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September 14, 2026

images - 2026-09-14T224236.411 — Photo Cred: LSU

During LSU’s blowout victory against Clemson, Sam Leavitt put up large numbers. He totaled 322 yards and three touchdowns. They included Two with his legs and one with his arm. Afterwards, Leavitt’s odds to win the Heisman Trophy rose. The new transfer quarterback from Arizona State University. LA Tech may have put a bump in the road for Sam Leavitt. The first half of the game ended in disappointment for the Tigers.

Photo Cred: Yahoo Sports

The Tigers only put up 10 points against their home-state opponent. It seemed the defense remained strong, leaving LA Tech’s offense scoreless in the first half. All of their second-quarter drives ended in direct turnovers to LA Tech. One interception resulted in a 100-yard return to the opposite end of the field by Jordan McRae, putting up LA Tech’s seven points for the first half.

Head Coach Lane Kiffin stated his message to his team at halftime would be, “Taking care of the ball on offense.”

His performance appeared to improve drastically, leading the Tigers to score 35 points in the second half. His numbers finished at 344 yards with a 65.8% completion rate. It was the only one touchdown. However, the poor first-half performance raises some concerns. Today, his odds dropped drastically by over 1,000.

It’s clear LSU will need to work on ball handle by Sam Leavitt for next game. Leavitt’s numbers improved from last week’s large victory over Clemson. But the poor performance in the second quarter seems to be overshadowing everything else Leavitt was able to do. Next week, LSU travels to Oxford, Mississippi, to take on Lane Kiffin’s previous team and an LSU rival, Ole Miss. A game that is expected to be tough for both teams, and if LSU wants to stand a chance in competing against the Rebels, Leavitt’s performance is going to have to drastically improve.

College Football Landscape Shaken Up on Saturday

College

By

Grayson Johnson

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September 14, 2026

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Oregon Takes a Tumble

Going into the season, the Oregon Ducks had the fourth-best odds to win the college football championship. Now, they’re only the 21st-ranked team in the country. Following a shaky win against Boise State, the Ducks went into Stillwater as 23.5-point favorites and got pummeled. The score, 39-31, doesn’t necessarily do justice to how well the Cowboys played. Drew Mestemaker threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns, along with 109 yards on the ground and a touchdown. To say he put the country back on notice is an understatement.

Photo Cred: The register

Mestemaker and the Cowboys had a lot of hype going into the season. They brought in key transfers from North Texas, including head coach Eric Morris. Morris has brought back a lot of excitement for Oklahoma State with their showing this past Saturday. Without two Ducks defensive scores, this score would have looked a lot worse. The Ducks’ offense was horrendous for much of the game. They showed great moments in the third quarter, but the expectations for Oregon this year was a national championship.

Michigan Proves Doubters Wrong

In Week One, the Michigan Wolverines were outplayed by in-state foe Western Michigan, causing doubt for their season. Michigan fell out of the Top 25. It put pressure on their out-of-conference game against #11-ranked Oklahoma. This game was an absolute slugfest as both defenses showed out. A key turnover late in the fourth propelled Michigan past Oklahoma. Sooner QB John Mateer had high hopes but Saturday put him under the microscope.

Photo Cred: The Oklahoman

Mateer threw for 189 yards, a touchdown, and a costly interception in the fourth. The turnover caused Michigan’s scoring the game-winning touchdown late. The biggest takeaway for Michigan is the run game. Underwood showed off his athleticism with 87 yards rushing and a 38-yard touchdown in the first quarter. These are the flashes that make Michigan believe Underwood can bring Michigan to the playoffs. Michigan’s hopes of a possible CFP spot rise, and Oklahoma sees their season slowly deteriorate.

Did We Just See the Game of the Year?

