Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel (offensive), UCF DB Demari Henderson (defensive), Iowa State RB Abu Sama III (newcomer) and Texas Tech PK Gino Garcia (special teams) claimed Big 12 football awards for Week 11. Gabriel picked up his third honor of the season and the sixth of his career while the others earned their first recognition.

Gabriel became the first player in OU history and the first FBS player this season to account for eight touchdowns, as the Sooners beat West Virginia 59-20 to move into a second-place tie in the Big 12. The previous school record of seven total touchdowns was held by Heisman Trophy winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. Gabriel, whose 473 yards of total offense were his most as a Sooner, completed 23 of 36 passes (64%) for a season-high 423 yards and five touchdowns and rushed 11 times for 50 yards and a career-high-tying three scores without a turnover. He led the Sooners to nine scores (eight TDs) on his 11 drives, including each of the first five as OU took a 31-7 lead against a Mountaineers team that gave up just seven total points to BYU the previous week. His five passing TDs were the most nationally on the week and his three rushing TDs were tied as the most by a quarterback on the week (only one player, a running back, had more rushing TDs). Nine of his 23 completions went for over 20 yards, including a season-long 63-yarder to Nic Anderson and a 60-yard TD pass to Drake Stoops. Gabriel moved from 14th place to 11th in career FBS passing touchdowns (120). He needs one more to move into a three-way tie for ninth place (with BYU’s Ty Detmer and Georgia’s Aaron Murray) and three more to tie former OU quarterback Landry Jones for eighth place. Gabriel leads the Big 12 in completions per game (22.9), completion percentage (.705), pass efficiency rating (172.1), passing offense (306.9), passing TDs (25), points responsible for per game (21.6) and yards per pass attempt (9.4). He ranks second nationally among quarterbacks with his 11 rushing TDs (one behind the leader). Gabriel graduated from OU with a degree in multidisciplinary studies and is pursuing a master’s in human relations.

Facing No. 15 Oklahoma State, Henderson turned in one of his top defensive performances in the 45-3 win with a pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery. The sophomore defensive back became the first UCF player since 2019 to secure three turnovers in the same game. Henderson is one of 11 players in the Big 12 with multiple interceptions in a game this season and just the seventh to accomplish the feat in a conference game. A human communication major, he finished the contest with four tackles to lead the Knights’ defense as UCF held OSU without a touchdown for the first time in more than a calendar year. It was the fewest points UCF has allowed since a 62-0 win against Florida A&M on Aug. 29, 2019. Averaging 180.1 rushing yards per game, Oklahoma State had -6 rushing yards at halftime and ended the game with just 52, which is the fewest for the program since Nov. 15, 2014.

True freshman running back Sama had the best game of his young career for the Cyclones, rushing eight times for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Iowa State’s 45-13 win at BYU. The business student averaged 13.8 yards per carry as ISU went for a season-high 234 yards rushing as a team. Sama scored on dashes of 59 yards and a highlight-reel 13-yard run.

Garcia connected on the game-winning field goal with three seconds remaining, finding the uprights from 30 yards out to send Texas Tech to a 16-13 victory over No. 16 Kansas. Garcia’s field goal helped push the Red Raiders to their first top-25 road win since 2018 and only the eighth during the Big 12 era. It was one of three field goals on the day for Garcia, who also was successful from 32 and 31 yards out. It was the first game-winning kick of the senior university studies major’s career as he is now 5-for-6 on field goals during Big 12 play.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa junior defensive back Cooper DeJean has been selected as a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, which is presented to the most outstanding defensive player in college football by the Maxwell Football Club. DeJean is a semifinalist for three national awards: Jim Thorpe Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Bednarik.

The Hawkeyes have now had nine semifinalists for the award since 2005. They include DeJean (2023), Jack Campbell (2022), Daviyon Nixon (2020), Josh Jackson (2017), Josey Jewell (2017), Desmond King (2016), Adrian Clayborn (2010), Pat Angerer (2009) and Chad Greenway (2005).

