Eastern Washington WR Kupp finalist for Payton Award again

Eastern Washington teammates Gage Gubrud and Cooper Kupp, along with Sam Houston State quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe, are the finalists for the Walter Payton

Eastern Washington teammates Gage Gubrud and Cooper Kupp, along with Sam Houston State quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe, are the finalists for the Walter Payton Award, given to the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Kupp, a record-breaking receiver, won the Payton award last season and will try to become the second player to win two. Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards won the Payton Award in 2008 and '09.

Gubrud is Kupp's quarterback at EWU. He leads the country in total offense at 412.2 yards per game and is on pace to set a Big Sky Conference record.

WIN $2KIN TICKETS

WIN $2KIN TICKETS

GET READY TO COMPETE

Pick your champion (you can change it later). We’ll email you when brackets open.

• Miami (FL)
• Georgia
• Utah
• Indiana
• Alabama
• Kentucky
• Texas
• UCLA
• BYU
• Ole Miss
• Notre Dame
• Ohio State

PREREGISTER TO PLAY

No purchase necessary. 50 U.S./D.C. 18+. Entry opens 3PM ET Dec 6, 2026 and closes 8PM ET Dec 18, 2026. Void where prohibited.See Official Rules for complete details. The College Football Playoff (CFP) is not a sponsor or administrator of this contest.

Briscoe has thrown for 4,096 yards and 52 touchdown passes, four short of the FCS record.

Kupp, a senior, holds FCS career records with 402 receptions, 6,061 receiving yards and 68 touchdown receptions.

---

More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25