Around The Big Ten – September 9, 2026

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Offensive Player of the Week
Jayden Maiava, USC
QB – R-Sr. – Palolo, Hawaii – Liberty
• Went 23-of-25 for 349 yards and three touchdowns in USC’s 39-0 shutout of Fresno State
• His 92.0 percent completion rate is the highest single-game completion percentage by a Trojan quarterback since at least 1995 (minimum 25 attempts)
• Finished against San Jose State going 25-of-29 for 286 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Also had one TD on the ground
• Ranks second among USC quarterbacks in the last 30 seasons with the most career games with 200+ passing yards, one passing TD and one rushing TD
• Has thrown no interceptions and only six incompletions through two games
• Last USC Offensive Player of the Week: Jayden Maiava (Sept. 1, 2025)

Co-Defensive Player of the Week
Caleb Bacon, Penn State
DE – R-Sr. – Lake Mills, Iowa – Lake Mills
• Recorded six tackles, all in the first half of a 45-0 win over Marshall
• Tied his career high with three tackles for loss
• Had a pair of solo tackles for loss on back-to-back plays and had a solo sack
• Last Penn State Defensive Player of the Week: Dani Dennis-Sutton (Nov. 17, 2025)

Co-Defensive Player of the Week
Ta’Shawn James, UCLA
DB – Sr. – Oklahoma City, Okla. – Carl Albert
• Secured a pair of critical interceptions that helped break a 24-24 draw as UCLA outscored California 21-0 in the fourth quarter
• Earned the first two picks of his career in his Bruin debut
• Added eight tackles, the third-most on the squad and most among the secondary
• Last UCLA Defensive Player of the Week: Carson Schwesinger (Nov. 11, 2024)

Special Teams Player of the Week
Javon Tracy, Minnesota
WR – 5th-Yr. – Indianapolis, Ind. – Decatur Central
• Became the first Gopher ever and fourth player in Big Ten history to score two punt return touchdowns in a game
• First to accomplish the feat in his first career game returning punts
• Set a school record with 167 yards on four returns against Eastern Illinois
• Brought back his first return 87 yards, the second-longest in program history, for a touchdown and added a 69-yard return score in the third quarter
• Last Minnesota Special Teams Player of the Week: Dragan Kesich (Nov. 4, 2024)

Freshman of the Week
Jamal Rule, Nebraska
RB – Fr. – Salisbury, N.C. – Charlotte Christian
• Accounted for 169 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in his collegiate debut versus Ohio
• Had 122 rushing yards, marking the first time a true freshman Husker running back topped the century mark in a season opener in 22 seasons
• Tallied two rushing touchdowns and scored on a 24-yard pass reception
• Became just the sixth Big Ten freshman since 1995 to have two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in a game and the first since 2021
• Last Nebraska Freshman of the Week: TJ Lateef (Nov. 10, 2025) 

MEN’S SOCCER

Offensive Player of the Week
Albi Ndrenika, Maryland
Grad. – MF – Olney, Md. – Baltimore Armour

• Tallied two goals on just two shots, helping No. 2 Maryland improve to 5-0
• Notched a sixth-minute marker in a 4-3 win over Delaware
• Leveled the score in the 19th minute of Maryland’s 3-2 win over No. 5 Georgetown
• Claims second career Offensive Player of the Week honor
• Last Maryland Offensive Player of the Week: Sadam Masereka (Nov. 11, 2025)

Defensive Player of the Week 
Elijah Bishop Ohio State
Grad. – D – Aurora, Colo. – Smoky Hills

• Anchored an Ohio State defensive effort that has not yet allowed a goal on the season
• Surrendered just four shots in a 5-0 win over Northern Kentucky
• Earns his first Defensive Player of the Week accolade
• Last Ohio State Defensive Player of the Week: Nick McHenry (Sept. 16, 2025)

Goalkeeper of the Week
Judewellin Michel, Wisconsin
Soph. – Montreal, Quebec, Canada – CF Montreal

• Recorded a career-high nine saves in the No. 8 Badgers’ 2-1 win over Portland
• Six stops came in the second half, allowing Wisconsin to score the game-winning goal in the match’s final seconds
• Nabs his first Goalkeeper of the Week award
• Last Wisconsin Goalkeeper of the Week: Matisse Hebert (Oct. 7, 2025)

