theScore's 2016 College Football Awards
With the regular season complete and bowl season about to get underway, it's the right time to unveil the best of the best in college football this year. After a grueling voting process by theScore's college football editors, the panel has determined the most deserving student-athletes from this past season in a number of categories.
Without further ado, here are theScore's 2016 College Football Award winners:
Player of the Year & Offensive Player of the Year
Louisville QB Lamar Jackson
It's only appropriate that Jackson adds to his impressive hardware collection. The Louisville quarterback already won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, and Walter Camp Award (among others), so it should come as no surprise to see him as the unanimous selection for both Offensive Player of the Year and Player of the Year overall after such a dominating season.
Jackson set an ACC record with 51 total touchdowns and became only the third quarterback in college football history to pass for at least 30 touchdowns and run for another 20, leading the Cardinals to an appearance in the Citrus Bowl against LSU.
Defensive Player of the Year
Alabama DL Jonathan Allen
While Michigan's Jabrill Peppers may have gotten the invite as a Heisman Trophy finalist, it's Alabama's Allen that was the best defender in college football this season. Allen registered 56 tackles, an impressive feat for a lineman, including 13 tackles for loss, and was tied with Tim Williams for the team lead with 8.5 sacks.
Allen even scored a pair of touchdowns, rumbling from 30 yards and 75 yards out on fumble recoveries against Texas A&M and Ole Miss respectively. Both scores would prove pivotal, too, as those were the only two games this season that Alabama trailed during the second half.
Freshman of the Year
Alabama QB Jalen Hurts
Alabama's quarterback situation looked murky coming into the season, but it only took about 30 minutes of football to make everything clear. While Blake Barnett started against USC, it was true freshman Hurts that took the majority of snaps in the 52-6 win, and he would never look back, running away with the starting job.
Hurts led the Tide to a 13-0 record, an SEC championship, and a spot in the College Football Playoff, while providing a fearsome dual-threat in the backfield. Hurts passed for 2,592 yards, rushed for 841 more, and scored 34 total touchdowns. With the skill that will surround him at Alabama for years to come, it's scary to think where this freshman's game could end up.
Coach of the Year
Colorado's Mike MacIntyre
There were plenty of fine coaching performances in 2016, but no one managed the kind of dramatic turnaround that MacIntyre inspired in Colorado. After winning 10 games total during his first three seasons with the Buffaloes, MacIntyre's squad won 10 games in 2016 alone.
Colorado earned a spot in the conference championship game where it ultimately fell to Washington, but simply getting there was a heck of an achievement. The Buffaloes joined the Pac-12 in 2011 and had won five total conference games since then, before earning eight conference victories just in 2016.
Play of the Year
Central Michigan's game-winning Hail Mary lateral vs. Oklahoma State
It's somewhat ironic that the play of the year never should have happened in the first place. A mistaken call by the officials on an intentional grounding play in the Oklahoma State-Central Michigan game gave the Chippewas an untimed down while trailing 27-23.
With no time left on the clock, Central Michigan used its one free play to perfection and scored the game-winning touchdown on this insane Hail Mary lateral play. It shouldn't have happened, but it did, and it will never be forgotten.
Game of the Year
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Michigan
The 2016 season featured a bevy of high-profile matchups that failed to live up to the pregame hype. Michigan-Ohio State was not one of those games. Arguably the biggest rivalry in college football delivered on its promise when the second-ranked Buckeyes picked up a 30-27 win over the No. 3 Wolverines in double overtime.
The game was not without its share of controversy, as many Michigan fans argued Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett was stopped on a fourth-down play on the drive that led to Curtis Samuel's game-winning touchdown. It was a back-and-forth contest that had it all, including huge stakes. With the win, Ohio State cemented its spot in the College Football Playoff, while Michigan had to settle for the Orange Bowl.
Breakout Player of the Year
Texas RB D'Onta Foreman
Foreman came from seemingly nowhere in 2016 to win the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back. Foreman showed flashes for the Longhorns last season, including four games of over 100 yards rushing, but hardly anyone was prepared for what he could pull off in his junior season.
Foreman rushed for an FBS-best 2,028 yards this season, despite missing the Week 2 game against UTEP due to injury. Foreman's greatest stretch came over a four-game span where he rushed for 250 yards, 341 yards, 167 yards, and 250 yards in consecutive games against Baylor, Texas Tech, West Virginia, and Kansas respectively.