The #1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes went into Austin, Texas, to face Arch Manning and the #4-ranked Longhorns. This game was absolutely electric. Ohio State came out strong and opened up with a 20-3 lead going into halftime. It had a similar feel to last year’s meeting in Columbus. Manning and Texas showed they are able to handle adversity as they stormed all the way back down 23-3, all in the fourth quarter. The missed field goal late in the fourth has Ohio State fans worried about what is to come. They have had a lot of their season-ending losses in the past years due to the kicking game.

Photo Cred: ESPN

Texas proved to everyone that they have matured from a year ago and are true contenders in the college football season. They were able to score a game-tying touchdown and a game-winning XP in the final seconds. The Texas defense standing up in the second half is what caught everyone’s eye and has everyone wondering how good they can become if they are able to get their offense to a place we know they can get to. Texas is now the new #1 in the college football world.

Familiar Ending to the Cy-Hawk Game

The Iowa Hawkeyes overcame a valiant effort by the Iowa State Cyclones for a comeback down 10-0 to win 16-3. The last two meetings have ended with game-winning field goals for Iowa State. This year gave us flashbacks but in the Hawkeyes’ favor. Iowa’s offense came out with nothing as the Cyclones shut down the run game and star running back Kamari Moulton. This meant starting QB Hank Brown would have much more opportunity to throw the ball.

Photo Cred: Hawk Central

He showed to be someone that Kirk Ferentz and Tim Lester can trust. Brown went 21-30 passing for 191 yards while also rushing for a touchdown. Iowa has a superstar in the making with Tony Diaz putting everyone on notice with eight receptions for 95 yards and a huge 56-yard reception in the second quarter leading to Iowa’s only touchdown of the game. Iowa State showed a lot of promise on the defensive side of the ball, holding Iowa to just 10 points through three quarters.

Jaylen Raynor flexed a little bit of his athleticism throughout the game, along with the strong run game of Aiden Flora. Iowa State was able to show everyone that even though they were picked to finish last in the Big 12, they are able to compete and stay in games. Iowa had question marks on the special teams side of the ball and even in new kicker Caden Buhr. Buhr went 3/3 on field goals, including a game-winning 42-yard field goal. This kid has a great future in Iowa City. Both of these teams are in for promising seasons.

Iowa and Iowa State Set for High-Stakes 73rd Cy-Hawk Showdown

By

Grayson Johnson

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September 12, 2026

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images - 2026-09-18T203507.204 — Photo Cred:ESPN

Saturday evening marks the 73rd annual Cy-Hawk Series game, and this year’s game could be better than ever. The Hawkeyes lead the series 47-25 all-time. But Iowa State is on a two-game winning streak against their in-state rival. They have won three of the last four years, including two wins in Kinnick Stadium. The No. 21-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes are coming off a 40-0 victory over NIU.

Photo Cred: Iowa Corn

They ride serious momentum on both sides of the ball. And Iowa State is still looking to find its identity with new pieces everywhere. Jimmy Rogers comes in as the first-year Iowa State head coach after his tenure at Washington State. He brings in a whole new roster consisting of a whopping 83 newcomers to Ames. The Cy-Hawk game in recent memories has gone down to the wire. This year looks to be a similar outcome.

Keys to the Game

The biggest so-called “IT” factor when looking at this game is the line of scrimmage and the trenches. Iowa’s dominant win in Week One showed that their offensive line is still premier when compared to other schools, as they helped the Hawks to 289 rushing yards in their first appearance. Kirk Ferentz has been known for exploiting teams weaknesses based on past experiences.

Photo creds: Iowa City Press- Citizen

This will not really be a factor due to how new this Iowa State team is. The Cyclones do not have an identity. Although, on paper, the Hawkeyes look like this may be a two-score win for Iowa with home-field advantage, the Cyclones are always putting up a fight in the Cy-Hawk Series.

Ramifications of the Cy-Hawk Game

The consequences for either of these two teams losing are absolutely massive. They need this win to bolster their resumes come CFP time. The Hawkeyes can view this game as one of the toughest games on their schedule. The Hawkeyes got lucky when it comes to the toughest schedules in the country. If Iowa wins they will be favored to win eight of their final 10 games.

