Here's the finalists for every college football award in the 2025 season.
College football awards 2025: Full list of finalists, winners for Heisman, Walker, Biletnikoff and more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The thrilling 2025 college football regular season has concluded, leaving a wake of unforgettable moments, historic upsets, and dominant individual performances. Now, as the dust settles and the College Football Playoff field is set, the spotlight turns from team standings to the players who defined the year.
The release of the finalists for college football’s most prestigious annual awards officially kicks off the final leg of the season. The race for the Heisman Memorial Trophy has been one of the most compelling in recent memory, featuring unexpected challengers like Indiana’s transcendent quarterback Fernando Mendoza and Vanderbilt’s dynamic signal-caller Diego Pavia, alongside other elite talents like Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State QB Julian Sayin.
The receiving corps was just as electric, with a fierce battle for the Biletnikoff Award—honoring the nation’s most outstanding receiver—headlined by Ohio State’s phenomenal sophomore Jeremiah Smith and USC’s versatile playmaker Makai Lemon.
It is time to celebrate the athletes who rose above the competition, rewriting record books and delivering iconic performances for their universities.
Here are the complete lists of finalists and announced winners for each of college football’s top individual honors.
College football awards winners 2025
Awards and finalists listed alphabetically
| Award | Category | Winner |
| Associated Press Player of the Year | Top player | |
| Biletnikoff Award | Top receiver | |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Defensive player of the year (judged by FWAA) | Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech |
| Broyles Award | Top assistant coach | |
| Burlsworth Trophy | Top former walk-on | Drew Mestemaker, North Texas |
| Butkus Award | Top linebacker | Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech |
| Chuck Bednarik Award | Defensive player of the year (judged by Maxwell Club) | |
| Davey O'Brien Award | Top quarterback | |
| Doak Walker Award | Top running back | |
| Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award | Top NCAA Division I coach (judged by FWAA) | |
| George Munger Award | Top NCAA Division I coach (judged by Maxwell Club) | |
| Heisman Trophy | Most outstanding player | |
| Jim Thorpe Award | Top defensive back | |
| Joe Moore Award | Top offensive line | |
| John Mackey Award | Top tight end | |
| Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award | Top upperclassman quarterback | Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt |
| Lombardi Award | Outstanding college football lineman | |
| Lott IMPACT Trophy | Defensive IMPACT player of the year | Caleb Downs, Ohio State |
| Lou Groza Award | Top placekicker | |
| Maxwell Award | College player of the year | |
| Outland Trophy | Top interior lineman | |
| Paul Hornung Award | Most versatile player | K.C. Concepcion, Texas A&M |
| Ray Guy Award | Top punter | |
| Rimington Trophy | Top center | |
| Shaun Alexander Award | Freshman of the year (judged by Maxwell Club) | |
| Sporting News Coach of the Year | College coach of the year | |
| Sporting News Player of the Year | College player of the year | |
| Ted Hendricks Award | Top defensive end | |
| Walter Camp Award | College player of the year | Fernando Mendoza, Indiana |
| Walter Camp Coach Award | College coach of the year | Curt Cignetti, Indiana |
| William V. Campbell Trophy | Academic Heisman | Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt |
| Wuerffel Trophy | Community service award |
College football awards finalists 2025
Associated Press Player of the Year
Winner: TBA (mid-December)
Biletnikoff Award
Finalists:
- Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
- Makai Lemon, USC
- Skyler Bell, UConn
Winner: TBA (Dec. 12)
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Finalists:
- Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
- DE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
- S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
Winner: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Broyles Award
Finalists:
- Mike Bobo, Georgia
- Bryant Haines, Indiana
- Corey Heatherman, Miami
- Matt Patricia, Ohio State
- Shiel Wood, Texas Tech
Winner: TBA (Feb. 2026)
Burlsworth Trophy
Finalists:
- Drew Mestemaker, North Texas
- Febechi Nwaiwu, Oklahoma
- Michael Taafe, Texas
Winner: Drew Mestemaker, North Texas
Butkus Award
Finalists:
- Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
- Arvell Reese, Ohio State
- C.J. Allen, Georgia
- Aiden Fisher, Indiana
- Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
Winner: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Chuck Bednarik Award
Finalists:
- Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
- Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Winner: TBA (Dec. 12)