Freshman of the Week 
Rodrigo Neri, Maryland
F – Madrid, Spain – Athletico Madrid

• Totaled five points, as Maryland scored a pair of wins
• Scored a goal and assisted on the eventual game-winner in a 3-2 win over Georgetown
• Added a goal in the ninth minute of a 4-3 victory over Delaware
• Claims his second consecutive Freshman of the Week award
• Last Maryland Freshman of the Week: Rodrigo Neri (Sept. 1, 2026)

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Offensive Player of the Week
Elle Britt, Ohio State
Sr. – MF – Cincinnati, Ohio
• Found the back of the net and had an assist for three points against Princeton
• Recorded a brace to push the Buckeyes past No. 23 Memphis, 3-1
• Last Ohio State Offensive Player of the Week: Kailyn Dudukovich (Oct. 1, 2024)

Defensive Player of the Week
Sutton Webb, Illinois
5th-Yr. – D – Salisbury, N.C.
• Played all 90 minutes in a pair of clean sheets against Western Michigan and Virginia Tech
• Had 12 interceptions and 20 ball recoveries
• Last Illinois Defensive Player of the Week: Claire Wheatley (Oct. 11, 2016)

Goalkeeper of the Week
Izzy Lee, Illinois
5th-Yr. – GK – Western Springs, Ill.
• Made three saves to shut out Western Michigan, 3-0, on the road
• Faced 20 shots and earned a season-high nine saves in a 1-0 victory at Virginia Tech
• Last Illinois Goalkeeper of the Week: Izzy Lee (Aug. 18, 2026)

Freshman of the Week
Lilia Calvert, Rutgers
Fr. – MF – Clarks Summit, Pa.
• Notched the first two goals of her career to lead the Scarlet Knights to a 4-2 win over Princeton
• With the game tied at 2-2, scored a breakaway goal in the 84th minute
• Added her second tally in the 88th minute to seal the match
• Last Rutgers Freshman of the Week: Shaela Bradley (Oct. 8, 2024)

FIELD HOCKEY

Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Fréderique van Cleef, Iowa
5th – F – Asten, Netherlands – Varendonck College

• Compiled a Big Ten-best six goals and 14 points on the weekend for No. 4 Iowa
• Recorded back-to-back hat tricks in a nonconference sweep of Lehigh and Ball State, leading the Hawkeyes to a 17-0 scoring advantage
• Scored on 50 percent of her shots against Ball State
• Leads the nation in goals (8) and points (19) after two weeks of action
• Earns her second-straight Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award

Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Sienna Golden, Ohio State
Jr. – F – Berwyn, Pa. – Archbishop Carroll

• Tallied three goals for Ohio State during the ACC/Big Ten Challenge
• Scored both of Ohio State’s goals in a 2-1 come-from-behind win over No. 5 Virginia in Piscataway, N.J.
• Tied the game with a deflection in front of the cage and provided the game-winner 61 seconds later during the fourth quarter
• Notched the team’s first goal against No. 12 Syracuse
• The Academic All-Big Ten recipient collects her first Big Ten Offensive Player honor 

Defensive Player of the Week
Aby Deverka, Penn State
Jr. – G – Houston, Texas – The Kinkaid School

• Turned in a near-perfect weekend, stopping 13-of-14 shots for a .929 save percentage
• Made nine saves in a 2-1 win over Delaware and followed with a four-save shutout of Villanova
• Allowed one goal on the weekend (off a penalty corner), finishing with a 0.50 goals-against average in helping extend Penn State’s win streak to three games
• Receives her first Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Award
• Is the first Nittany Lion to earn defensive honors since Anouk Knuvers on Oct. 9, 2023

Freshman of the Week
Avery Alleva, Ohio State
Fr. – G – Leesburg, Va. – Independence

• Made six saves in Ohio State’s 2-1 win over No. 5 Virginia Sunday in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge
• Turned away five shots in the Buckeye’s 3-2 loss to No. 12 Syracuse
• Finished the weekend with a .733 save percentage, stopping 11-of-15 shots on goal
• Successfully defended 15-of-17 penalty corners faced; held the Cavaliers scoreless on nine corner attempts
• Becomes first Buckeye to capture freshman accolades since Brenna Bough on Oct. 2, 2023