Photo Cred: The Des Moines Register

Many seem to think if Iowa goes 10-2 record, they will be in the conversation for the College Football Playoff. The Cyclones’ schedule is also manageable. They are only scheduled to play two top-25 ranked teams as of September 10th in No. 20 Utah and No. 15 BYU. This being said, the stakes for the Cy-Hawk game this weekend could not be any higher and should make for a terrific nightcap for a great day of college football.

Mosley Duo Could Make History for USC Trojan

By

Nicole Figueroa

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September 12, 2026

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images - 2026-09-12T203444.496 — Photo Cred: USC

In high anticipation of USC’s home game against Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns, a junior and freshman dream team has seemed to emerge. It’s one that has set exceptionally high standards for USC’s 2026 football season. The Trojans stunned the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs last weekend. It resulted in a shutout of 39-0. With two rare safeties, the game marked a defining moment of the season just two games in.

Photo Cred: USC Football

But what caught most viewers eyes was the impressive connection between quarterback Jayden Maiava and wide receiver Trent Mosley. Maiava threw two out of his three touchdown passes to Mosley. I was almost as if they had a telepathy and mentor-mentee connection. With Maiava’s junior status and Mosley’s freshman status. Even from my position in the Otis Booth Press Box at the Coliseum, I could feel the crowd’s energy.

This is no simple duo in discussion. Their combined strengths could mark the beginning of a series of extraordinary moments this season. One of the touchdown passes was not just a simple point for the Trojans, but a pivotal moment for freshman Mosley. During the second quarter, one of Maiava’s passes to Mosley made way for a 68-yard touchdown that left fans wanting more and more.

Mosley’s stellar performance these first two games shows that he is more than ready to fill the shoes of former star wide receivers Makai Lemon. Lemon was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2026 NFL Draft. Looking beyond Maiava and Mosley’s intuitive sense of how one another plays. What makes the Trojans so powerful as a whole is their team chemistry.

“I think it comes from me and the guy sitting next to me and the other guy,” Maiava said, referring to Head Coach Lincoln Riley and safety Prophet Brown. “The O-line, running backs, receivers, just all on the same page.”

“I thought the team really prepped well,” said Head Coach Lincoln Riley. “They were really ready to play this game.”

Photo Cred: Yahoo Sports

This new level of success USC has unlocked over the last two games poses a major threat to opponents, urging them to step up or hand the win to the Trojans. USC faces the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for the first time ever tonight at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Kickoff is at 8:00 p.m.

LSU Survives SEC Expulsion Vote and Remains in the Conference

By

Makayla Gregory

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September 12, 2026

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images - 2026-09-12T101826.539 — Photo Cred: SI

This week has seen even more legal drama than expected. On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, the SEC added to their lawsuit against LSU. They planned to have the member institutions vote on whether LSU, a founding SEC school, should be expelled. The court scheduled a date for Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 1 p.m. in the Northern Alabama federal court. The news came as a surprise to everyone. In their amended lawsuit, the SEC cited a comment by Lane Kiffin.

It occurred at the end of his halftime interview with Holly Rowe. He departed for the locker room. Kiffin is heard making an off-handed remark, ‘Imagine if we had pro players’. While many took this as a joke, the SEC took it very seriously. The SEC reasoned that Kiffin’s attempt at joking about the situation proved that in his effort to recruit Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris he made deliberate decisions to ignore and break SEC rule. Later on, that same day, LSU responded.

Photo Cred: Yahoo Sports

Lane Kiffin submitted two players, Aidan Anding, a sophomore cornerback, and Gabriel Reliford, a junior defensive end. These last two names completed LSU’s 105-man roster for the 2026-27 season, and it cannot be changed. After the submission, on Wednesday, Wade Rousse, the president of LSU, sent a letter to the SEC commissioner Greg Sankey. Reiterating that the school had not broken any SEC rules. Harris and Wright are not on the roster, and the issue is moot. They postponed the court date after the letter arrived today.

