Bachmeier, Bishop and Weigman Lead Maxwell Award Standouts After Upset-Filled Week

Major upsets, explosive offensive performances and disruptive defensive efforts headline the Maxwell Football Club’s latest roundup, with BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier, Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop and Houston quarterback Conner Weigman among the featured players.

The club also highlighted eight defensive standouts in its Chuck Bednarik Award coverage and recognized Ohio State cornerback Jay Timmons as the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Player of the Week.

Bachmeier Delivers Against Notre Dame

Bachmeier helped BYU knock off No. 2 Notre Dame, 28-24, accounting for 269 yards and three touchdowns against one of the country’s toughest defenses.

With the Cougars trailing by three late in the fourth quarter, the sophomore directed a decisive 55-yard drive. His six-yard touchdown pass to tight end Walker Lyons completed the comeback.

Tennessee also scored a significant upset, defeating No. 6 Alabama, 26-10, behind Bishop’s production on the ground. Playing without their starting quarterback, the Volunteers leaned on Bishop for 32 carries, 159 yards and two second-half touchdowns.

Hawkins and Weigman Power High-Scoring Wins

West Virginia quarterback Michael Hawkins delivered one of the week’s biggest individual performances in a 45-42 victory over Cincinnati that ended a three-game losing streak.

Hawkins completed 25 of 33 passes for 464 yards and three touchdowns while adding a team-high 77 rushing yards and two scores. He accounted for 541 yards and five of the Mountaineers’ six touchdowns.

Weigman, identified in the roundup as the reigning Maxwell Award Player of the Week, helped Houston defeat Oklahoma State, 35-32. He threw for 343 yards and five touchdowns on 24-of-33 passing, finishing with 395 total yards.

Texas State running back Torrance Burgess Jr. posted career highs of 224 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries in a 66-27 win over Colorado State. He also caught three passes for 52 yards.

Army and Air Force Quarterbacks Excel on the Ground

Army quarterback Cale Hellums followed a 223-yard rushing performance against Tulane with another dominant outing in a 56-24 victory over Florida Atlantic.

Hellums ran for 195 yards and a career-high five touchdowns on 25 carries, giving the Black Knights another productive performance from their quarterback.

Air Force’s Evan Medders helped the Falcons defeat UNLV, 41-31, rushing 18 times for 152 yards and three touchdowns. He completed two of three passes for 18 yards and committed no turnovers as Air Force improved to 2-0 without quarterback Liam Szarka.

Miami receiver Malachi Toney rounded out the featured offensive players. Toney accounted for 185 yards and two touchdowns against Florida State, including the winning touchdown catch and a two-point conversion in the second overtime as the Hurricanes remained unbeaten.

Bednarik Roundup Highlights Turnovers and Pass-Rush Pressure

Tulane safety Kevin Adams helped fuel a 31-17 victory over Memphis with eight solo tackles, a fumble recovery and two interceptions. The Green Wave forced six turnovers in the win.

TCU edge rusher Koron Hayward recorded his first three-sack game in a 17-6 victory over Baylor. He added five tackles and a forced fumble for a Horned Frogs defense that, according to the roundup, ranks third nationally in scoring defense at 12.2 points allowed per game.

Auburn linebacker Elijah Melendez played a central role in the Tigers’ 27-24 upset of top-ranked Georgia. He finished with nine tackles, a sack, an interception and a pass breakup before Alex McPherson’s 34-yard field goal secured the victory.

Other featured defensive performances included:

• Anthony Bynum, Georgia Southern: Eight tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble in a 23-15 win over Old Dominion.
• Takari Hickle, Oregon State: Seven tackles, three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in a 48-30 victory over Washington State.
• LJ McCray, Florida: Four tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, in a 27-24 comeback win over No. 7 Texas.
• Jordan Ross, LSU: Six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble in a 31-0 shutout of Mississippi State.
• Andrew Zock, Toledo: Nine tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in a 34-14 win over Eastern Michigan. The roundup also credited him with nine quarterback hurries and 16 total pressures, citing PFF.

Ohio State’s Jay Timmons Earns Freshman Recognition

Timmons earned Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Player of the Week recognition after helping Ohio State defeat Indiana, 19-15.

The freshman cornerback recorded seven tackles, a forced fumble, and two pass breakups. Indiana finished with its lowest offensive output of the season.

Four Matchups Highlight Week 8 Preview

The Maxwell Football Club’s Week 8 preview identifies four games with conference and postseason implications.

Indiana will look to respond to its loss against Ohio State, while Michigan seeks a statement victory after consecutive defeats against Iowa and Minnesota.

Texas faces pressure to recover from back-to-back three-point losses to Oklahoma and Florida. Ole Miss enters after consecutive wins over Vanderbilt and Missouri.

North Dakota State and New Mexico bring strong starts into their Mountain West matchup, while Houston’s meeting with unbeaten Utah features a quarterback matchup between Weigman and Devon Dampier.

Source: Maxwell Football Club roundup supplied to Habari Entertainment. Rankings, records, statistics, and broadcast listings reflect the supplied release.