Watch 2025 College Football Awards: Key Nominees and Viewing Details

College football fans, it’s that wild time of year again—awards season. The National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) is hosting its annual ceremony this weekend, and anticipation is everywhere.

This two-day event kicks off with a Friday night telecast focused on positional honors and individual achievements. The action wraps up Saturday with the iconic Heisman Trophy presentation.

Kevin Negandhi, Molly McGrath, and Booger McFarland will anchor the festivities, so expect plenty of energy and maybe a few surprises.

Friday Night Telecast: Where and When to Watch

The Friday night awards show starts at 7 p.m. ET. You can catch it live on ESPN or stream it on Fubo, which is offering a *Stream Free Now* option.

Negandhi, McGrath, and McFarland will host from the Bristol, Conn., studio. Jen Lada will be in New York City, grabbing interviews with players ahead of Saturday’s Heisman buzz.

Notable Awards and Their Recipients

Some big names have already locked up awards before the telecast. Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez snagged both the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Butkus Award.

Even though those trophies won’t get full presentations, Rodriguez will still get his moment on the show. The night also brings a whole lineup of positional awards:

• Player of the Year (Maxwell Football Club): Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame), Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Julian Sayin (Ohio State)
• Defensive Player of the Year (Maxwell Football Club): Caleb Downs (Ohio State), Cashius Howell (Texas A&M), Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech)
• Best Quarterback: Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Marcel Reed (Texas A&M), Julian Sayin (Ohio State)
• Best Running Back: Ahmad Hardy (Missouri), Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss), Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame)
• Best Receiver: Skyler Bell (UConn), Makai Lemon (USC), Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State)
• Best Tight End: Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon), Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt), Michael Trigg (Baylor)
• Best Center: Logan Jones (Iowa), Iapani Laloulu (Oregon), Jake Slaughter (Florida)
• Best Interior Lineman: Spencer Fano (Utah), Logan Jones (Iowa), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State)
• Best Defensive Back: Mansoor Delane (LSU), Caleb Downs (Ohio State), Leonard Moore (Notre Dame)
• Best Placekicker: Aidan Birr (Georgia Tech), Kansei Matsuzawa (Hawaii), Tate Sandell (Oklahoma)
• Best Punter: Evan Crenshaw (Troy), Brett Thorson (Georgia), Palmer Williams (Baylor)
• Best Player Who Began as a Walk-On: Drew Mestemaker (North Texas)

Heisman Trophy vs. Maxwell Award: A Decade of Discrepancies

The Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award both honor college football’s top player, but their voting groups don’t quite match up. The Heisman relies on 930 ballots—870 media members spread across six regions, 59 living former Heisman winners, and even one ceremonial fan vote.

The Maxwell Award, on the other hand, gets its input from select media, head coaches, sports information directors, and the Maxwell Football Club. This difference has led to some interesting splits over the years.

In 2018, Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa won the Maxwell, but Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray grabbed the Heisman. In 2023, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. took the Maxwell, while LSU’s Jayden Daniels won the Heisman. Last year, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty lifted the Maxwell, but Colorado’s Travis Hunter took home the Heisman.

Defensive Awards: Nagurski Trophy vs. Bednarik Award

On defense, the Nagurski Trophy and the Bednarik Award sometimes go to different players. The Football Writers Association of America picks the Nagurski winner, while the Maxwell Football Club handles the Bednarik.

Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. managed to win both in 2022, but that’s rare. Last year, Travis Hunter got the Bednarik as a shutdown corner, while South Carolina’s Kyle Kennard picked up the Nagurski.

Additional Awards and Recognitions

Friday’s show will also announce a bunch of other honors. Expect the Walter Camp All-America Team and awards for coaching, community impact, and academics.

• Coach of the Year
• Buddy Teevens Award (coaching leadership)
• Contributions to College Football Award
• Spirit Award
• AFCA Good Works Team
• William V. Campbell Trophy (scholastics)
• Wuerffel Trophy (community service)

How to Watch

If you want to catch all the action, tune in on ESPN or stream it for free on Fubo. The show starts at 7 p.m. ET—don’t miss college football’s best getting their due.

For more details or if you’re curious about the full list of awards, check out the official announcement page.

Conclusion

The annual college football awards ceremony is more than a celebration of athletic excellence. It’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion these athletes and coaches bring to the field.

Maybe you’re tuning in to see if your favorite player wins. Or maybe you just want to enjoy the spectacle—either way, it’s a must-watch for any college football fan.