Both sides were making attempts to de-escalate the situation without a judge. Thursday, the member institutions met, but no longer with the intent to expel LSU. In SEC’s statement to the public, they disclosed that their discussion covered recent conference expectations and responsibilities. There were reports that Rousse made an appearance at the conference but did not participate or stay for long. The SEC’s lawsuit against LSU does remain open.

They hope to overturn Judge William Jordan’s ruling in Baton Rouge. The ruling granted 40 people from the 2022 class a fifth year of eligibility. The SEC canceled the vote against LSU, so the Tigers can move forward and prep for LA Tech at home.tatcly the same. This week has seen even more legal drama than expected. On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, the SEC added to their lawsuit against LSU. They outlined their intention to have the member institutions vote on if they wanted LSU, a founding school of the SEC, to be expelled.

The court has scheduled a date for Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 1 p.m. in the Northern Alabama federal court. The news came as a surprise to everyone. In their amended lawsuit the SEC cited a comment made by Lane Kiffin at the end of his half time interview with Holly Rowe. As he departed for the locker room, Kiffin made an offhand comment, ‘Imagine if we had pro players.’ While many took this as a joke, the SEC took it very seriously.

Photo Cred: LSU Reveille

The SEC reasoned that Kiffin’s attempt at joking about the situation proved that in his effort to recruit Dae’Quan Wright and Zxavian Harris he made deliberate decisions to ignore and break SEC rule. Later on, that same day, LSU responded. Lane Kiffin submitted two players, Aidan Anding, a sophomore cornerback, and Gabriel Reliford, a junior defensive end. These last two names completed LSU’s 105-man roster for the 2026-27 season, and it cannot be changed. After the submission, on Wednesday, Wade Rousse, the president of LSU, sent a letter to the SEC commissioner Greg Sankey.

Reiterating that the school had not broken any SEC rules as Harris and Wright are not on the roster and called the issue for the meeting to be moot. After receiving the letter, the court postponed the date as both sides attempted to de-escalate the situation without a judge. Thursday, the member institutions met, but no longer with the intent to expel LSU. In SEC’s statement to the public, they disclosed that their discussion covered recent conference expectations and responsibilities.

There were reports that Rousse made an appearance at the conference but did not participate or stay for long. The SEC’s lawsuit against LSU does remain open. Their hope is to possibly overturn the ruling made by Judge William Jordan in the Baton Rouge court, which granted 40 people from the class of 2022 the ability to play a fifth year of eligibility. The committee canceled the vote against LSU, and the Tigers are preparing for a home game against LA Tech.

Auburn’s Winters is Bronko Nagurski Trophy National Player of the Week

College

By

Stephen Patrick

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September 11, 2026

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DALLAS (FWAA) – Auburn safety Eric Winters made a game-saving tackle on a two-point conversion attempt, stopping a Baylor receiver inches away from the goal line in the final 10 seconds to preserve the Tigers’ 17-16 win Saturday. His career day in just his second start has Winters selected as the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America.

Each week during the regular season, the FWAA has selected a Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week since 2001. The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 19. The national defensive player of the year will be chosen from those finalists who are part of the 2026 FWAA All-America Team and presented with the trophy at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet on Dec. 7 at the Charlotte Convention Center, and the winner will also be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards live on ESPN on Dec. 11.

Players may be added or removed from the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list during the course of the season. As in previous years, the FWAA will announce a National Defensive Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week’s honored player – including Winters this week – will be added at that time.

Winters had a banner day in Auburn’s season opener, setting career highs with 11 total tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss. Fans will long remember, this season and perhaps beyond, his final tackle in the game. Baylor had just scored to trail 17-16 with nine seconds left and elected to try a two-point conversion and the win. On the conversion try, Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway found tight end Matthew Klopfenstein off the right side at the 1-yard, but Winters made an immediate hit after the reception, not allowing Klopfenstein to turn and advance the ball or lean over the goal line. The play withstood a short review, sealing the win.

