Sports 28 September 2026

Ohio State, Minnesota and Iowa claim weekly football honors

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Big Ten Press Release

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Following Week 4 contests, the Big Ten Conference Football Players of the Week were announced Monday. Below are this week’s honorees:

 

Offensive Player of the Week

Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

Jr. – WR – Miami Gardens, Fla. – Chaminade-Madonna Prep

• Posted a career day against Illinois with 12 receptions for 217 yards and four touchdowns

• His 217 yards tied for sixth most in a single game in Ohio State history and he is tied for second behind 14 games with at least 100 receiving yards

• Has 3,175 receiving yards for his career to become the only receiver in program history to have over 3,000 career yards and ranks 10th in Big Ten history

• Following his four-touchdown performance, he is tied for fifth in Big Ten history with 34 career touchdown receptions  

• Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Julian Sayin (Oct. 20, 2025)

 

Defensive Player of the Week

Maverick Baranowski, Minnesota

5th-Yr. – LB – Ponce Inlet, Fla. – Spruce Creek

• Tied for the team lead with seven tackles and 2.0 tackles for loss in a 27-24 win at Washington

• Added 1.0 sacks and his first career interception

• Last Minnesota Defensive Player of the Week: John Nestor (Dec. 1, 2025)

 

Special Teams Player of the Week

Luke Drzewiecki, Minnesota

5th-Yr. – K – Shelby Township, Mich. – Utica Eisenhower

• Was 2-of-2 on field goals, converting from 31 and a career-long 51 yards

• His 51-yarder proved to be the game-winner against the Huskies

• Scored nine points for the Gophers

• Last Minnesota Special Teams Player of the Week: Javon Tracy (Sept. 7, 2026)

 

Freshman of the Week

Braeden Jackson, Iowa

R-Fr. – RB – Ankeny, Iowa – Ankeny Centennial  

• Delivered a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Iowa’s 20-19 road victory at No. 18 Michigan

• The return is tied for the seventh-longest kickoff return for a touchdown in program history

• Helped the Hawkeyes earn their first win over a ranked Michigan squad on the road since 2002

• Last Iowa Freshman of the Week: Kaleb Johnson (Nov. 7, 2022)

2026 Big Ten Football Players of the Week

Sept. 7

O: Jayden Maiava, QB, R-Sr., USC

Co-D: Caleb Bacon, DE, R-Sr., PSU

Co-D: Ta’Shawn James, DB, Sr., UCLA

ST: Javon Tracy, WR, 5th-Yr., MINN

F: Jamal Rule, RB, Fr., NEB

Sept. 14

O: Anthony Colandrea, QB, Sr., NEB

D: John Henry Daley, DE, Sr., MICH

ST: Caden Buhr, PK, So., IOWA

F: Mark Bowman, TE, Fr., USC

Sept. 21

O: Aidan Chiles, QB, Sr., NU

D: Sammy Omosigho, LB, Sr., UCLA

ST: Caden Chittenden, K, R-So., USC

F: Riley Wormley, RB, R-Fr., USC

Sept. 28

O: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Jr., OSU

D: Maverick Baranowski, LB, 5th-Yr., MINN

ST: Luke Drzewiecki, K, 5th-Yr., MINN

F: Braeden Jackson, RB, R-Fr., IOWA

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