Michigan, Ohio State and UCLA Earn Weekly Football Honors

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Following Week 11 contests, the Big Ten Conference Football Players of the Week Presented by IFS.ai were announced Monday. Below are this week’s honorees: 

Offensive Player of the Week

Will Howard, Ohio State

QB – Gr. – Downington, Pa. – Downington

• Completed at least 80 percent of his passes for the fourth time this season (21 of 26), while generating four total touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes to a 45-0 win over Purdue
• Threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns and he also scored on a 1-yard rush
• Did not throw an interception and he spread his passes around with eight different Buckeyes making a reception
• Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week honoree: Emeka Egbuka (Oct. 7, 2024)

Defensive Player of the Week

Carson Schwesinger, UCLA

LB – Jr. – Moorpark, Calif. – Oaks Christian

• Had two interceptions, the first two picks of his career, and seven tackles as UCLA notched a 20-17 win over Iowa on Friday
• Helped limit Iowa (ranked No. 10 in FBS rushing) to just 80 yards on the ground, and just 265 yards of total offense
• Has seven plus tackles in eight of nine games this year, including six efforts with 10+ stops
• Earns UCLA’s first Defensive Player of the Week award

Special Teams Player of the Week

Dominic Zvada, Michigan

K – Jr. – Chandler, Ariz. – Valley Christian

• Converted a trio of field goals at Indiana (39, 22, 56 yards) and scored nine of team's 15 total points
• His 56-yarder was the third-longest in Memorial Stadium history and second-longest by an opponent
• Became Michigan's new career and single-season record holder for most 50-plus yard field goals in a season (5)
• Last Michigan Special Teams Players of the Week: Dominic Zvada (Sept. 30, 2024)

Freshman of the Week

Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State

WR – Miami Gardens, Fla. – Chaminade-Madonna Prep

• Caught six passes for 87 yards and one touchdown and in the process took over school freshman records for all three major categories in the Buckeyes’ win against Purdue
• He has now moved ahead of Ohio State All-American and Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter with 45 receptions, 765 yards and nine receiving touchdowns
• Improved to 10 total touchdowns on the season, including a 19-yard rushing TD vs. Michigan State
• Last Ohio State Freshman of the Week honoree: Jeremiah Smith (Sept. 30, 2024)

2024 Big Ten Football Players of the Week (presented by IFS.ai)

Sept. 2

O: Miller Moss, R-Jr., QB, USC

D: Kevin Winston Jr., Jr., S, PSU

ST: Mateen Bhaghani, So., K, UCLA

ST: Dominic Zvada, Jr., K, MICH

F: Dylan Raiola, Fr., QB, NEB

Sept. 9

O: Kyle Monangai, Sr., RB, RU

D: Xavier Scott, Jr., DB, ILL

ST: Tez Johnson, Sr., WR, ORE

F: Nick Marsh, Fr., WR, MSU

Sept. 16

O: Kurtis Rourke, Sr., QB, IND

D: Dante Trader Jr., Sr., DB, MD

ST: Atticus Sappington, Jr., K, ORE

F: Kerry Brown, R-Fr., DB, MINN

Sept. 23

O: Kaleb Johnson, Jr., RB, IOWA

O: Luke Altmyer, Jr., QB, ILL

D: Josaiah Stewart, Sr., EDGE, MICH

ST: Tommy Doman, Sr., P, MICH

F: Khmori House, Fr., ILB, WASH

Sept. 30

O: Kalel Mullings, Sr., RB, MICH

O: Tez Johnson, Sr., WR, ORE

D: Abdul Carter, Jr., DE/LB, PSU

ST: Dominic Zvada, Jr., K, MICH

F: Jeremiah Smith, WR, OSU

Oct. 7

O: Kurtis Rourke, Sr., QB, IND

O: Emeka Egbuka, Gr., WR, OSU

D: Jordan Burch, Sr., DE, ORE

ST: Brian Buschini, Sr., P, NEB

F: Trech Kekahuna, WR, WIS

Oct. 14

O: Dillon Gabriel, Sr., QB, ORE

O: Tyler Warren, Sr., TE, PSU

D: Aaron Graves, Jr., DL, IOWA

D: Koi Perich, Fr., DB, MINN

ST: Luke Akers, Jr., K/P, NU

F: Ryan Barker, K, PSU

Oct. 21

O: Ethan Garbers, Sr., QB, UCLA

D: Gabe Jacas, Jr., OLB, ILL

ST: Jonathan Kim, Gr., P/K, MSU

F: Nick Marsh, WR, MSU

Oct. 28

O: Max Brosmer, Gr., QB, MINN

D: D'Angelo Ponds, So., DB, IND

ST: Kaden Wetjen, Sr., K, IOWA

F: Koi Perich, DB, MINN

Nov. 4

O: Kaleb Johnson, Jr., RB, IOWA

D: Carson Bruener, Sr., LB, WASH

ST: Dragan Kesich, Sr., K, MINN

F: Kwazi Gilmer, WR, UCLA

Nov. 11

O: Will Howard, Gr., QB, OSU

D: Carson Schwesinger, Jr., LB, UCLA

ST: Dominic Zvada, Jr, K, MICH

F: Jeremiah Smith, WR, OSU