“We were prepared for it,” Winters said following the game. “Once I saw him go, I went too. As soon as he caught the ball, I wrapped him up.”

The 6-foot, 219-pound sophomore from Enterprise, Ala., made just his second career start at safety and made an immediate impact, notching the first forced fumble of his young career on Baylor’s first possession. Winters is the first Auburn defensive back with 11 or more tackles and 2.0 or more tackles for loss since Jeremiah Dinson in the 2019 season opening win over Oregon.

Auburn has now won 10 consecutive season openers and is 19-2 in openers since 2006.

The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the association’s full membership, selects a 26-man All-America Team and eventually the Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalists. The trophy winner will be chosen from the four finalists named in November. Committee members, by individual ballot, select the winner they regard as the best defensive player in college football.

The FWAA has chosen a National Defensive Player of the Year since 1993. In 1995, the FWAA named the award in honor of the legendary two-way player from the University of Minnesota. Nagurski dominated college football, then became a star for professional football’s Chicago Bears in the 1930s. Bronislaw “Bronko” Nagurski is a charter member of both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored nearly 1,000 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information or follow on X at @NCFAA.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Since its inception, the club has grown as well as diversified boasting a sponsor team of more than (80) companies. The Club’s activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding Citizenship, Scholarship, Sportsmanship, and Leadership of area athletes and coaches. Through individual and corporate support, more than $3,000,000 has been raised and donated to benefit the Touchdown Club’s scholarship efforts.

Coca-Cola Consolidated is the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Our purpose is to honor God in all we do, to serve others, to pursue excellence and to grow profitably. For over 121 years, we have been deeply committed to the consumers, customers and communities we serve and passionate about the broad portfolio of beverages and services we offer. We make, sell and distribute beverages of The Coca-Cola Company and other partner companies in more than 300 brands and flavors across 14 states and the District of Columbia, to approximately 60 million consumers. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Coca-Cola Consolidated is traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “COKE”. More information about the Company is available at www.cokeconsolidated.com. Follow Coca-Cola Consolidated on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,200 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.

Seahawks Defeat Patriots in a Super Bowl LX Rematch

By

Landon Dyess

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September 11, 2026

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images - 2026-09-11T143609.002 — Photo Cred: Just Jared

The Seattle Seahawks opened the 2026 season against the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl LX rematch. Seattle overcame a 10-point deficit and won 13-10 after Sam Darnold’s hip injury during the first drive. The Super Bowl champions defense held a struggling Patriots offense in check. The game started with the Patriots dominating the game.

Seattle struggled to move the ball after Darnold left. Drake Maye started the game off well, helping the Patriots take a 10-0 lead with a touchdown pass to rookie tight end Eli Raridon. Drew Lock led the Seahawks after the first drive, and the offense was quiet for the majority of the game. Seattle finally got on the board with a field goal late in the third quarter and trailed 10-3 going into the final quarter.

Photo Cred: Clutch Points

During the fourth quarter, everything changed. Seattle’s defense dominated by putting pressure on Maye and forced three interceptions. The first interception led to a Seahawks touchdown. Lock threw a short pass to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba on 4th and 1, who outran the Patriots defense for a 45-yard touchdown. All of a sudden, the game was tied 10-10.

Smith-Njigba was the star of the night, finishing with eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. He is continuing where he left off last season and shows that it wasn’t a fluke. Safety Julian Love intercepted Maye on the next New England possession. Jason Myers then kicked a 26-yard field goal that gave Seattle its first lead of the night.

New England had its final chance with 5:50 left in the final quarter. Maye drove the Patriots into Seattle’s red zone, creating a chance to tie or win the game. However, Seattle cornerback Josh Jobe made a great interception in the end zone with seconds remaining to seal the comeback victory. Maye finished the game with 178 passing yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.

