College Football Midseason Awards 2025

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

It feels only yesterday when Iowa State and Kansas State opened up the 2025 college football campaign in Dublin, Ireland. But with November right around the corner, the reality is that the season is already at its halfway point. There's still so much left to unfold but as we gear up for the season's second half, it feels like the right time to honor the teams and players that have made the first half so special.

Projected National Champion: Ohio State Buckeyes

As boring as it may be to pick the reigning National Champion and nation's current No. 1 team in this spot, Ohio State feels like they've separated themselves from the pack to this point in the fall. Julian Sayin has proven to be an upgrade at the quarterback position, with plenty of help from Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate Jr., but it's the defense that is the greatest change for this Buckeye team. Even if after sending an entire slew of players to the pros last spring, Ohio State has been even better on that side of the ball under the tutelage of first-year coordinator Matt Patricia. The Buckeyes have allowed just 41 points over their first seven games, the lowest total from a defense through their first seven in over three decades. It's a trend that bodes well for this team's chances at a potential National Title repeat - the last four teams that have allowed fewer than 50 points during their first seven games of the season have all advanced to the National Championship game. But beyond just the product on the field, Ohio State has one of the easiest paths of any team in contention for a National Title. With Penn State falling apart, the only ranked team the Buckeyes face the rest of the way is the Michigan Wolverines. It's hard to imagine this team not entering the Big Ten Championship Game undefeated and setting themselves up for a bye in the College Football Playoff, which they didn't have last year.

Others in Consideration: Alabama Crimson Tide, Indiana Hoosiers, Texas A&M Aggies, Oregon Ducks, Georgia Bulldogs, Miami Hurricanes

Projected Playoff Field: 

1 Ohio State Buckeyes -- There's no Indiana or Oregon looming in the regular season this year, meaning Ohio State has a clear path to an undefeated regular season. Even if they slip up along the way, this team has built enough of a resume to still be firmly in the hunt for a bye this year.

2 Alabama Crimson Tide -- Since the season-opening loss to Florida State, Alabama has been on an absolute tear. Both sides of the ball seem to be getting better each and every week, and the Crimson Tide have made it through the most difficult part of their schedule. They are the team to beat in an SEC that has a lot to be figured out the rest of the way.

3 Indiana Hoosiers -- The road win over Oregon in impressive fashion asserted Indiana as a legitimate National Title contender, but now the goal for the Hoosiers is to continue the momentum. Fortunately not a single ranked foe remains on their regular season schedule and all three of their road games are against teams trending downwards. We very well could see a 12-0 Indiana facing a 12-0 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. 

4 Miami Hurricanes -- Was the upset loss to Louisville last Friday night a fluke, or signs of things to come for Miami in the second half of the season? This defense will put the Hurricanes in position to win out, but they simply can't have turnover-filled games from Carson Beck if they want to overcome the other elites in the country, like Ohio State and Alabama.

5 Texas A&M Aggies -- Mike Elko continues to do great work in College Station, as he has the Aggies No. 3 in the country, their highest ranking since 1995. The path the rest of the way is tricky, with three ranked matchups, all of them on the road, but it also provides plenty of opportunity for this team to continue bolstering an already strong resume.

6 Georgia Bulldogs -- Georgia hasn't exactly looked like a vintage Kirby Smart team, but they still are 6-1, with their lone defeat coming to Alabama by just three points. The program has certainly earned the benefit of the doubt, and seeing the offense come alive against Ole Miss last weekend was extremely encouraging for this team's fortunes the remainder of the fall.

7 Oregon Ducks -- Much like Ohio State and Indiana, Oregon's path the rest of the way is a favorable one. There are still land mines, namely on the road against Iowa and on the road against Washington, but not a single ranked team stands in their way. The Ducks also benefit from having maybe the best loss in the country with Indiana's continued success, which should help favorably in the eyes of the Selection Committee.

8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- Much like last season, Notre Dame took their lumps early, but Marcus Freeman has this team on a mission. They have all the looks of a team that can win out after getting past USC this past weekend, and a 10-2 Notre Dame with ten straight wins would be a formidable opponent come Playoff time.

