JOE MOORE AWARD ANNOUNCES 2024 SEMIFINALISTS

Ten O-Line Units Compete for Nation’s Top Honor

NEW YORK (Nov. 12, 2024) — The Foundation for Teamwork and The Joe Moore Award have revealed the 2024 semifinalists for college football's Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit. Since its inception in 2015, The Joe Moore Award has recognized elite O-line units for their unparalleled toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique, and ability to finish. The Joe Moore Award extends its gratitude to its esteemed Voting Committee and to DonJoy® for their steadfast support of the award and its mission.

Earning a spot on this year’s semifinalist list are the O-lines of #9 Alabama, #16 Army, #5 Indiana, Iowa, #8 Notre Dame, #2 Ohio State, #1 Oregon, #6 Tennessee, #3 Texas, and #25 Tulane*.

Semifinalist Highlights:

  • 9 are in the Top 25 in the FBS in points per game

  • 9 are in the Top 26 in the FBS in red zone touchdowns

  • 8 are in the Top 15 in the FBS in points per drive

  • 7 are in the Top 10 in the FBS in yards per game

  • 7 are in the Top 15 in the FBS in rushing TDs

  • 7 are in the Top 26 in the FBS in 20+ yard runs

  • 6 are undefeated on the road

  • 5 are in the Top 11 in the FBS in red zone TD percentage

“In a season marked by inconsistency, only a handful of units have truly begun to elevate their level of play,” said Cole Cubelic, lead college football analyst for SEC Network and Chairman of the Joe Moore Award Voting Committee. “This year has been unique—many of the units we expected to excel have struggled, and week-to-week performance has been oddly unpredictable at our position.”

“This has been an unusual year,” said Aaron Taylor, CBS Sports college football analyst and co-founder of The Joe Moore Award. “The loss of even one key player has had an outsized impact on many units across the country. Several of this year’s semifinalists began the season facing challenges—whether from injuries or finding their rhythm—but have admirably rebounded in their quality of play. We believe ‘portal parity’ has made it harder to build and maintain depth, yet the standout units are continuing to rise above—demonstrating excellent resilience, coaching, effort, and technique.”

“Even with all the inconsistency, it’s fascinating to see how closely tough, physical, well-coached O-line play correlates with winning football,” said Lance Zierlein. “As the season winds down, the ‘gotta have it’ moments over these next three weeks should reveal which of these units truly stands out as the Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit in college football.”

"I’m honored to join The Joe Moore Award Voting Committee,” said Harry Hiestand, longtime, well-respected college football and NFL O-line coach, and 2017 recipient of the award. “Joe was a mentor and one of the best to ever do it, so I know firsthand what it takes to be recognized as the nation’s most outstanding unit. We’re looking for lines that are the backbone of their offense—units that play hard, establish leverage, and punish defenders whenever they get the chance. It’s about playing as one, with every lineman blocking in sync. There are some hard-working units out there, earning the committee’s attention through their leadership, consistency, technique, and effort.”

“The semifinalists for The Joe Moore Award represent excellence in college football, embodying the spirit of resilience and the importance of teamwork in achieving shared goals,” said Terry Ross, Group President of Enovis Prevention & Recovery. “DonJoy is honored to partner with The Joe Moore Award, providing cutting-edge technology that protects players, enabling them to perform at their peak. We are in this together, protecting the trenches.”

2024 Semifinalists at a Glance (listed alphabetically)

Alabama (7-2)

  • Over 170 rush yds in six games this season.

  • 51.2% of rush yds came before contact (5th highest in FBS).

  • 2.82 yards before contact per attempt (6th in FBS).

  • 34 rush TDs this season (3rd in FBS).

  • Converted on 76.0% of 3rd and shorts when running the ball (5th best in SEC).

Offensive line coach: Chris Kapilovic

Army (9-0)

  • 6.2 yards per rush (3rd in FBS).

  • Averaging 334.9 rush yds per game, leads FBS by more than 66 yards per game.

  • 3.16 yards before contact per attempt (2nd in FBS).

  • 50.7% of rush yds came before contact (8th highest in FBS).

  • Only 11% of runs saw contact at or behind the line of scrimmage (lowest in FBS).

Three sacks allowed, fewest in FBS despite seeing the highest blitz rate on dropbacks (60.6%).

  • Same five starters in every game this season: LT Connor Finucane, LG Bill Katsigiannis, C Brady Small, RG Paolo Gennarelli, RT Lucas Scott.

  • Allowed 22 TFL on the season, fewest in the FBS despite having the 2nd highest number of rushing attempts (486).

Offensive line coach: Mike Viti & Matt Drinkall

Indiana (10-0)

  • Allowing pressure on just 22.5% of dropbacks this season (7th best pressure rate in FBS) despite seeing a blitz on 31.9% of dropbacks (25th highest rate in FBS).

  • 3.8% sack rate (5th in Big Ten).

  • Zero sacks allowed in five games this season.