Photo Cred: WBUR

The Patriots had more possession and ran 19 more plays, but Seattle’s relentless defense made the plays that mattered the most. This victory for the Seahawks showed resilience and determination. Despite losing their starting quarterback and being behind for most of the night, they still found a way to get it done. Lock provided just enough offense, and the defense changed the game with their pressure and interceptions.

College

By

Stephen Patrick

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September 10, 2026

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TYLER, Texas – SMU quarterback, Kevin Jennings has been named The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week for the first week of the college football season.

Kevin Jennings completed 26 of 36 passes for 430 yards and 3 touchdowns as SMU outlasted Florida State 27-24 in a game that was delayed nearly two hours due to a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Jennings had a 50-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Cooper and a 10-yard touchdown pass to Randy Pittman, a Florida State transfer, to help the Mustangs rack up 585 offensive yards.

Kevin Jennings is a graduate of South Oak Cliff High School in South Oak Cliff, Texas.

Honorable Mention Week 1:

BLAKE BAKER, QB, LOUISIANA TECH

Cypress, TX (Cypress Ranch HS)

4th Year

10/14 – 232 yards, 3 TD

W 80-6 vs. Northwestern State

CAM COOK, RB, WEST VIRGINIA

Round Rock, TX (Stony Point HS)

Senior

30 carries – 142 yards, 2 TD + 2 catches – 11 yards

W 31-24 vs. Coastal Carolina

TONY DIAZ, WR, IOWA

San Marcos, TX (San Marcos HS)

3rd Year

7 catches – 84 yards, TD + 10 yard rush

W 40-0 vs. Northern Illinois

HAUSS HEJNY, QB, COLORADO STATE

Aledo, TX (Aledo HS)

Sophomore

23/33 – 214 yards, 5 TD | 7 carries – 39 yards

W 35-13 vs. Wyoming

JOSH HOOVER, QB, INDIANA

Heath, TX (Rockwall-Heath HS)

5th Year

13/16 – 231 yards, 4 TD

W 52-16 vs. North Texas

JALEN MICKENS, WR, LOUISIANA TECH

Willis, TX (Willis HS)

2nd Year

3 catches – 133 yards, TD + 2 carries – 31 yards

W 80-6 vs. Northwestern State

ZACH MUNDELL, SB, ARMY

Arlington, TX (Martin HS)

Senior

4 carries – 105 yards, 2 TD

W 59-3 vs. Bryant

GRAYSON RIGDON, RB, ARIZONA STATE

Columbus, TX (Columbus HS)

Sophomore

2 catches – 110 yards, 2 TD | 4 carries – 22 yards

W 70-7 vs. Morgan State

KEELON RUSSELL, QB, ALABAMA

Duncanville, TX (Duncanville HS)

Sophomore

18/30 – 256 yards | 13 carries – 86 yards, TD

W 48-10 vs. East Carolina

RYAN WINGO, WR, TEXAS

St. Louis, MO (University HS)

Junior

7 catches -121 yards, TD

W 59-7 vs. Texas State

THE EARL CAMPBELL TYLER ROSE AWARD

The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, announced in 2012 by the Tyler Chamber and SPORTyler, recognizes the top offensive player in Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community, and tenacity; specifically tenacity to persist and determination to overcome adversity and injury in pursuit of reaching goals.

In addition, the nominee must meet one or more of the following criteria: Played football and graduated from a Texas High School and/or playing at a four year D1 Texas college.

College

By

Stephen Patrick

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September 10, 2026

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Augusta, GA (September 9, 2026) – The Augusta Sports Council and the Ray Guy Award named Palmer Williams of Baylor as the Week One Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week. Williams was selected from Ray’s 8, announced Tuesday that included Evan Crenshaw (Troy), Max Fletcher (Cincinnati), Aidan Flintoft (Stanford), Kade Reynoldson (Duke), Gavin Rush (Arkansas), Jack Smith (Clemson), and AJ Winsor (Oregon State).

The senior from Advance, North Carolina punted four times against Auburn, totaling 208 yards, and recorded a net punting average of 51.5 yards. Williams forced three fair catches and three of his punts traveled over 50 yards. His longest punt of the day went for 54 yards, and only one of his punts was returned.