9 Ole Miss Rebels -- Even after a loss to Georgia this past weekend, Ole Miss finds themselves in great position to make their first ever College Football Playoff appearance. They're 6-1 overall, 3-1 in the SEC, and face arguably one of the easiest remaining paths of any SEC team. If they can recover quickly in time for a road trip to Oklahoma this next weekend, winning out is a very real possibility.

10 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets -- Every week, I keep on expecting the magic to run out for Georgia Tech. And yet every week, the Yellow Jackets just keep on winning, off to their first 7-0 start since the 1960s. This team just keeps on rolling, and the schedule is quite manageable, with the annual rivalry game with Georgia being the lone ranked opponent on their schedule.

11 Texas Tech Red Raiders -- Texas Tech saw their hopes of an undefeated regular season come to an end with Arizona State this past Saturday, but they still remain the team to beat in a wide-open Big 12. A healthy Behren Morton will be key, as the veteran QB missed his first game of the season against Arizona State, and needs to be himself if the Red Raiders are to survive a sneaky tough remaining schedule.

12 South Florida Bulls -- Memphis' loss to UAB over the weekend makes it clear that South Florida is the Group of Five team to beat this fall. The Bulls have already built themselves quite the resume, with victories over Boise State, Florida, and North Texas.

Others in Consideration: Vanderbilt Commodores, BYU Cougars, Oklahoma Sooners, Missouri Tigers, Virginia Cavaliers, Texas Longhorns, Tennessee Volunteers, Louisville Cardinals

Projected Heisman: Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Most years, we see a "September Heisman" emerge early on, a player with a hot start who catapults themselves into frontrunner status in short order. This season has been different, with a variety of candidates in the mix, but none able to position themselves as the long-term favorite. Yet, following yet another ranked win last weekend, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is the clear frontrunner in my eyes. The stats in a vacuum alone would be impressive - 1,931 passing yards, 20 total touchdowns, 70.2% completion percentage, and just one single INT on the year. But when you consider the competition Simpson has been playing over the last month-and-a-half, it becomes all the more impressive. He's now faced and beaten four straight ranked foes and instead of fading against the competition, he seems to be getting better every single week. There hasn't been just one clear Heisman moment for Simpson, but that type of consistency deserves him all the accolades, and Alabama is increasingly looking like the best team in the country not named Ohio State. If he keeps this up, he should be able to do what past Crimson Tide quarterbacks like A.J. McCarron, Tua Tagovailoa, and Mac Jones couldn't do, and bring a Heisman back to Tuscaloosa.

Others in Consideration: Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State; Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana; Dante Moore, QB, Oregon; Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame; Diego Pavia, QB, Vanderbilt

Projected Doak Walker (best RB): Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

If there was any question who the nation's best tailback is in 2025, Jeremiyah Love put those to rest this past Saturday. The junior ran all over the USC Trojans to the tune of 228 yards and a score on 24 carries, while adding five catches for 37 yards. It was quite the statement for a player who entered the season with significant preseason hype, but had a less-than-stellar opener against Miami, held to just 33 yards on 10 carries. Much like Simpson, he's played better each and every single week, and has now scored a touchdown in six straight contests. With Notre Dame facing a soft schedule the rest of the way, expect Love to put up some gaudy stats over the season's second half and put his stamp on the award this year.

Others in Consideration: Ahmad Hardy, Missouri; Cam Cook, Jacksonville State; Justice Haynes, Michigan; Dylan Riley, Boise State

Projected Biletnioff (best WR): Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

There may be receivers elsewhere in the country with more eye-popping stats, but nobody impacts the game like Jeremiah Smith when they're on the field. The sophomore superstar has faced double and triple teams all season long and has still managed to post 49 receptions, 602 yards, and seven touchdowns on a Buckeye team that appears relentless in their quest to defend their National Title. Those numbers become more impressive when you consider that, because Ohio State has been so dominant, Smith hasn't had to play very often late in games, as the Buckeyes rest their star player in preparation for another run. Smith still has one more season of college beyond this, and yet, if he were eligible for the NFL Draft this upcoming spring, I have little question he would be the No. 1 player off the board. He's the best all-around receiver we've seen in some time, outshining even recent Ohio State greats like Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. 

