College Football Players of the Week: Week 9, 2026
One winner at quarterback, running back, receiver and tight end, from every game between two FBS teams. Each pick is weighted by what the plays were worth (EPA), touchdowns, yards and how much of the offense ran through him. Every card names the two who came closest.
Quarterback of the week
Nick Minicucci
Delawarevs Western Kentucky · week grade 99
403pass yds
32 comp, 38 att, 4 TD, 0 INT
Also in the running: Tayven Jackson (
North Texas) 391 pass yds · week grade 96 · Caden Veltkamp (
Florida Atlantic) 452 pass yds · week grade 94
Season leaders, every stat →North Texas) 391 pass yds · week grade 96 · Caden Veltkamp (Florida Atlantic) 452 pass yds · week grade 94Running back of the week
Duke129scrimmage yds
20 car, 97 rush yds, 5 rush TD, 1 rec, 32 rec yds
Also in the running: Isaac Brown (
Louisville) 172 scrimmage yds · week grade 96 · Johnnie Daniels (
Tulane) 123 scrimmage yds · week grade 94
Season leaders, every stat →Louisville) 172 scrimmage yds · week grade 96 · Johnnie Daniels (Tulane) 123 scrimmage yds · week grade 94Wide receiver of the week
Easton Messer
Florida Atlanticvs North Texas · week grade 99
183rec yds
14 rec, 14 tgt, 3 TD, 34 long
Also in the running: Sean Wilson (Delaware) 172 rec yds · week grade 96 · Carlos Hernandez (
Wake Forest) 136 rec yds · week grade 94
Season leaders, every stat →Delaware) 172 rec yds · week grade 96 · Carlos Hernandez (Wake Forest) 136 rec yds · week grade 94Tight end of the week
Hunter Andrews
Utahvs Cincinnati · week grade 99
112rec yds
5 rec, 5 tgt, 2 TD, 59 long
Also in the running: Reis Kessel (
North Dakota State) 85 rec yds · week grade 96 · Luke Gilbert (
Jacksonville State) 65 rec yds · week grade 94
Season leaders, every stat →North Dakota State) 85 rec yds · week grade 96 · Luke Gilbert (Jacksonville State) 65 rec yds · week grade 94Offense only for now: the college box scores we keep for defenders are season totals, not game by game, so there is no honest defensive pick for a single week yet. Season totals for defenders are on the college leaderboards.
More weeks
Season to date: the college leaderboards and every player's Model Score. The NFL version: NFL Players of the Week.