Offensive Player of the Week: Bear Bachmeier, QB, BYU and Jeff Sims, QB, Arizona State
Defensive Player of the Week: Jordan Crook, LB, Arizona State and Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
Special Teams Player of the Week: Will Ferrin, K, BYU and Jesus Gomez, K, Arizona State
Freshman of the Week: Byrd Ficklin, QB, Utah
Offensive Line of the Week: Utah
Defensive Line of the Week: BYU
IRVING, Texas – Arizona State, BYU, Texas Tech and Utah claimed Big 12 weekly awards after performances on Saturday, November 15. The quarterback duo of Bear Bachmeier from BYU and Jeff Sims from Arizona State (offensive) were recognized alongside linebackers Jordan Crook from ASU and Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech. BYU’s Will Ferrin and ASU’s Jesus Gomez (special teams) took home awards with Utah’s Byrd Ficklin, who was selected as the Freshman of the Week. In the trenches, Utah won Offensive Line of the Week and BYU had the Defensive Line of the Week.
Bachmeier was named Offensive Player of the Week for the first time after winning freshman honors on five different occasions. He completed 22 of his 33 pass attempts for 296 yards and a touchdown through the air in BYU’s 44-13 win over TCU. Bachmeier also rushed for 59 yards and a score in the victory. The freshman is one of three FBS quarterbacks to rush and throw for a touchdown in seven games this season.
Winning Offensive Player of the Week for a second time in three weeks,
Sims was once again a dual threat for the Sun Devils in their 25-23 win versus West Virginia. He was 19-of-28 passing for 207 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 81 yards as well. The quarterback became the first Sun Devil in three decades to pass for 175 yards or more and rush for at least 75 yards in consecutive games.
Crook tallied a career-high 14 tackles for the Sun Devils’ defense, which were the most by an ASU player since 2022. With 10 of his 14 tackles being solo efforts, Crook helped limit the WVU offense to just 68 rushing yards on 39 carries after eclipsing 140 rushing yards in 40 of its previous 48 games entering Saturday. The performance helped solidify Arizona State as one of the top rushing defenses in the Conference and the nation.
Rodriguez won his third consecutive weekly honor after tallying nine tackles and an interception in Texas Tech’s 48-9 win over UCF, while also rushing for a touchdown. The Heisman Trophy contender leads the nation with nine takeaways, including four interceptions, as he reached 100 total tackles for the year. Dating back to 2005, Rodriguez is the only FBS player to record at least five forced fumbles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in the same season.
Finishing BYU’s win over TCU by making all three of his field goal attempts and five extra points,
Ferrin accounted for 14 points. His field goals were from 29, 35 and 52 yards out, and the senior extended his BYU record of consecutive made extra points to 110. Ferrin now ranks in the top 10 of FBS with four made field goals from 50 or more yards out.
Gomez was selected as a special teams honoree for the fourth time this season after connecting on the game-winning field goal from 49 yards out in ASU’s 25-23 win over West Virginia. Gomez has tallied three game-winning kicks this season in the final three minutes of games, which ties him with Ethan Sanchez of Houston for the most in Big 12 single-season history. The redshirt senior also connected on a pass to tight end Cameron Harpole for a two-point conversion on Saturday.
Rushing for 166 yards on just six carries and a pair of touchdowns,
Ficklin was the catalyst for Utah’s third 300-yard rushing performance of the season in a 55-28 victory over Baylor. The quarterback broke off runs of 67 and 74 yards to push his average to 27.7 yards per carry. His 166 yards on the ground broke his own record for most rushing yards by a Utah quarterback, which he set with 151 yards against Colorado last month.
Utah picked up its fourth Offensive Line of the Week award of the year in its 27-point win versus Baylor. The Utes rushed for 380 yards on the ground, which included a pair of 100-yard rushers in Byrd Ficklin and Wayshawn Parker. The Utes needed just 59 plays to rack up 483 yards of total offense while averaging 8.2 yards per play.
BYU earned Defensive Line of the Week after registering three sacks, five tackles for a loss and allowing only 13 points in its victory over TCU. The Cougars held the Horned Frogs’ passing attack to 183 yards, marking its fewest in a game since 2023. TCU had only allowed 13 total sacks in the nine games prior to Saturday.