Nebraska, Michigan, Iowa and USC claim weekly football honors
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Following Week 2 contests, the Big Ten Conference Football Players of the Week were announced Monday. Below are this week’s honorees:
Offensive Player of the Week
Anthony Colandrea, Nebraska
Sr. – QB – St. Petersburg, Fla. – Lakewood
• Threw a career-high four touchdown passes, all before halftime, in a 56-7 win over Bowling Green
• Totaled 222 passing and 33 rushing yards
• First Nebraska quarterback since 2016 to throw for at least three touchdowns in consecutive games
• Last Nebraska Offensive Player of the Week: Emmett Johnson (Nov. 10, 2025)
Defensive Player of the Week
John Henry Daley, Michigan
Sr. – DE – Alpine, Utah – Lone Peak
• Recorded first sack as a Wolverine along with 3.0 TFL to upset No. 11 Oklahoma, 17-10
• Finished the game with eight tackles
• Last Michigan Defensive Player of the Week: Jimmy Rolder (Oct. 27, 2025)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Caden Buhr, Iowa
So. – PK – Bettendorf, Iowa – Bettendorf
• Connected on a 42-yard game-winning field goal with 15 seconds remaining for a 16-13 victory over Iowa State
• Made field goals from 32, 45 and 42 yards for a new career high
• Last Iowa Special Teams Player of the Week: Kaden Wetjen (Nov. 24, 2025)
Freshman of the Week
Mark Bowman, USC
Fr. – TE – Castle Rock, Colo. – Mater Dei
• In a 49-30 win over Louisiana, recorded a team-best six receptions for 83 yards
• Most receiving yards by a Trojan tight end in a single game since 2009
• Tallied a pair of touchdowns, the first tight end to score two touchdowns in a game for USC since 2022
• Last USC Freshman of the Week: King Miller (Oct. 13, 2025)
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
Huskers’ Colandrea, Wolverines’ Daley, Hawkeyes’ Buhr and Trojans’ Bowman garner accolades
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Following Week 2 contests, the Big Ten Conference Football Players of the Week were announced Monday. Below are this week’s honorees:
Offensive Player of the Week
Anthony Colandrea, Nebraska
Sr. – QB – St. Petersburg, Fla. – Lakewood
• Threw a career-high four touchdown passes, all before halftime, in a 56-7 win over Bowling Green
• Totaled 222 passing and 33 rushing yards
• First Nebraska quarterback since 2016 to throw for at least three touchdowns in consecutive games
• Last Nebraska Offensive Player of the Week: Emmett Johnson (Nov. 10, 2025)
Defensive Player of the Week
John Henry Daley, Michigan
Sr. – DE – Alpine, Utah – Lone Peak
• Recorded first sack as a Wolverine along with 3.0 TFL to upset No. 11 Oklahoma, 17-10
• Finished the game with eight tackles
• Last Michigan Defensive Player of the Week: Jimmy Rolder (Oct. 27, 2025)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Caden Buhr, Iowa
So. – PK – Bettendorf, Iowa – Bettendorf
• Connected on a 42-yard game-winning field goal with 15 seconds remaining for a 16-13 victory over Iowa State
• Made field goals from 32, 45 and 42 yards for a new career high
• Last Iowa Special Teams Player of the Week: Kaden Wetjen (Nov. 24, 2025)
Freshman of the Week
Mark Bowman, USC
Fr. – TE – Castle Rock, Colo. – Mater Dei
• In a 49-30 win over Louisiana, recorded a team-best six receptions for 83 yards
• Most receiving yards by a Trojan tight end in a single game since 2009
• Tallied a pair of touchdowns, the first tight end to score two touchdowns in a game for USC since 2022
• Last USC Freshman of the Week: King Miller (Oct. 13, 2025)
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