College football’s highest individual honor will be handed out on Saturday, Dec. 13.
A day before the award is handed out in New York City, other marquee college football postseason awards were handed out to some of the top players, teams and coaches in the sport during The Home Depot College Football Awards show on Friday, Dec. 12.
Stream the Home Depot College Football Awards show live with Fubo (free trial)
Several Heisman Trophy finalists were up for the awards to be given out by the National College Football Awards Association on Dec. 12, including Indiana and Ohio State quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Julian Sayin, respectively, and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
Mendoza, the presumed favorite for the Heisman Trophy, was named the recipient of the Maxwell Award, given annually to the top player in the country. He also won the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback award, which goes to the best quarterback in the country.
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs added to his trophy case with the Jim Thorpe Award (best defensive back). Downs finished the regular season with 60 total tackles, two interceptions, a broken-up pass and a sack.
Other awards handed out by the National College Football Awards Association on the night included the Chuck Bednarik Award; Biletnikoff Award; Lou Groza Award; Ray Guy Award; Outland Trophy; Jim Thorpe Award and Doak Walker Award.
USA TODAY Sports provided updates of The Home Depot College Football Awards show. Follow along:
Stream the Home Depot College Football Awards show live with Fubo (free trial)
College football awards show live updates
This section has been updated with new information.
Fernando Mendoza wins Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award, also known as the Player of the Year in college football, goes to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. He is the only quarterback at the Division I FBS level this season to throw at least four touchdowns with no interceptions in five games this season, and has thrown for a nation-leading 33 touchdowns this season.
It’s the second award won by Mendoza on the night. Could No. 3 on the weekend come tomorrow in New York City with the Heisman Trophy? That will be answered at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 12.
Brett Thorson wins Ray Guy Award
Georgia punter Brett Thorson wins the Ray Guy Award, which goes to the top punter in the country. Thorson is the second Georgia punter to win the award, with the other being Drew Butler in 2009.
BYU’s Kalani Sitake wins Buddy Teevens Award
BYU coach Kalani Sitake takes home the Buddy Teevens Award. Sitake led the Cougars to the Big 12 Championship game and an 11-2 record. BYU is set to finish the season in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Georgia Tech on Saturday, Dec. 27.
North Texas’ Drew Mestemaker wins Burlsworth Trophy
North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker is named the winner of the Burlsworth Trophy. Mestemaker has been one of the top quarterbacks this season, especially among the Group of Five conferences, as he has thrown for over 4,000 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Tate Sandell wins Lou Groza Award
Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell wins the Lou Groza Award, making him the top placekicker in the country. A no-doubter, as Sandell hit multiple field goals of 50 yards or longer this season for the Sooners.
Jeremiyah Love wins Doak Walker Award
Jeremiyah Love wins the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the top running back in the country. The Heisman Trophy finalist finished his junior campaign with 1,372 rushing yards, which ranks fourth among all Division I FBS players. He is the first Notre Dame player to win the award.
Archie Griffin wins NCFAA Contributions to College Football Award
Ohio State great Archie Griffin is named the 2025 recipient of the NCFAA Contributions to College Football Award.
Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez wins Butkus Award
Make it two-for-two for the Stache, Jacob Rodriguez! Moments after learning he won the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Texas Tech linebacker was named the winner of the Butkus Award, making him the top linebacker in the country. Rodriguez is the first linebacker since 2012 to have at least 95 tackles, five forced fumbles and two interceptions in a season.
Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez wins Bednarik Award
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez takes home the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given to the top defensive player of the year. Rodriguez, the first Texas Tech player to win the award, is the catalyst of a top-ranked defense for the Red Raiders, who earned a top-four seed and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
Ohio State’s Caleb Downs wins Jim Thorpe Award
Ohio State safety Caleb Downs wins the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given out to the top defensive back in the country. Downs, one of the top defensive players in the country, finished with 60 total tackles, two interceptions, a broken-up pass and a sack in the regular season.
Disney Spirit Award given to Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is named the recipient of the Disney Spirit Award.
Eli Stowers wins Mackey Award, William V Campbell Trophy
Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers takes home two trophies on the night: the John Mackey Award and the William V Campbell Trophy. The Mackey Award is given out to the top tight end in the country, and that was what Stowers was for the Commodores this season: He finished with 769 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Curt Cignetti named Home Depot Coach of the Year
Google him, he only wins! Indiana’s Curt Cignetti is named the Home Depot Coach of the Year, making him a back-to-back winner of the award. Cignetti continued to defy odds this season in Bloomington, as the Hoosiers are a perfect 13-0 and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
Iowa’s Logan Jones wins Rimington Trophy
Iowa center Logan Jones is named the recipient of the 2025 Rimington Trophy, which goes out to the top center in college football. Not a surprise that a Hawkeye wins the award, given their history of linemen.
Outland Trophy goes to Utah’s Spencer Fano
The Outland Trophy, which goes out to the most outstanding interior lineman, goes to Utah’s Spencer Fano. He is the first Ute to receive the award.
Makai Lemon wins Biletnikoff Award
USC wide receiver Makai Lemon wins the 2025 Biletnikoff Award, which goes out to the top receiver in college football. Lemon, who finished with 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, beat out UConn’s Skyler Bell and Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith for the award.
Fernando Mendoza wins Davey O’Brien National Quarterback award
Taking home the 2025 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback award, which goes out to the best quarterback in the country, is Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. Could this be a sign of what is to come for Mendoza this weekend, as he is a Heisman Trophy finalist?
‘Home Depot College Football Awards’ show started
It’s time for some hardware to be handed out!
‘The Herbie Awards’ starting on ESPN
Kicking off Friday’s slate of college football award shows on ESPN is ‘The Herbie Awards,’ awards, which are awards handed out by ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit.
College football award finalists
Here’s a look at the awards that will be handed out during the Home Depot College Football Awards show on Dec. 12, as well as their finalists:
Chuck Bednarik Award
Defensive Player of the Year
- S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
- EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
- LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech (winner)
Biletnikoff Award
Outstanding Receiver
- Skyler Bell, UConn
- Makai Lemon, USC (winner)
- Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award
Outstanding Placekicker
- Aidan Birr, Georgia Tech
- Kansei Matsuzawa, Hawaii
- Tate Sandell, Oklahoma (winner)
Ray Guy Award
Punter of the Year
- Brett Thorson, Georgia (winner)
- Evan Crenshaw, Troy
- Palmer Williams, Baylor
Maxwell Award
Player of the Year
- RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
- QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (winner)
- QB Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award
Best Quarterback
- Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (winner)
- Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
- Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Outland Trophy
Most Outstanding Interior Lineman
- OL Spencer Fano, Utah (winner)
- OL Logan Jones, Iowa
- DL Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
Jim Thorpe Award
Best Defensive Back
- CB Mansor Delane, LSU
- S Caleb Downs, Ohio State (winner)
- CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame
Doak Walker Award
Premier Running Back
- Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
- Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss
- Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame (winner)
What TV channel is Home Depot College Football Awards show on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Livestream: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)
The Home Depot College Football Awards show will air on ESPN with Kevin Negandhi, Molly McGrath and Booger McFarland hosting the show and Jen Lada reporting from New York City for interviews with players.
Streaming options for the college football awards show include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Stream the Home Depot College Football Awards show live with Fubo (free trial)
What time is Home Depot College Football Awards show today?
- Date: Friday, Dec. 12
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
The Home Depot College Football Awards show will start at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 12.
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