The Walter Payton Award, given to the most outstanding player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), saw several notable performances in Week 1. North Dakota State’s Christian Watson led the way with 16 receptions for 226 yards and three touchdowns. James Madison’s Percy Quarles and South Dakota State’s Pierre Strong Jr. also impressed with over 100 rushing yards and a touchdown each. In the quarterbacks category, Monmouth’s Kenji Bahar and Jackson State’s Shedeur Sanders threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns apiece.
