WEEK 5: Four Players from Three Conferences Earn Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll in Week Five
Award Presented by Texas Roadhouse to Most Versatile Player in Major College Football
Louisville, Ky. – Sept. 30, 2025 – Four players representing the Big Ten, MAC and Sun Belt Conferences were named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for their performances in week five of the college football season. Making the list are Luke Altmyer, Illinois; Nahree Biggins, Central Michigan; Wayne Knight, James Madison; and Koi Perich, Minnesota.
The National College Football Awards Association will honor Altmyer as the Paul Hornung Award Player-of-the-Week for his performance in the Illini’s home conference win over Southern Cal.
Illinois senior quarterback Luke Altmyer touched the ball 32 times three different ways for 359 yards and had a hand in four touchdowns three different ways in the Illini’s dramatic, 34-32 home win over USC. He passed for 328 yards and two scores, rushed for 28 yards and a score and caught a three-yard touchdown pass as Illinois built a 31-17 lead. When the Trojans took the lead with 1:57 remaining in the game, Altmyer engineered an eight-play, 51-yard drive that set up a winning field goal for Illinois as time expired.
Central Michigan senior running back / return specialist Nahree Biggins touched the ball 18 times three different ways and scored once in the Chippewas’ 24-13 home win over Eastern Michigan. He carried the ball 14 times for 113 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown run late in the first half that proved to be the winning score. Biggins caught three passes for 23 yards and accounted for four first downs from scrimmage, three on scoring drives. He also handled one kickoff return.
James Madison junior running back / return specialist Wayne Knight touched the ball 28 times three different ways and scored once in the Dukes’ 35-10 home win over Georgia Southern. Knight carried the ball 19 times for 151 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown run for the game’s first score. He caught four passes for 35 yards and accounted for seven first down rushing and one receiving, including four first downs on scoring drives. Knight also returned three punts for 13 yards and fair caught one punt.
Minnesota sophomore defensive back / return specialist Koi Perich was second on the team in tackles, sacks and tackles for a loss and returned punts and kickoffs in the Gophers’ come-from-behind, home win over Rutgers, 31-28. Perich made 11 total tackles, including four solo stops, had one tackle for a loss and recorded a sack to help stall a Rutgers drive when the score was tied at 14. He returned three kickoffs for a total of 83 yards and returned a punt 13 yards.
The Louisville Sports Commission successfully launched the Paul Hornung Award in 2010 to honor its namesake and native son, and to promote outstanding performances by versatile college football players who often go unnoticed. Each week during the regular season, a panel of college football experts selects players for the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll based on performance. A national selection committee comprised of 18 sports journalists and former NFL stars votes for the Hornung Award finalists and the winner, with fan voting powered by Texas Roadhouse comprising the 19th vote.
2025 Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll
- Week 1: Jonah Coleman, Washington; Quinton Jackson, Rice; Cam Ross, UVA; Smith Snowden, Utah
- Week 2: Rayshon Luke, Fresno State; Adam Randall, Clemson; Sutton Smith, Memphis
- Week 3: Zachariah Branch, Georgia; Dalen Cobb, Georgia Southern; Martel Hight, Vanderbilt; Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State; Sutton Smith, Memphis
- Week 4: Caullin Lacy, Louisville; Makai Lemon, USC; Malik Sherrod, Boise State