Purdue, UCLA, Illinois and USC score weekly football honors
ROSEMONT, Ill. — Following Week 6 contests, the Big Ten Conference Football Players of the Week were announced Monday. Below are this week’s honorees:
Offensive Player of the Week
Fame Ijeboi, Purdue
So. – RB – Folcroft, Pa. – William Penn Charter School
• Led the Boilermakers to a dominant 41-13 win over Minnesota with career highs in carries (31), yards (195) and touchdowns (3)
• It was Purdue’s largest margin of victory in a Big Ten game since 2021
• First Boilermaker since 2000 to rush for at least 195 yards and three touchdowns in a game
• His 195 rushing yards were the most by a Boilermaker since 2017 and the 15th most in program history
• Last Purdue Offensive Player of the Week: Aidan O'Connell (Oct. 17, 2022)
Defensive Player of the Week
Jalen Woods, UCLA
5th-Yr. – LB – Compton, Calif. – St. John Bosco
• Totaled a team-high nine tackles in a 17-15 triumph at No. 13 Oregon
• Matched his career mark with 2.0 TFL
• Part of a defense that held the Ducks to their fewest points since 2022 (vs. Georgia)
• Last UCLA Defensive Player of the Week: Sammy Omosigho (Sept. 21, 2026)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Ethan Moczulski, Illinois
5th-Yr. – K – Spokane, Wash. – Mt. Spokane
• Went 3-for-3 on field goals and extra points in Illinois’ 38-37 win at Michigan State
• Set a career high with three field goals made, hitting from 40, 35 and 38 yards
• Last Illinois Special Teams Player of the Week: David Olano (Oct. 6, 2025)
Freshman of the Week
Trent Mosley, USC
Fr. – WR – Chicago, Ill. – Santa Margarita Catholic
• Led all players with nine receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown in a 31-23 road win at Penn State
• Gave the Trojans an early lead with a 19-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter
• Finished with nine catches on 13 targets and 40 yards after the catch
• Last USC Freshman of the Week: Luke Wafle (Oct. 5, 2026)
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
Oct. 5
Co-O: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Jr., OSU
Co-O: Colton Joseph, QB, Sr., WIS
D: Braydon Brus, LB, Gr., NU
ST: Jacobo Echeverria Lozano, K, Fr., PUR
F: Luke Wafle, DE, Fr., USC
Oct. 12
O: Fame Ijeboi, RB, So., PUR
D: Jalen Woods, LB, 5th-Yr., UCLA
ST: Ethan Moczulski, K, 5th-Yr., ILL
F: Trent Mosley, WR, Fr., USC