The Maxwell Football Club has named Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor and California cornerback Kingston Lopa as its latest weekly award recipients for the 2026 college football season, recognizing standout performances that helped their teams secure victories.
Taylor earned Maxwell Award Player of the Week honors after delivering a productive performance for Mississippi State against Minnesota, while Lopa was selected as the Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week following a three-interception showing in California’s 21-18 victory over Syracuse.
The Maxwell Football Club presents two weekly honors throughout the 2026 season. The Maxwell Award Player of the Week recognizes an outstanding overall performance on offense, defense or special teams, while the Bednarik Award Player of the Week focuses on exceptional defensive play. Players are eligible for the weekly recognition even if they were not included on the preseason watch lists for the respective awards.
Kamario Taylor Leads Mississippi State With Dual-Threat Performance
Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor captured Maxwell Award Player of the Week honors after producing through both the passing and rushing games against Minnesota.
Taylor completed 16 of 22 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns. The sophomore quarterback avoided turnovers through the air, finishing the game without an interception and providing Mississippi State with consistent production in the passing game.
He also emerged as a significant threat on the ground. Taylor carried the ball 13 times for 86 yards, including a 26-yard rush. His ability to contribute as both a passer and runner added another dimension to the Bulldogs’ offense and helped Mississippi State secure the victory.
Taylor finished the performance with a quarterback rating of 88.8, adding to a statistical showing that highlighted his efficiency and versatility.
The performance also strengthened Taylor’s position as an important part of Mississippi State’s offense as the Bulldogs continue through the 2026 schedule. With three passing touchdowns and nearly 90 additional yards on the ground against Minnesota, the sophomore demonstrated the type of dual-threat capability that can create challenges for opposing defenses.
His weekly Maxwell recognition puts additional attention on his development and future performances as Mississippi State moves deeper into the season.
Kingston Lopa Records Three Interceptions in Cal Victory
On the defensive side, Cal cornerback Kingston Lopa earned Bednarik Award Player of the Week honors after playing a decisive role in the Golden Bears’ 21-18 win over Syracuse.
The sophomore recorded three interceptions and five tackles, with two of his takeaways coming at particularly important moments.
Lopa returned one interception for a touchdown, giving Cal the lead. He later secured another interception with 54 seconds remaining, effectively sealing the Golden Bears’ victory.
The three-interception performance placed Lopa at the top of the national interception standings at the time of the recognition and also put him into Cal’s recent record books.
Lopa became the first Golden Bears player to record three interceptions in a single game since Jaylinn Hawkins accomplished the feat against TCU in 2018.
The cornerback transferred to Cal from Oregon and has quickly established himself as a playmaker in the Golden Bears’ secondary. Through the opening two games, his ability to create turnovers has provided Cal with an important defensive weapon.
The Maxwell Football Club’s latest weekly selections highlight major contributions on opposite sides of the ball. Taylor’s combination of passing efficiency and rushing production powered Mississippi State’s offense, while Lopa’s three interceptions directly influenced the outcome of Cal’s close victory over Syracuse.
Both players will now look to build on their early-season performances as the 2026 college football campaign continues.
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