla.
Seymore was part of a WKU offense that put up 338 yards in the 27-24 win at Delaware on Friday, helping the Hilltoppers improve to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in Conference USA play with their second league road win in six days. WKU tallied 230 yards through the air and completed 74% of its passes with the help of Seymore, who posted a pass blocking grade of 86.6 over 60 snaps at left guard and didn’t allow a sack, hit or hurry. Seymore also posted the best run blocking grade on the team, 73.1.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE: WEEK 6 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
IRVING, Texas – The American Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly football honors from Week 6 of the 2025 season.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Blake Horvath • Sr. • QB • Navy
Horvath set a program record with 469 yards of total offense to help Navy remain unbeaten with a 34-31 win against Air Force in the first game of the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy series. Horvath completed 20 of 26 passes or a career-high 339 yards and three touchdowns (80, 60, 19), while adding 130 rushing yards, including a 59-yard TD, on 17 carries.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kamari Wilson • Jr. • DB • Memphis
Wilson led a Memphis defense that limited Tulsa to season lows of seven points and 246 yards and forced four turnovers in the Tigers’ 45-7 win, extending Memphis’ winning streak to 10 games. Wilson finished with a team-high eight tackles, including one tackle for loss, and had a 15-yard interception return in the victory.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Gianni Spetic • Jr. • K • Memphis
Spetic scored nine points as he connected on a 50-yard field goal and was 6-for-6 on PATs in Memphis’ 45-7 win against Tulsa, extending the Tigers’ winning streak to 10 games and clinching bowl eligibility for the 12th consecutive season. Spetic ranks second among American kickers in scoring at 8.5 points per game.
HONORABLE MENTION
Cale Hellums • Jr. • QB • Army
Came off the bench to rush for 81 yards and three touchdowns (5, 1, 5) in a 31-13 win at UAB.
Michael Kirch • Sr. • TE • Florida Atlantic
Had four receptions for 82 yards and two touchdowns (30, 2) in a 27-21 win at Rice.
Brendon Lewis • Sr. • QB • Memphis
Completed 26 of 30 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 67 yards and a TD in a 45-7 win against Tulsa.
Eli Heidenreich • Sr. • WR • Navy
Had eight receptions for a program-record 243 yards and three touchdowns (19, 80, 60) in a 34-31 win against Air Force.
Byrum Brown • Sr. • QB • South Florida
Accounted for 373 yards of total offense and five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) in a 54-26 win against Charlotte.
HCAC 2025 FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK, WEEK 4
HCAC PRESS RELEASE
CARMEL, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) football teams competed in week four of the 2025 season.
Around the League:
HCAC Football Schedule
Athletes of the Week:
Offensive Player of the Week:
Marshall Kmiecik (Michigan City, Ind.) Franklin College | Quarterback | Sophomore – Kmiecik threw for 335 yards and engineered a late seven-play, 71-yard drive to lead Franklin to a 34-33 victory at Muskingum. The sophomore made an 11-yard throw to Jordan Fonda on fourth and 8 to keep hope alive and then followed with completions on the next three plays as well, the last an 11-yard to Isaiah Miller for the winning points with 1:13 remaining. Kmiecik had three passing TDs and added a 15-yard scoring run.
Defensive Player of the Week:
Brady Pierce (Thompson Station, Tenn.) Mount St. Joseph University | Safety | Senior – Brady Pierce had a huge day for the Lions in the 41-21 win over Anderson, including a school-record 97-yard interception returned for a touchdown. The pick-six was one of two interceptions for Pierce in the game. To go along with 6 tackles (4 solo), and two pass breakups.
Special Teams Player of the Week:
Drew Michael (Eaton, Ohio) Anderson University | Kicker | Junior – Michael tied Bluffton’s school record with 4 field goals on Saturday, hitting from 23, 38, 39 and 41 yards while also connecting on 3 PAT’s for a school-record tying 15 kicked points. Michael added four kickoffs for 188 yards as Bluffton opened HCAC action with a 39-23 win over Manchester.
Notable Performances:
Offensive Players:
- Adam Dunson (Columbus, Ohio) Anderson University | Wide Receiver | Senior – Adam Dunson tallied 108 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns in Saturday’s loss to Mount St. Joseph.
- Jaivon Hudson (Bedford, Ohio) Bluffton University | Running Back | First Year – Hudson led Bluffton’s three-headed ground monster with 12 carries for 117 yards and a score as the Beavers ran for 301 yards total in a 39-23 win over Manchester.
- Eian Roudebush (New Palestine, Ind.) Hanover College | Quarterback | Junior – Eian Roudebush led the Panther attack as they defeated Rose-Hulman 44-10, including three first quarter touchdowns. The junior quarterback threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns, finishing the game 26-of-30. He also added 16 rush yards and a score. Roudebush led an offense that had 439 total yards of offense.
- Eli Aston (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) Mount St. Joseph University | Wide Receiver | Sophomore – Mount St. Joseph wide receiver Eli Aston helped the team to a 41-21 win over Anderson to open HCAC play. He hauled in 5 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in the game.
- Jay Smith (Evansville, Ind.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Running Back | Senior – Jay Smith was a standout offensively for the Fightin’ Engineers in their 25-17 loss to Albion. Smith led the team with 29 carries for 91 yards rushing and one rushing touchdown in the narrow loss. Smith also recorded five catches for 20 yards receiving.
Defensive Players:
- Devin Hogan (Warren, Mich.) Bluffton University | Linebacker | Junior – Hogan was the engine that helped stuff Manchester’s offense in a 39-23 victory on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans managed just 58 yards on the ground and 242 total. He led the Bluffton defense with six total tackles, that included 1.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.
- Brayden Baker (Bedford, Ind.) Franklin College | Linebacker | Sophomore – Baker was all over the place in the Grizzlies’ thrilling 34-33 victory at Muskingum, making a career-high 19 tackles (10 solo, 9 assist). He had 2.5 tackles for loss, forced a fumble and added a QB hurry. Two of Baker’s tackles came during the fourth-quarter defensive stop that allowed Franklin to get the ball back with 2:49 left for a game-winning drive.
- Ashton Schuetter (Jasper, Ind.) Hanover College | Linebacker | Senior – Schuetter helped lead the Panthers to a 44-10 victory at Rose-Hulman. The senior had nine stops, six of them solo, and a tackle for loss. He was a key member of the defense that held the Fightin’ Engineers to just 151 yards of total of offense.
- Ziare Sullivan (Fort Wayne, Ind.) Manchester University | Defensive Line | Sophomore – The Spartans might not have won their conference opener against Bluffton, but Ziare Sullivan was a wrecking ball on defense. Sullivan tallied 5 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks on the afternoon.
Special Teams Players:
- Clint Hearne (Madison, Ind.) Hanover College | Kicker | Senior – Hearne helped lead the Panthers past Rose-Hulman 44-10. The senior kicker went 5-for-6 on PAT’s. He also added an impressive 45 yard field goal as time was running out in the second quarter.
- Angel Estrada (Bremen, Ind.) Manchester University | Punter | Junior – Angel Estrada was crucial in the field position game for Manchester on Saturday. Estrada tallied 7 punts for 263 yards with a 37.6 average, 54 long, 2 punts inside the 20, and 2 punts of 50+ yards.
- Trevor Saguto (Saint Charles, Mo.) Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Kicker | Senior – Trevor Saguto was a standout on special teams in the team’s loss to Hanover with four punts for 192 yards and a long of 73 yards. He also hit one field goal from 28 yards out and drained one extra point.