Others in Consideration: Makai Lemon, USC; Danny Scudero, San Jose State; Elijah Sarratt, Indiana; Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State; Chris Bell, Louisville

Projected Mackey (best TE): Michael Trigg, Baylor

There's no Tyler Warren this fall, a tight end so dominant they find themselves in the Heisman conversation late into the season. That should make the race for the John Mackey Award an interesting one, and there's a solid crop of candidates. Out front at this point is Baylor's Michael Trigg, who leads all tight ends in receiving yards, with 495. Trigg has always had ample potential, and it felt like it was only a matter of time before a breakout occurred, but it never quite came together at either USC or Ole Miss. The third stop has proven to be the best, with Trigg being a feature part of a Baylor offense averaging 36.3 PPG and tops in the nation in passing yardage. Trigg has never been a traditional tight end, resembling more of a hybrid receiver with his blend of size and athleticism, and that's allowed him to be a real matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. He has an opportunity to really show out in some more high-profile games down the stretch, with ranked Cincinnati up next.

Others in Consideration: Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt; Dae'Quan Wright, Ole Miss; Dorian Thomas, New Mexico; Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

Projected Butkus (best LB): Red Murdock, Buffalo

With the way college football awards often work, this will likely go to a linebacker from a power conference or "brand name" school. But to my mind, I'm not sure there's a better linebacker in the country than Buffalo's Red Murdock. The veteran defender was an absolute tackling machine a season ago, notching 156 stops, and he's shown no signs of slowing down this fall. He's totaled 79 tackles for the Bulls, and has also impacted the game in a multitude of other ways. Murdock has forced four fumbles and tallied two sacks, displaying a real willingness to get after opposing quarterbacks in a way we didn't see last season. He's been the beating heart of this defense and a key reason why they're in the hunt for a MAC Title, with a 3-0 start in the league as they welcome Akron next.

Others in Consideration: Sonny Styles, Ohio State; Daniel Wingate, Maryland; Eric Gentry, USC; Mac Uihlein, Northwestern; Bryce Boettcher, Oregon

Projected Thorpe (best DB): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

LSU spent big in the portal this past offseason and while it hasn't always shown up on the field, that money has proven to be well spent on Virginia Tech transfer Mansoor Delane. Delane isn't a player who is going to be pick off a ton of passes or break open games on the defensive side of the ball, but he's about as steady and consistent of a corner as you'll find at the collegiate level. Over the last six games, Delane has allowed just 40 yards total to covered receivers. He hasn't allowed a single catch against his coverage in the last two games, even against a now Top 10 Vanderbilt team this past weekend. He's played all over the field, making his presence felt in run support and being a shadow to opposing receivers. It will be an interesting finish to the season in Baton Rouge for a team with loads of talent that hasn't quite come together yet this fall. Yet no matter what happens, the Tigers can count on Delane to make an impact, and he's likely relishing the opportunity this upcoming weekend against A&M and their receiver duo, Mario Craver and K.C. Concepcion.

Others in Consideration: Christian Gray, CB, Notre Dame; Jamel Johnson, S, TCU; Aveion Terrell, CB, Clemson; John Nestor, CB, Minnesota

Coach of the Year: Brent Key, Georgia Tech

When you have teams like Indiana, Georgia Tech, and Vanderbilt in the Top 10, you're going to get an exciting race for Coach of the Year. To me, it feels like Brent Key edges out Curt Cignetti at Indiana and Clark Lea at Vanderbilt. Not only does he have the Yellow Jackets undefeated and in the driver's seat in the ACC, it does feel like he has exceeded expectations the most. Georgia Tech was primarily viewed as a middle-of-the-pack team in the league entering this season, but Key's crafty coaching has helped them survive close call after close call. There's a very real chance this team enters the Georgia game a perfect 11-0, with a chance to avenge last season's heartbreaking loss in the regular season finale.

Others in Consideration: Curt Cignetti, Indiana; Clark Lea, Vanderbilt; Mike Elko, Texas A&M; Kalani Sitake, BYU; Tony Elliott, Virginia; Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati; David Braun, Northwestern