Walter Payton Award
The Walter Payton Award is awarded annually to the best offensive player in Division I-AA football. The honor was first given in 1987 to the outstanding player in Division I-AA, but in 1995, eligibility was restricted to offensive players. That year, the Buck Buchanan Award for I-AA defensive players was inaugurated.
The trophy was named in honor of NFL legend Walter Payton, who starred at Jackson State University, which is now a I-AA school. Both the Payton and Buchanan Awards are awarded the night before the annual I-AA championship game.
