Vote for Athlon's College Football Awards of the Week - Revenge Edition

Sports admin September 20, 2026 0 Comments

Vote for Athlon’s College Football Awards of the Week – Revenge Edition

Week 3 of the college football season served up a whirlwind of action.

Trinidad Chambliss balled out and led No. 8 Ole Miss past No. 7 LSU, 32-24, in the grudge match of the year in Oxford, while humbling former coach Lane Kiffin. Darian Mensah was nearly perfect in leading No. 5 Miami past Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. And North Carolina State snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against Vanderbilt in Nashville.

Athlon Sports celebrates all of this madness and more by asking YOU, dear reader, to select our Offensive Player of the Week, Defensive Player of the Week and Surprise Team of 2026 So Far.

Without further ado, cast your votes below!

Offensive Player of the Week

Candidates:

Miami QB Darian Mensah: 30-34 passing, 220 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT in 33-20 win at Wake Forest
Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss: 33-48 passing, 363 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT in 32-24 win over No. 7 LSU
Alabama QB Keelon Russell: 23-30 passing, 320 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT in 50-36 win over Florida State
Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith: 5 catches, 85 yards; passed Michael Jenkins for most receiving yards in school history (2,958) in 59-3 win over Kent State
Wisconsin WR Tyrell Henry: school-record 14 catches, 160 yards, 1 TD in 54-10 win over Eastern Michigan

Defensive Player of the Week

Candidates:

Vanderbilt DE Miles Capers: forced game-winning fumble in end zone, 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss in 35-31 win over North Carolina State
Kentucky DB Jordan Castell: 13 tackles, 1 INT in 31-21 win over No. 9 Texas A&M
Ole Miss DE Kam Franklin: 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, deflected pass on crucial fourth down in 32-24 win over No. 7 LSU