FWAA Fresno State News

The Football Writers Association of America released its 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List today, selecting three returning FWAA All-Americans among 68 defensive standouts as contenders for the national defensive player of the year. The list hosts players from 47 different schools and all 10 Division I FBS conferences plus Independents.

The Football Writers Association of America has announced the preseason watch list for the 2026 Outland Trophy, recognizing 68 returning standout interior linemen representing all 10 of the FBS conferences plus Independents. The watch list features players spread among 49 different Division I FBS programs and includes two returning first-team FWAA All-Americans.

Each week during the 2025 season, we will highlight the notable performances of first-year players and head coaches leading up to the selection of our annual Freshman All-America Team and the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year Award presented by Chris Doering Mortgage.

Carlton Johnson snagged three interceptions and spearheaded Fresno State’s commanding defensive effort in a 29-0 win at Arizona State, tying for the most picks in an FBS game this season. The senior cornerback’s takeaways plus three tackles that led to the Bulldogs’ first shutout of a Power 5 opponent since 1986 earned Johnson the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor for games during the weekend of Sept. 16, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

In Deion Sanders' much-anticipated head coaching debut, the Colorado Buffaloes marched into Fort Worth and stunned last season's national runner-up and 17th-ranked TCU, 45-42, in a memorable opening week game. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the coach's son, connected with Dylan Edwards for a 46-yard catch and run touchdown on fourth down with 4:25 left to provide the margin of victory. For the remarkable effort coming off a 1-11 season, the Buffs are the season's first Cheez-It National Team of the Week, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

The Fresno State Bulldogs held the ball for 40 minutes and had to use all of them to beat No. 13 UCLA, 40-37, as quarterback Jake Haener hit Jalen Cropper with a 13-yard touchdown pass with 14 seconds left at the Rose Bowl. For rallying to win their fourth straight game in the series the Bulldogs earned the  Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of weekend of Sept. 18, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Football Writers Association of America has announced its fifth "Super 11" field of sports information departments which were deemed the best in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision during the 2013 season.

Bulldogs take out Kansas State in Manhattan