The prestigious honor recognizing the top offensive talent in college football's second tier
In short: Established nearly four decades ago, the Walter Payton Award celebrates the premier offensive athlete within the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. Named after a legendary NFL running back who played at Jackson State, this accolade highlights the exceptional skill and impact of players competing at the collegiate level.
The award originated in 1987 to recognize the top performer across the entire division. However, the scope of the honor shifted in 1995 when the Buck Buchanan Award was created to specifically celebrate defensive excellence. Since that change, the Payton Award has been reserved exclusively for offensive standouts. The selection process relies on a broad panel consisting of media members and sports information directors from across the country.
The award's namesake, Walter Payton, established his reputation as a collegiate star at Jackson State University during the early 1970s. Over the years, the administration of the honor has transitioned between organizations. While The Sports Network managed the presentations until 2014, the responsibility moved to Stats Perform—formerly known as STATS LLC—following an acquisition in February 2015.
Success in securing this award is relatively concentrated among a small group of institutions. Only nine schools have produced multiple winners, and just seven have seen more than one individual player receive the honor. Eastern Washington leads the field with four recipients, followed by Villanova with three. Other institutions, such as Colgate, Georgia Southern, Idaho, New Hampshire, and Eastern Illinois, have each celebrated two winners.
Individual achievements have also marked the award's history. Armanti Edwards of Appalachian State became the inaugural two-time winner in 2009, a feat later matched by Jeremiah Briscoe of Sam Houston State in 2017. In 2019, Trey Lance of North Dakota State achieved a unique milestone by becoming the first freshman to claim the title. Most recently, Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard secured the honor for the 2025 season.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Walter Payton Award
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