Games are often won and lost in the trenches. It’s often a thankless job playing offensive or defensive line. Even then, some of the best in college football do so each and every week. The Outland Trophy was established to recognize such players and has done so since 1946.
Celebrating 80 years since its founding, the Outland Trophy is the third-oldest major college football award. In 1946, Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, and the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since. Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.
This year, the field of seven semifinalists is overwhelmingly represented by players from the Big Ten. The conference is honored with four, while the SEC, Big 12, and American all sent one. Three finalists will be announced on November 25, and the winner will be announced on December 12 along with a plethora of other awards.
Outland Trophy Semifinalists Feature Four From The Big Ten
Logan Jones, C, Iowa
Coming from Iowa, you know Logan Jones is one of the best in the country. The Hawkeyes regularly churn out NFL-bound linemen, and Jones is very likely the next. Widely regarded as the top center in the country and the favorite to hoist the Rimington Trophy, Jones grades out as the top talent at his position by PFF and the like.
The Hawkeyes once again have one of the top offensive lines in the country, led by Jones. Iowa was named one of the 10 finalists for the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the top unit each year. He’s a multi-year starter for the Hawkeyes, currently sitting at 48 career starts, spanning the last four years. He has been an All-Big Ten selection in each of the past two seasons.
With Jones leading the way, Iowa has run for over 200 yards three times and has scored at least one rushing touchdown in every game this year.
If Jones were to take home the Outland Trophy, he would be the fifth Iowa Hawkeye to do so. He would join Cal Jones (1955), Alex Karras (1957), Robert Gallery (2003), and Brandon Scherff (2014).
Iapani Laloulu, OL, Oregon
The only returning full-time starter on the Oregon offensive line, Iapani Laloulu, has been a stabilizing force for the Ducks this year. He started off his career as a rotational piece on the offensive line before taking over the center job in Oregon’s bowl game following the 2023 season. Last year, he started the first two games at guard before kicking inside and finishing the final 12 at center. He led a unit that was a Joe Moore Award finalist in 2024. In 498 pass-blocking snaps, Laloulu allowed 10 pressures and didn’t allow a single sack.
This year, it’s been more of the same. The Ducks are finalists for the Joe Moore Award yet again despite the turnover. Across 294 pass-blocking snaps to this point. Laloulu hasn’t surrendered a sack.
Oregon has one Outland Trophy winner in its history. Laloulu is looking to join Penei Sewell from 2019 as the only one to do so.
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
One of just two defensive linemen to make the Outland Trophy semifinalist cut, Kayden McDonald has had a breakout campaign for the top-ranked Buckeyes. After biding his time and earning rotational snaps behind a handful of NFL-bound defensive tackles, McDonald took advantage of his opportunity this year.
The junior has started every game this year for Ohio State and has solidified what many thought would be the weakest positional group after a substantial amount of defensive turnover. Despite being a defensive tackle, McDonald is fourth on the team with 44 tackles. He’s third with eight tackles for loss and three sacks. In the two biggest games to this point (Penn State and Texas; even if Penn State is down, it was a big game for McDonald due to the Nittany Lions’ rushing attack), McDonald put up eight tackles in each. In the win over Washington, McDonald dominated with three tackles for loss and two sacks, earning him co-Bronko Nagurski player of the week honors.
The Buckeyes have a long history of top-end line talent. If McDonald were to win, he’d be the fifth, joining Jim Parker (1956), Jim Stillwagon (1970), John Hicks (1973), and Hiesman Trophy finalist Orlando Pace (1996).
Carter Smith, OL, Indiana
The only non-center offensive linemen from the Big Ten to be an Outland Trophy semifinalist, Carter Smith anchors the left tackle spot for the number-two-ranked Indiana Hoosiers. A stalwart on the Hoosier offensive line, Smith has started every game since the beginning of the 2023 season. In the release, the FWAA rightfully lauded Smith as an understated player in Indiana’s recent rise to national prominence.
If PFF is your thing, he is the second-best-graded Power 4 offensive linemen with an 89.4 grade. Carter has led the Hoosiers to another Joe Moore Award finalist season and has helped keep Heisman Trophy frontrunner Fernando Mendoza upright all year. When it comes to tackles, Smith is the only one with at least 250 pass-blocking snaps, five pressures, and no sacks allowed.
No Indiana player has ever won the Outland Trophy.
The Rest
- Spencer Fano, OL, Utah
- Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
- Landon Robinson, DT, Navy
More Big Ten Awards Coverage
- OSU’s Downs Headlines Four Big Ten Thorpe Awards Semifinalists
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Big Ten Boasts Five Lombardi Award Semifinalists -
Five Big Ten Linebackers Named Butkus Award Semifinalists -
Three Big Ten Newcomers Named Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Semifinalists - Two Big Ten Safeties Honored as Lott IMPACT Trophy Semifinalists
- Big Ten Leads The Way With Six Maxwell Award Semifinalists
- Three Big Ten Defenders Named Bednarik Award Semifinalists
- The Big Ten’s Two Up For The Burlsworth Trophy
- Five Big Ten Stars Headline Walter Camp Award Semifinalist Cut
- Five Big Ten Quarterbacks Named Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalists
- Five Big Ten Receivers Named Biletnikoff Award Semifinalists
- Two Big Ten Kickers Make Lou Groza Award Semifinalist Cut
- Two Big Ten Running Backs Make Doak Walker Semifinalist Cut
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