Congratulations to Palmer Williams for being “our guy” this week!

2026 Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week Honorees
Week 1: Palmer Williams, Baylor

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Ray’s 8 & Ray Guy Punter of the Week
Ray’s 8 is a top eight list of punters from the prior week’s games. Ray Guy Award nominees are eligible for Ray’s 8. Punters named to Ray’s 8 are eligible to be selected as the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week. Ray’s 8 and Punter of the Week are determined by the Ray Guy Award Committee. Nominations for Punter of the Week should be submitted through the NCFAA Vault by 3:30 pm ET Sunday.

Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week Criteria
I. The Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week shall be presented to the best NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) punter in college football for a specific week of play as determined by the Ray Guy Award Committee, designated by the Augusta Sports Council.
II. The winner must display leadership, self discipline and have a significant, positive impact on his team’s success. Character and educational excellence shall be considered as factors in determining the winner.
III. The winner must be a current nominee of the Ray Guy Award. The player will be immediately eligible for Ray’s 8 and the Punter of the Week once a nomination is received.
IV. The statistics used for the Ray Guy Award will be reviewed each week in determining Ray’s 8 and the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week. The statistics will be used as a basis for voting, however other statistical variables not listed may be considered.

NOTE: Players awarded the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week are not guaranteed as semifinalists for the award.

About the Ray Guy Award

The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia native and College and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Guy. Among the statistics used to identify the winner are net punting average, percentage of punts inside the 20-yard line, and percentage of punts not returned, with particular emphasis placed on net punting average. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline, and have a positive impact on the team’s success.

About the Augusta Sports Council

The Augusta Sports Council (ASC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to marketing the Augusta area as a destination for amateur sporting events. The ASC attracts, creates and supports dozens of sporting events and activities each year, generating positive economic impact and enhancing the quality of life for the residents of Augusta’s River Region. Visit www.augustasportscouncil.org to learn more.

About the NCFAA

The Ray Guy Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 1.000 recipients since 1935. Visit NCFAA.org for more information.

Pitt’s Heintschel Nabs National QB of the Week Honors

College

By

Stephen Patrick

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September 10, 2026

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FORT WORTH, Texas (Sept. 9, 2026) – Pitt’s Mason Heintschel has been voted the first Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week for the 2026 season following his monster performance in a 59-14 victory over Miami (Ohio).

The sophomore from Oregon, Ohio, became the first quarterback since Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award winner Joe Burrow in 2019 to throw for at least 450 yards and seven touchdowns in a game. Heintschel finished his day 31-for-41 passing (75.6 completion percentage) for 453 yards with no interceptions.

His seven touchdown passes established an Atlantic Coast Conference single-game record and tied Pitt’s all-time mark. In addition, Heintschel’s passing yardage total ranks as the third-highest in school history. He finished with a 94.7 total quarterback rating and a 224.76 pass-efficiency rating. Heintschel also was named the ACC Quarterback of the Week.

The other quarterbacks on this week’s Great 8 list were Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, Hauss Hejny of Colorado State, LSU’s Sam Leavitt, Jayden Maiava of USC, Miami’s Darian Mensah, Dante Moore of Oregon and UMass’ William “Pop” Watson III.

The Davey O’Brien Foundation was created in 1977 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary season this year. The National Quarterback Award, the oldest and most prestigious college quarterback award, was first issued in 1981.

Over its time, the Davey O’Brien Foundation has given away more than $1.4 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life.

In 1938, O’Brien, who wore No. 8 as a star quarterback for TCU, became the first player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award in the same year. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.

2026 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week Honorees

Week 1: Mason Heintschel, Pitt

About the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award

The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The Davey O’Brien Award honors candidates who exemplify Davey O’Brien’s enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the Davey O’Brien Foundation, which is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, has awarded more than $1.4 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit www.DaveyOBrienAward.com.

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