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PROVO — On the same day it was revealed that BYU quarterback Zach Wilson finished in the top-10 of the Heisman Trophy balloting for BYU's first appearance since 1991, the Cougars' head coach of a top-20 team also received more love.
Head coach Kalani Sitake was named one of 12 finalists for the George Munger Coach of the Year award, presented annually to the best head coach in college football by the Maxwell Football Club since 1989.
Sitake led the Cougars to an 11-1 record, its best finish since 1996, capped by a 49-23 win over UCF in Tuesday's Boca Raton Bowl. BYU currently ranks No. 13 in the Associated Press Top 25, No. 15 in the USA TODAY/Amway Coaches Poll and No. 16 by the College Football Playoff selection committee.
Other semifinalists include the head coaches of the College Football Playoff semifinalists, including Ohio State's Ryan Day, Notre Dame's Brian Kelly, Alabama's Nick Saban and Clemson's Dabo Swinney.
The award's three finalists will be announced after Jan. 2, leading up to a final round of voting by Jan. 15. Eligible voters include the Maxwell Football Club, NCAA head coaches, sports information directors and select national media.
"Kalani is very deserving of this and other honors he's received," said BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe. "He was at his best this year in the midst of a pandemic. He built a team this year based on leadership, unity and having fun playing the game. You could see it in the way our team approached challenges throughout the season and in the way they played."
It's the second time Sitake has been named a semifinalist for a national coaching honor. In November, the fifth-year BYU coach was one of 20 coaches up for the Paul "Bear" Bryant national coach of the year award.
Here are the 12 semifinalists, in alphabetical order by last name:
- Tom Allen, Indiana
- Brent Brennan, San Jose State
- Matt Campbell, Iowa State
- Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina
- Ryan Day, Ohio State
- Luke Fickell, Cincinnati
- Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M
- Hugh Freeze, Liberty
- Brian Kelly, Notre Dame
- Nick Saban, Alabama
- Kalani Sitake, BYU
- Dabo Swinney, Clemson
Christensen eyes consensus All-American status
Meanwhile, BYU left tackle Brady Christensen continued to earn All-American status this week.
The 6-foot-6, 300-pound left tackle from Bountiful earned All-America honors this week from USA TODAY Sports, ESPN, CBS Sports and Bleacher Report and added PFF All-America first-team honors this week.
He's the first BYU player to earn multiple All-America honors since 2009, when tight end Dennis Pitta was a consensus All-American by every major publication.
Responsible for protecting Wilson's blindside, Christensen graded above 95.0 in both pass protection and run blocking across the 2020 season, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed just three QB pressures in 372 pass-blocking snaps in the regular season en route to a 96.4 overall grade — on pace to break the single-season record set by Desert Hills product Penei Sewell of Oregon during last year's Outland Trophy-winning season.
"Brady is as consistent of a player as I have been around," said BYU offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, who helped win a national championship at Auburn as an offensive line coach. "I have coached several guys who have been first-round picks and played in the NFL. He is as consistent or more consistent than any of those guys."
Anchored by Christensen, center James Empey and offensive guard Tristen Hoge, BYU's line has paved the way to the No. 5 scoring team in the nation and No. 7 in total offense.
More honors
Earlier this week, BYU kicker Jake Oldroyd was named one of three finalists for the Lou Groza collegiate placekicker of the year award.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound sophomore from Southlake, Texas, joined Miami's Jose Borregales and Alabama's Will Reichard as finalists for the award, which will be presented Jan. 4 in a virtual award ceremony at lougrozaaward.com, and announced during ESPN's college football awards show on Thursday, Jan. 7.
Oldroyd was a perfect 13-for-13 on field goals during the regular season, including 3-for-3 on field goal tries of 50 yards or more. He also made 53 point-after touchdowns for a total of 92 points, which ranks second to Reichard's 109.
More than half of Oldroyd's kicks have come from 40 yards or more.
Former Utah kicker Matt Gay, an Orem High product who also played soccer at Utah Valley and is currently with the NFL's Los Angeles Rams, won the Groza Award in 2017.
Fans can vote for one of the three finalists at www.lougrozaaward.com, with one vote given to the contest's winner on the final ballot.
Additionally, BYU receiver Dax Milne is one of three finalists for the 2020 Burlsworth Trophy, given annually to the most outstanding player in college football who began his career as a walk-on.
Milne is joined by Arkansas linebacker Grant Morgan and Pitt center Jim Morrissey from the list of 10 semifinalists submitted Dec. 15.
A 6-foot-1, 190-pound product of Bingham High, Milne became the 17th receiver in BYU history to reach 1,000 yards in a season. His 1,188 yards and eight touchdowns currently ranks No. 4 nationally.
The award will be presented Jan. 4 in a virtual ceremony.
