The award that hates ND
It’s college football award watch list season and the award that kind of just hates Notre Dame is up on a Tuesday afternoon. The Outland Trophy, in all of its wisdom, took a pass on Quenton Nelson in 2017 and Joe Alt in 2023 and I will never forgive them for this insult.
This year, the award has placed two Irish offensive linemen on the watch list in Aamil Wagner and Billy Schrauth.
From the ND press release:
Schrauth, Wagner Selected to Outland Trophy Watch List
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Junior offensive linemen Billy Schrauth and Aamil Wagner have been selected to the 2025 Outland Trophy Watch List, which recognizes commitment to community service and leadership off the field.
The two Irish players are part of a group of 50 linemen on the watch list. Notre Dame has had three past winners of the Outland Trophy: OT George Connor (1946), OG Bill Fischer (1948) and DE Ross Browner (1976). THe Irish have had four additional finalists: Aaron Taylor (1993), Quenton Nelson (2017), Liam Eichenberg (2020) and Joe Alt (2023).
Wagner, also a nominee for the AFCA Allstate Good Works Team, was honored with the 2024 Notre Dame Football Scholar-Athlete Award and started all 16 games for the Irish en route to a National Championship appearance. Schrauth started 12 games in 2024 on the offensive line.
In 2024 Notre Dame’s rushing offense ranked No. 4 among the Power 4 in yards per carry (5.66), ranking No. 7 among all FBS teams. The Irish ranked No. 6 among Power 4 teams in rushing offense (210.8). With 45 rushing touchdowns, the Irish led all Power 4 teams and ranked third among all FBS programs in rushing touchdowns.
Notre Dame outpaced their opponents’ average yards allowed entering the game in every game of the 2024 season. The Irish rushed for an average of 84.69 yards more than each opponent’s average rushing yards allowed entering the game, while outpacing their average yards-per-carry allowed entering each game by an average of 2.27 yards per carry.