NEW ORLEANS (October 22, 2025) – Fans have selected UAB's Ryder Burton as the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week. He earned the honor over seven other Manning Award Stars of the Week in the Allstate Sugar Bowl's online fan voting contest.
 
Burton, making his first career start, capped an exceptional performance with a 20-yard touchdown pass with 4:06 to go as he led the Blazers to a 31-24 upset of previously undefeated and 22nd-ranked Memphis in American action. He finished 20-of-27 for 257 total yards with three touchdowns and one interception.  

The Springville, Utah, native, who had thrown just one collegiate pass entering the game, posted the most passing yards by a UAB quarterback in his first career start since Bryson Lucero threw for 319 in 2020. On the Blazers' winning drive, Burton orchestrated 11 plays for 99 yards marking UAB's longest drive of the season by yardage.
 
The Blazers have a bye this weekend and then return to action on Nov. 1 at UConn for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff on CBS Sports Network.
 
The other Manning Award Stars of the Week were Bryson Barnes (Utah State), Alonza Barnett III (James Madison), Joe Fagnano (Connecticut), Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), Miller Moss (Louisville), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), and Gunner Stockton (Georgia).
 
In its first 21 years, the Manning Award has recognized the top names in college football. It has honored quarterbacks from 15 different schools and from four different conferences. The Southeastern Conference (Jayden Daniels, Stetson Bennett, Bryce Young, Joe Burrow, Mac Jones, Johnny Manziel, Cam Newton, JaMarcus Russell and Tim Tebow) leads the way with nine Manning Award honorees, while the Big 12 Conference (Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, Vince Young, Colt McCoy and Robert Griffin III) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (Cam Ward, Deshaun Watson twice, Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston) have each had five winners.
 
All the Manning Award winners follow in the footsteps of the Mannings themselves. In college, Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning combined for over 25,000 passing yards and 201 touchdowns while playing in 10 bowl games and earning four bowl MVP awards. Archie was the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, while both Peyton and Eli were selected No. 1 overall.