Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

College Football Playoff Shares Caleb Downs News Before Ohio State Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Escarpio | Last updated Dec 14, 2025 3:43 PM ET

The Ohio State Buckeyes are gearing up for another College Football Playoff run.

They started the season 12-0 but lost their most recent contest in the Big Ten Championship Game to Indiana.

Caleb Downs has been one of the leaders on the defense again this season.

The safety has recorded 60 total tackles, two passes defended, one sack and two interceptions.

In 2024, he was a unanimous All-American and the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year.

But this year, Downs has added more to his trophy cabinet. He was already named the Jim Thorpe Award winner and the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year for the second time.

Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs (2).Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

On Sunday, the College Football Playoff (CFP) shared Downs has been named the Lott IMPACT Trophy winner.

"Ohio State's Caleb Downs has been awarded the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which goes to the best defensive player in college football who makes an IMPACT on and off the field," the CFP said.

Ohio State's Caleb Downs has been awarded the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which goes to the best defensive player in college football who makes an IMPACT on and off the field.#CFBPlayoff x #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/oXM9rLIbHX
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) December 13, 2025

Downs is in his second season at Ohio State after playing his freshman season for the Alabama Crimson Tide . He is the second Buckeye to win the IMPACT Trophy. Linebacker James Laurinaitis, Ohio State's current linebackers coach, won the award in 2008.

He and the rest of the Buckeyes will await the winner of the first-round game between the Miami Hurricanes and Texas A&M Aggies to find out their opponent in the CFP quarterfinal. That game will be at the Cotton Bowl at 7:30 p.m. ET Dec. 31 on ESPN and the ESPN app.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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