Davey O'Brien Award
Finalists:
- Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
- Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
- Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Winner: TBA (Dec. 12)
Doak Walker Award
Finalists:
- Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
- Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
- Kewan Lacy, Mississippi
Winner: TBA (Dec. 12)
Eddie Robinson Award
Finalists:
- Bob Chesney, James Madison
- Curt Cignetti, Indiana
- Ryan Day, Ohio State
- Mike Elko, Texas A&M
- Tony Elliott, Virginia
- Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
- Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
- Jerry Mack, Kennesaw State
- Joey McGuire, Texas Tech
- Jim Mora, Connecticut
- Kirby Smart, Georgia
- Jon Sumrall, Tulane
Winner: TBA (Dec. 16)
George Munger Award
Finalists
- Mike Elko, Texas A&M
- Joey McGuire, Texas Tech
- Curt Cignetti, Indiana
- Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
Winner: TBA (Dec. 30)
Heisman Trophy
Finalists
- Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
- Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
- Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
- Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Winner: TBA (Dec. 13)
Jim Thorpe Award
Finalists:
- Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
- Caleb Down, Ohio State
- Mansoor Delanem LSU
Winner: TBA (Dec. 12)
Joe Moore Award
Finalists:
- Indiana
- Oregon
- Iowa
Winner: TBA (mid-to-late December)
John Mackey Award
Finalists:
- Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
- Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
- Michael Trigg, Baylor
Winner: TBA (Dec. 12)
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
Finalists
- Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
- Haynes King, Georgia Tech
- Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
- Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
- Gunner Stockton, Georgia
Winner: Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
Lombardi Award
Finalists:
- David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech
- Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
- Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
- Cashius Howell, DE, Texas A&M
Winner: TBA (Dec. 10)
Lott IMPACT Trophy
Finalists:
- Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- C.J. Allen, Georgia
- Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
- Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Winner: Caleb Downs, Ohio State
Lou Groza Award
Finalists:
- Aidan Birr, Georgia Tech
- Tate Sandell, Oklahoma
- Kansei Matsuzawa, Hawaii
Winner: TBA (Dec. 12)
Maxwell Award
Finalists:
- Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
- Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
- Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Winner: TBA (Dec. 12)
Outland Trophy
Finalists:
- Spencer Fano, Utah
- Logan Jones, Iowa
- Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
Winner: TBA (Dec. 12)
Paul Hornung Award
Finalists:
- Jonah Coleman, Washington
- K.C. Concepcion, Texas A&M
- Wayne Knight, James Madison
- Caullin Lacy, Louisville
- Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
- J'Koby Williams, Texas Tech
Winner: K.C. Concepcion, Texas A&M
Ray Guy Award
Finalists:
- Brett Thorson, Georgia
- Evan Crenshaw, Troy
- Palmer Williams, Baylor
Winner: TBA (Dec. 12)
Rimington Trophy
Finalists:
- Logan Jones, Iowa
- Jake Slaughter, Florida
- Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
Winner: TBA (Dec. 12)
Shaun Alexander Award
Finalists:
- Drew Mestemaker, North Texas
- C.J. Carr, Notre Dame
- Dijon Lee Jr., Alabama
- Malachi Toney, Miami
Winner: Colin Simmons, Texas
Sporting News Coach of the Year
Winner:
Sporting News Player of the Year
Winner:
Ted Hendricks Award
Winner:
Walter Camp Award
Finalists
- Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
- Julian Sayin, Ohio State
- Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
- Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
- Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
Winner: Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
Walter Camp Coach Award
Finalists
- Curt Cignetti, Indiana
- Ryan Day, Ohio State
- Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
Winner: Curt Cignetti, Indiana
William V. Campbell Trophy
Finalists
- Robby Ballentine, DePauw (IN)
- Jonah Coleman, Washington
- James Conway, Fordham
- Jalon Daniels, Kansas
- Ty Dugger, Harding (AR)
- Aaron Graves, Iowa
- Blake Horvath, Navy
- Chandler Kirton, Austin Peay
- Trey Moore, Texas
- Red Murdock, Buffalo
- Parker Navarro, Ohio
- Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
- Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
- Jack Strand, Minnesota State Moorhead
- Andon Thomas, Army West Point
- Jackson Waring, Grand View (IA)
Winner: Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt
Wuerffel Trophy
Finalists
- S Michael Taafe, Texas
- OL Matt Hofer, Toledo
- S Tanner Wall, BYU
Winner: TBA (Dec. 12)
Category: General Sports
