Oscars 2017 winners: The best of the best from a fun college football season

Welcome to the 2017 College Football Oscars! Everyone is looking lovely this evening. I see we all got the memo about the wrestling singlets.

We’ve got a lot of awards to give out from the 2016-17 college football season, one with no shortage of award-worthy performances. 

And the envelope, please ...

Player in a Leading Role

QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville | vs. Florida State

The spotlight was on, hype for Louisville football was at a fever pitch, and Jackson and the Cardinals did the damned thing. Florida State’s defense was down Derwin James for the first time in 2016, and it looked at times like the Seminoles were actually playing 11 vs. 10 on the field because of Jackson’s dominance during his five-touchdown romp (four rushing, one passing). It was one of those games at the beginning of Jackson’s Heisman Trophy winning season where his ability to “flip the numbers” with his legs made him a one-stop offensive production shop. 

Player in a Supporting Role

WR Jesse Kroll, Central Michigan | vs. Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph was called for intentional grounding as time expired with the Cowboys holding a 27-24 lead on Central Michigan. The officials awarded CMU an untimed down at the 49-yard line, and that’s when Kroll pulled in the Hail Mary toss from Cooper Rush before somehow shoveling the ball to Corey Willis prior to getting tackled. Willis then ran into the open field and across the goal line for the win.

Makeup and Hairstyling

Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State | 2016 season

The hairstyle -- named perfectly by the coach himself as the “Arkansas Waterfall” --  added a fun wrinkle to a wild 2016 campaign. Gundy nearly had to cut it in November because of a bet with his son regarding an upcoming test. Thankfully for us, Gundy’s son scored an 88 and not a 91, allowing the Arkansas Waterfall to continue its dominance of the college football hairstyling scene. 

Gundy made headlines recently sharing the tips to the trade with his hair on ESPN: “Well it’s a little bit of butch wax, and you’re right, you’ve got gotta have good genes, you’ve gotta have great hair and you’ve got to make sure you have the right product,” he said. “And as you know when there’s a lot of pressure when you have hair like this. You’ve got to make sure it looks right.”

Visual Effects

Pittsburgh | vs. Georgia Tech

Pitt’s then-offensive coordinator Matt Canada fooled Georgia Tech with this trick play, springing offensive tackle Brian O’Neill wide left after the snap for a throwback that gave him the chance to hustle to the end zone with some blockers. O’Neill was instructed not to do anything stupid with the ball -- don’t drop the ball before you cross the goal line, kids -- if he scored, but once the play was blown dead, there was plenty of celebrating with his Pitt teammates. 

This play has already won one big award this season, the heralded Piesman Trophy. The Piesman is presented to a lineman who does a magnificent un-lineman thing. O’Neill was on hand in New York City to receive the award, where his glorious touchdown was celebrated with his family and assorted college football media members. 

Costume Design

Army vs. Navy | Dec. 10, 2016

Both Army and Navy wore stellar alternate uniforms for their historic 2016 clash. Navy’s uniforms called back to the ones worn by Roger Staubach and his Midshipmen teammates during his 1963 Heisman Trophy campaign, while Army honored the 82nd Airborne Division in matte black. What made these threads look even better on CBS was the game, which will go down as one of the best in the recent history of the rivalry. 

Army went up 14-0, then Navy scored 17 unanswered points after halftime before the Black Knights finally ended their 14-year losing streak in the series with an Ahmad Bradshaw touchdown to win 17-14. 

Documentary (Feature)

“Running For His Life: The Lawrence Phillips Story” | Ross Greenburg, director

“OJ: Made in America” was as compelling a piece of art as we will ever witness from a documentary, but only a small portion of that was dedicated to his time at USC. “Running for His Life” similarly peeled back the top layer of the headlines to explore the life of Lawrence Phillips, who died on Jan. 13, 2016 after committing suicide. He was charged with murdering his former cellmate back in 2015.

Set Design

Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech | Bristol Motor Speedway

They put a football field in a race track, y’all. They said they were going to do it, and I still didn’t believe them, but they put a football field in a race track. The massive scoreboard overhead, huge event atmosphere and interesting sight lines may have contributed to what felt like a weird game, but it made for compelling theater for fans at home and in the stands in Bristol.    

Music (Original Song)

“Who’s Got It Better Than Us?” | Bailey and Jim Harbaugh, Michigan

Harbaugh allowed his family’s motivational call to get flipped for a rap song by Bailey, a noted Michigan fan. At least Harbaugh was able to get in the video in exchange for the sample clearance. 

Honorary Award

Steve Spurrier | College coaching career (1978-82, 1987-2001, 2005-15)

Spurrier gave us so many epic performances during his career. Who could forget ... [cue heartfelt music] 

“I didn’t know Jadeveon’s car that could go that fast. He doesn’t have a pretty car like those FSU guys used to drive.”

“You can’t spell ‘Citrus’ without U-T.” 

“We were 7-6. Same as Tennessee, same as Arkansas. I think they’re sorta celebratin’ big seasons last year. ... There are people in Knoxville and Fayetteville still doing cartwheels over going 7-6.”

“He’s like a New Testament person. He gets slapped up side the face, and turns the other cheek and says, ‘Lord, forgive them for they know not what they’re doing.’ I’m probably more of an Old Testament guy. You spear our guy in the earhole, we think we’re supposed to spear you in the earhole. That’s kind of where we’re a little different.”

Nobody was a better performer than Steve Spurrier during “talking season.” He still chimes in from time to time, but never holding court like he used to at SEC Media Days. 

Best Picture

Ohio State vs. Oklahoma | Kevin Jairaj, USA Today Sports Images

This incredible photo captures Noah Brown’s amazing touchdown catch at Oklahoma along with the reaction of the visiting Buckeye fans on the sideline. They say “a picture is worth 1,000 words,” and this one comes pretty close.