  • Multiple rushing touchdowns in 9 of 10 games this season.

  • The offense leads the FBS in total touchdowns scored (59), is No. 2 in scoring offense (43.9 ppg) and No. 16 in total offense (453.2) entering Week 12.

  • The line has protected for 32 rushing touchdowns, the most in a season since 2001 (33; 12 games) and paved the way for multiple rushing touchdowns in 9 of 10 games in 2024, its most in a season since 2013 (9 games).

Offensive line coach: Bob Bostad 

Iowa (6-4)

  • The Hawkeyes have the nation’s second-leading rusher in Kaleb Johnson, who averages 132.8 yards. Johnson has a record 21 touchdowns (20 rushing, 1 receiving) this season, giving him a school record 126 points.

  • Iowa’s rushing attack has gained 200 or more yards in 7 games. (T-3rd in FBS).

  • 4.5 yds/rush against 8+ defenders in the box (14th best in FBS).

  • 140 rush plays against 8+ defenders in the box (T-8th most in FBS).

  • The team is on pace for 2,857 rushing yards, which would be the most in a single season in program history.

  • Unit has allowed just 13 sacks in 10 games.

  • Iowa has 2,233 rushing yards as a team, the most since 2016.

  • Iowa’s five starting linemen have combined to start 174 career games, including 49 by Mason Richman and 46 by Connor Colby.  Richman is tied for the most starts by an OL under Kirk Ferentz.

Offensive line coach: George Barnett

Notre Dame (8-1) 

  • The Notre Dame offensive line has seen three members make their first-career starts in 2024, including freshman Anthonie Knapp and sophomore Aamil Wagner, both of whom have started every game for the Irish this season. Nine members of the line have played an active role so far this season. 

  • The Irish have rushed for 200+ rush yards in 5 of last 7 games.

  • Notre Dame ranks second among all Power 4 teams in yards-per-carry (5.98) and 5th among all FBS teams. 

  • With 30 rushing touchdowns, the Irish rank 3rd among all Power 4 teams and 5th among all FBS teams in rushing touchdowns per game (3.33).

  • The Irish own the 12th-ranked rushing offense in the nation, averaging 214.8 rushing yards per game. 

  • In every game played this season, Notre Dame has outrushed its opponents' average yards allowed entering the game. The Irish have rushed for an average of 92.6 yards more than their opponents' 2024 rushing yards allowed entering the game. 

  • Notre Dame has outscored opponents by an average of 27.2 points per game this season and the Irish have a 91% success rate in the red zone. 

 Offensive line coach: Joe Rudolph

Ohio State (8-1)

  • 53.2% of rush yds come before contact (3rd highest in FBS).

  • 2.91 yards before contact per attempt (4th in FBS).

  • Allowing pressure on just 22.0% of dropbacks this season (4th best pressure rate in FBS).

  • Only 19% of runs saw contact at or behind the line of scrimmage (12th lowest in FBS).

  • Ohio State ranks No. 9 nationally with just 32.0 tackles for loss allowed in nine games and is eighth nationally in fewest TFLs allowed per game (3.56).

  • Ohio State’s line has allowed just 1.22 sacks per game; in six of nine games this season, the line has allowed either one or zero sacks.

  • All those stats have been put up while the line has been reshaped: following a season-ending injury to LT Josh Simmons, the Buckeyes replaced him with Zen Michalski. When Michalski went down with an injury vs. Nebraska, the unit was reworked to move LG Donovan Jackson to LT and inserted Carson Hinzman, a 12-game starter at center in 2023, to LG.

  • In that group's first game together at No. 3 Penn State, they helped Ohio State rush for 176 yards – including 58 on a game-ending 11-play drive in the 4th quarter while not allowing a sack the entire game.

Offensive line coach: Justin Frye

Oregon (10-0)

  • Sacked on just 2.9% of dropbacks (12th in FBS, 2nd in Big Ten).

  • 10 sacks allowed (t-3rd in Big Ten), but just 3 sacks allowed in last 8 games combined.

  • 2.16 yards before contact per rush (5th in Big Ten).

  • 150+ rush yds in 7 of last 8 games.

  • Six games with zero sacks allowed this season.

  • 127 total knockdowns this season, including 102 over the last seven games.

  • The offensive line accounted for all eight points on a third-quarter drive against Maryland, with OL Gernorris Wilson catching a three-yard touchdown pass and OL Josh Conerly Jr. running in the two-point conversion. 

  • Oregon leads the nation in fewest sacks allowed since the start of 2022 (20). 

  • Offensive line coach: A'Lique Terry

Offensive line coach: A'Lique Terry

Tennessee (8-1)

  • Only 18% of runs saw contact at or behind the line of scrimmage (9th lowest in FBS).

  • Averaging 2.66 seconds to pressure (14th best in FBS).

  • The Vols are rushing for 257.0 rush yds per game at home this season (9th in FBS).

  • At least 140 rush yds in every game this season.

