For the third-straight year, an Ohio State football player has won the Chicago Tribune’s Silver Football Award that goes to the player judged to be the best in the Big Ten Conference. This time, Buckeye quarterback Justin Fields will take home the honor. The award, presented since 1924, is voted on by the conference’s 14 head coaches.
The OSU program has had a significant run with the award. Ohio State players have won seven of the last nine Silver Football Awards. The Buckeyes also lead all conference teams with a total of 22 awards with Fields’ now added to the list. Michigan is second with 17.
For the season, Fields is fourth nationally in completion percentage (73.4 percent) and fifth in passer efficiency rating (186.6). In just seven games, he’s thrown for 1,906 yards, 21 touchdowns, and six interceptions. In last Friday’s win over Clemson, he moved into second place all-time on Ohio State’s career touchdown passes list with 62 (in just his 21st career game).
This isn’t the first award for Fields. He is a two-time Griese-Brees Big Ten Conference Quarterback of the Year and Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year. He is also a finalist for the 2020 Manning Award, which honors the top quarterback in the nation.
The best player in the @bigten.
Congratulations @justnfields on receiving the 2020 Silver Football Award ‼️#GoBuckeyes #Fight pic.twitter.com/6RqJ6gUa8X
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 6, 2021
Now, if only he’s able to add one more MVP award, this time in the national championship game against Alabama Monday night.
