Ohio State, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue and USC earn weekly football honors
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Following Week 5 contests, the Big Ten Conference Football Players of the Week were announced Monday. Below are this week’s honorees:
Co-Offensive Players of the Week
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Jr. – WR – Miami Gardens, Fla. – Chaminade-Madonna Prep
• Tallied 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns on the road at No. 14 Iowa
• Broke the Ohio State record for career receiving touchdowns, passing Chris Olave’s previous mark of 34
• His 11 receptions moved him past Emeka Egbuka (2021-24) and K.J. Hill (2016-19) to become the Buckeyes’ all-time career receptions leader
• Recorded his 15th career 100-yard receiving game, tying Marvin Harrison Jr. (2021-23) for the most in program history
• Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Jeremiah Smith (Sept. 28, 2026)
Colton Joseph, Wisconsin
Sr. – QB – Newport Beach, Calif. – Newport Harbor
• Ran for 141 yards and scored once on 13 carries while also throwing for 145 yards and three TDs versus Michigan State
• His 141 rushing yards were the second most in a game for a Badger quarterback in program history, trailing only Tanner McEvoy in 2014 (158)
• Had a 47-yard touchdown run, the longest for a Wisconsin quarterback since 1998
• One of four Big Ten quarterbacks to post three touchdowns and rush for 100+ yards in a game since the 2020 season
• Last Wisconsin Offensive Player of the Week: Braelon Allen (Nov. 15, 2021)
Defensive Player of the Week
Braydon Brus, Northwestern
Gr. – LB – Glendora, Calif. – Glendora
• Recorded nine tackles (three solo), 1.0 TFL, one sack, an interception and a pass breakup in a 34-13 win against Penn State
• First Wildcat to have 1+ TFL in four consecutive games since 2021
• Just the third Big Ten player in the last decade (first since 2020) to post nine tackles, one INT, one sack and one PBU in the same game
• Last Northwestern Defensive Player of the Week: Aidan Hubbard (Oct. 30, 2023)
Special Teams Player of the Week
Jacobo Echeverria Lozano, Purdue
Fr. – K – Pittsburgh, Pa. – Upper Saint Clair
• Was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals to help Purdue defeat Illinois for the program’s first conference victory since 2023
• Fifth Boilermaker kicker in the past 20 seasons to produce a trio of games with three field goals
• Moved into second for most field goals made by a Purdue freshman kicker
• Last Purdue Special Teams Player of the Week: Spencer Porath (Sept. 8, 2025)
Freshman of the Week
Luke Wafle, USC
Fr. – DE – Middletown, N.J. – The Hun School of Princeton
• Notched five tackles, including four solo stops, a career-high 2.0 TFL and one sack
• His sack contributed to a USC pass rush that brought down Washington QB Demond Williams Jr. five times
• Led the Trojans in tackles for loss and produced three tackles on Washington’s final possession, including a sack and another stop behind the line of scrimmage
• Last USC Freshman of the Week: Riley Wormley (Sept. 21, 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