  • Tennessee offense is averaging, 471.6 yards per game, which is 3rd in the SEC and eighth in the FBS.

  • The catalyst for a rushing offense that is leading the SEC in rushing for the second straight year, averaging 235.1 yards per game, which is also 9th in the FBS.

  • Highlighted by an impressive 214-yard rushing performance against No. 9 Alabama, the most rushing yards allowed by the Tide all season.

Offensive line coach: Glen Elarbee

Texas (8-1)

  • No. 1 offense nationally in 20-plus yard play percentage.

  • No. 10 offense nationally in passing yards (301.1 ypg).

  • No. 18 offense nationally in yards per play (6.71 ypp).

  • Three different Texas offensive linemen have earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors this year (Kelvin Banks Jr., Jake Majors, Cameron Williams).

  • The Longhorns allowed pressure on 25.8% of dropbacks, the 29th best rate in the FBS.

  • Texas is averaging 465.2 total yds per game, 9th most in the FBS.

  • All five offensive line starters have allowed two or fewer sacks this season.

Offensive line coach: Kyle Flood

Tulane (8-2)

  • Average 2.69 seconds to pressure (8th best in FBS).

  • Average 3.06 seconds to throw (16th longest in FBS).

  • Converting on 83.3% of 3rd and shorts when running the ball (4th best in FBS).

  • Six games with 200+ rush yds (T-5th in FBS).

Offensive line coach: Evan McKissack / Dan Roushar

Award Criteria and Selection Process

The Joe Moore Award Voting Committee judges solely on six criteria: toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique, and finishing.

Units of Interest:

In addition to the O-line units listed above, committee members also took note of the play and production of Louisiana and SMU. 

Looking Ahead

The ten semifinalists have gained the attention of The Joe Moore Award Voting Committee as it moves closer to announcing its finalists on Tuesday, December 3, following the completion of the 2024 regular season. 

Unlike in previous years, the 2024 Joe Moore Award selection will exclude conference championship game results due to the new playoff format. The award winner will be announced during a surprise visit to the winning university’s campus, scheduled for late December

Voting Committee

The Joe Moore Award Voting Committee is composed of 15 experts in offensive line play, including former linemen, coaches, talent evaluators, and qualified media analysts. Each week, they conduct in-depth analysis of game tape to assess both the fundamentals and subtleties of O-line performance. In addition, the committee occasionally reviews advanced data and analytics provided by Sports Info Solutions to provide valuable context in evaluating a broad range of talent and units. 

The 2024 Voting Committee includes Charles Arbuckle (UCLA, Indianapolis Colts); Randy Cross (UCLA, San Francisco 49ers); Chairman Cole Cubelic (Auburn, SEC Network); Gerry DiNardo (Notre Dame, head coach at LSU); Mike Golic, Jr. (Notre Dame, Draft Kings and TNT Game Analyst); Harry Hiestand (Joe Moore disciple, decades-long CFB & NFL O-line coach, 2017 award winner),  Greg Hudson (Joe Moore grad assistant, long time college coordinator); Eric Mac Lain (Clemson, studio analyst ACC Network); Trophy Guardian Duke Manyweather (Humboldt State, player and coach; founder of OL Masterminds); Geoff Schwartz (Oregon, Carolina Panthers); Steve Shankweiler (four-decade O-line coach, ECU); Phil Steele (publisher of Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, ESPN); Aaron Taylor (Notre Dame, Green Bay Packers, CBS Sports); Brandon Thorn (editor of Trench Warfare); and Lance Zierlein (NFL draft analyst, NFL.com).

Past Award Recipients

Past recipients of The Joe Moore Award include the offensive lines of the University of Alabama (2015), the University of Iowa (2016), the University of Notre Dame (2017), Oklahoma University (2018), LSU (2019), the University of Alabama (2020 - first repeat winner), the University of Michigan (2021 and 2022 - first back-to- back winner), and the University of Washington (2023).

About The Joe Moore Award

The Joe Moore Award is named after CoachJoe Moore, widely regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in college football history, most notably for his work at Notre Dame and the University of Pittsburgh. Throughout his storied career, Coach Moore sent 52 players on to the NFL, including Bill Fralic, Mark May, Russ Grimm, Jimbo Covert and others. The Joe Moore Award trophy, crafted by legendary sports sculptor Jerry McKenna, is the largest trophy in college football, standing at a height of 6 feet and weighing in at 800 pounds. The traveling trophy is made available for display by the winning university until the conclusion of the following college football season. 

About The Foundation for Teamwork

The Foundation for Teamwork is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering teamwork in all societal endeavors and bringing that spirit of collective achievement to athletics, education, and organizations. Find out more at joemooreaward.com and follow The Joe Moore Award on Twitter (@joemooreaward), Instagram (@joemooreaward), and Facebook (facebook.com/JoeMooreAward).

* Rankings based on AP Poll as of November 10, 2024