Around The Big Ten – October 7

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FOOTBALL

Co-Offensive Players of the Week
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Jr. – WR – Miami Gardens, Fla. – Chaminade-Madonna Prep
• Tallied 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns on the road at No. 14 Iowa
• Broke the Ohio State record for career receiving touchdowns, passing Chris Olave’s previous mark of 34
• His 11 receptions moved him past Emeka Egbuka (2021-24) and K.J. Hill (2016-19) to become the Buckeyes’ all-time career receptions leader
• Recorded his 15th career 100-yard receiving game, tying Marvin Harrison Jr. (2021-23) for the most in program history
• Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Jeremiah Smith (Sept. 28, 2026)

Colton Joseph, Wisconsin
Sr. – QB – Newport Beach, Calif. – Newport Harbor
• Ran for 141 yards and scored once on 13 carries while also throwing for 145 yards and three TDs versus Michigan State
• His 141 rushing yards were the second most in a game for a Badger quarterback in program history, trailing only Tanner McEvoy in 2014 (158)
• Had a 47-yard touchdown run, the longest for a Wisconsin quarterback since 1998
• One of four Big Ten quarterbacks to post three touchdowns and rush for 100+ yards in a game since the 2020 season
• Last Wisconsin Offensive Player of the Week: Braelon Allen (Nov. 15, 2021)

Defensive Player of the Week
Braydon Brus, Northwestern
Gr. – LB – Glendora, Calif. – Glendora
• Recorded nine tackles (three solo), 1.0 TFL, one sack, an interception and a pass breakup in a 34-13 win against Penn State
• First Wildcat to have 1+ TFL in four consecutive games since 2021
• Just the third Big Ten player in the last decade (first since 2020) to post nine tackles, one INT, one sack and one PBU in the same game
• Last Northwestern Defensive Player of the Week: Aidan Hubbard (Oct. 30, 2023)

Special Teams Player of the Week
Jacobo Echeverria Lozano, Purdue
Fr. – K – Pittsburgh, Pa. – Upper Saint Clair
• Was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals to help Purdue defeat Illinois for the program’s first conference victory since 2023
• Fifth Boilermaker kicker in the past 20 seasons to produce a trio of games with three field goals
• Moved into second for most field goals made by a Purdue freshman kicker
• Last Purdue Special Teams Player of the Week: Spencer Porath (Sept. 8, 2025)

Freshman of the Week
Luke Wafle, USC
Fr. – DE – Middletown, N.J. – The Hun School of Princeton  
• Notched five tackles, including four solo stops, a career-high 2.0 TFL and one sack
• His sack contributed to a USC pass rush that brought down Washington QB Demond Williams Jr. five times
• Led the Trojans in tackles for loss and produced three tackles on Washington’s final possession, including a sack and another stop behind the line of scrimmage
• Last USC Freshman of the Week: Riley Wormley (Sept. 21, 2026)

MEN’S SOCCER

Offensive Player of the Week
Martin Wurschmidt, Ohio State
Jr. – D – Stevern, Norway – Thor Heyerdahl VGS

• Scored two goals in the final three minutes to lead Ohio State to a 2-1 win at Penn State
• Recorded the equalizer in the 87^th minute then scored the game-winner with just nine seconds to play
• Claims first Offensive Player of the Week honor
• Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Michael Adedokun (Oct. 29, 2024)

Defensive Player of the Week 
Tre Wright, UCLA
Sr. – D – Austin, Texas – Lake Travis

• Helped UCLA record its second clean sheet of the season in a 3-0 upset win over No. 8 Michigan State
• Notched a pair of blocked shots, while playing the entire 90 minutes
• Earns his first Defensive Player of the Week accolade
• Last UCLA Defensive Player of the Week: Shakir Nixon, (Sept. 3, 2024)

Goalkeeper of the Week
Michal Mroz, Indiana
Jr. – Elk Grove, Ill. – Elk Grove

• Posted four saves, as Indiana topped No. 6 Maryland 3-1
• Recorded a penalty kick save in the 87th minute to secure the victory
• Nabs his second Goalkeeper of the Week award this season
• Last Indiana Goalkeeper of the Week: Michal Mroz (Sept. 22, 2026)

Freshman of the Week
Shaun Brun, Washington
D – West Seattle, Wash. – West Seattle

• Aided a defensive effort that saw the Huskies earn a scoreless draw against No. 19 Wisconsin
• Played the entire second half, as Washington held the Badgers to just three second half shots
• Earns his first Freshman of the Week award

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Offensive Player of the Week
Ava Westlund, Minnesota
Sr. – F – Arden Hills, Minn.
• Scored a second-half brace in the Gophers’ 4-0 victory over Maryland
• Found the back of the net for back-to-back goals in the 49th and 55th minutes
• Has a team-leading six goals on the season
• Last Minnesota Offensive Player of the Week: Freya Jupp (Sept. 2, 2025)

Defensive Player of the Week
Maya Loudd, Washington
Sr. – D – Tualatin, Ore.
• Part of a Husky back line that held USC to a single shot on goal
• Led a defensive effort that clinched Washington’s eighth clean sheet in the 1-0 triumph
• Last Washington Defensive Player of the Week: Maylen Montoya (Sept. 15, 2026)

Goalkeeper of the Week
Daphne Nakfoor, UCLA
So. – GK – Carlsbad, Calif.
• Recorded her fourth consecutive shutout, making three saves on seven Oregon shots in a 1-0 road win
• Recorded her fifth shutout of the season
• Has not allowed a goal in 443 consecutive minutes
• Last UCLA Goalkeeper of the Week: Daphne Nakfoor (Sept. 9, 2025)