With the excitement building up for the bowl season, let’s take a look back at the top performers during the regular season in each of the Power 5 conferences. Besides recognizing the all-conference teams, awards are presented for Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Freshman of the Year to motivate both players and coaches.
ACC
Offense
Quarterback: Ryan Finley, NC State
Ryan Finley’s impressive 24 touchdown passes contributed significantly to his team’s success, and his passer rating of 151.9 ranked second in the conference. His 3,789 passing yards were the highest by an ACC quarterback in 12 games since Matt Ryan in 2007.
Defense
Defensive End: Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
Clelin Ferrell stood out with 10.5 sacks and tied for second in the ACC with 17 tackles for loss. He was honored as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year for his outstanding performance.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker: Andre Szmyt, Syracuse
Andre Szmyt set a remarkable record by connecting on 28 field goals in 12 games, with a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond 50 yards, making him one of the most reliable kickers in the past decade.
Big 12
Offense
Quarterback: Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
Kyler Murray led the Sooners into the playoffs while boasting the best FBS QBR score (96.0) since ESPN began tracking the metric in 2004.
Big Ten
Offense
Quarterback: Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
Dwayne Haskins put up historic passing numbers as a third-year sophomore, surpassing some of the Big Ten greats. His performance included more than 400 passing yards in five games, matching the total of all Ohio State quarterbacks before him combined.
Pac-12
Offense
Quarterback: Gardner Minshew, Washington State
Gardner Minshew, a transfer from East Carolina, impressed with 4,477 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and only nine interceptions. He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
SEC
Quarterback: Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
Tua Tagovailoa’s outstanding season included 3,353 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. His performance solidified his spot in the all-conference honors and as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