DeJean has played more than 400 snaps in coverage this season without giving up a touchdown. He leads the Hawkeyes in pass break-ups (5), is second in interceptions (2) and seventh in tackles (41) this season. One of his two interceptions thwarted a scoring threat in the end zone against Michigan State.

DeJean and the Hawkeyes rank third in the country in scoring defense (12.3), fourth in passing efficiency defense (100.1), sixth in red zone defense (0.682) and eighth in total defense (281.5). Iowa is the only team to have allowed one rushing touchdown in 2023.

On special teams, DeJean had a 70-yard game-deciding touchdown late in the fourth quarter against Michigan State. He leads the Big Ten and ranks 13th nationally with an 11.5 punt return average and he is second nationally in punt return touchdowns.

The Odebolt, Iowa, native was a midseason first-team All-America selection by the Associated Press, The Athletic, ESPN and FOX.

The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and later a multiple year All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame and was the last NFL player to be a full-time player on both offense and defense.

Three finalists for the Bednarik Award will be unveiled Nov. 28. The winner of the 2023 Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN’s College Football Awards Show on Dec. 7.

Iowa (8-2, 5-2) will host Illinois (5-5, 3-4) in its home finale Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (CT) on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium. The game will be televised on FS1 and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

Hawkeye Semifinalists
Cooper DeJean — Jim Thorpe Award // Lott IMPACT Trophy // Bednarik Award
Joe Evans — Burlsworth Trophy
Jay Higgins — Dick Butkus Award
Drew Stevens — Lou Groza Award

Tory Taylor — Ray Guy Award

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team is ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 released on Monday.

The Hawkeyes were ranked No. 2 in the final AP Poll last season. Iowa has spent 14 total weeks at No. 2 in program history.

The Hawkeyes were ranked No. 3 in the AP/WBCA Preseason Polls, which tied its program best. Iowa got off to a hot start winning three games in seven days against, FDU, No. 8 Virginia Tech, and Northern Iowa.

Iowa has 316 appearances in the AP Poll and the Hawkeyes rank 23rd for all-time appearances.

The Hawkeyes were also tabbed as the Big Ten preseason favorite. Senior Caitlin Clark was voted 2023-24 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, while being a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection. 

UP NEXT

The second-ranked Hawkeyes are set to host Kansas State on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (CT) inside a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The contest will air on FS1 and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head coach Matt Fannon announced the signings of two high schoolers to National Letters of Intent on Thursday.

The Cyclones signed a pair of defensemen, Makenna Marshall and Laurence Leblanc, to their 2024 recruiting class.

“We feel really satisfied with our incoming class,” says Fannon. “We decided to be very specific with the needs we felt freshmen could help us within 2024, and we found a couple of players who will make a difference for us. We continue to have a very specific recruiting philosophy that will aid in the progress of our program over the coming years. We believe this group fits that philosophy, and we are excited to welcome them to our team.”

Laurence Leblanc – DEF | Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec | Saint-Gabriel HS
A center back from Canada, Leblanc will sign on with the Cyclones after a decorated high school career. Leblanc’s high school was League 1 QC Champions and Cup Champions as well as a League 1 Canadian Championships Finalist. Leblanc’s club team was CF Montréal Academy.

“Laurence was an absolute pleasure from the jump,” said Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator CC McGrath. “She quickly bought into what our program is all about and will help us continue to build our culture and raise the standard of Iowa State Soccer.”

Makenna Marshall – DEF | Hanson, Mass. | Whitman-Hanson Regional HS
Marshall played club ball with South Shore Select and has been a member of the Whitman-Hanson varsity squad since her freshman year. Marshall was the leader of her team’s backline and had the respect of all her teammates, providing leadership both on and off the field.

“Makenna was someone within five minutes of watching, we knew would be a good fit for our program,” says McGrath. “She likes to get forward out of the back and is super confident and composed on the ball. Physically, she is tough and gritty, which will suit her well in the Big 12.”