Penn State had a huge night at the 2025 ESPYS with women's volleyball head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley receiving The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance and former Penn State football running back Saquon Barkley winning two of his three nominations.
He was nominated for "Best Male Athlete," "Best Play," and "Best NFL Player." While Barkley was not in attendance, Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle and Barkley's teammate Jordan Mailata accepted one of his awards.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley wins "Best Play" at the 2025 ESPYS
Barkley's league-shocking backwards hurdle over a Jacksonville Jaguar defender in Week 9 of the 2024 regular season earned the running back "Best Play" at the ESPYS. The backwards hurdle also made its way onto the cover of Madden NFL 2026.
Tyrese Haliburton's game-winner, Sabrina Ionescu's Logo Three game-winner, and Trinity Rodman's overtime goal were all up for the same award as well.
"If [Barkley] were here today, he would say that this was a team award. He would say that it was because of the team that he could jump 40 inches vertical backwards over a player. He would say that no man is an island, that he draws his strength from others," Mailata said accepting the award. "So, in saying that, thank you to the ESPYS. Thank you to the fans that voted for him. And go Birds."
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley wins "Best NFL Player" at the 2025 ESPYS
Barkley also won the award for "Best NFL Player" over Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen, Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson, and Denver Bronco's Patrick Surtain II.
The former Nittany Lion set league records with 2,504 rushing yards between the regular season and playoffs of 2024-25 and seven 60-yard-plus rushing touchdowns. Barkley's 499 rushing yards in the postseason is the third most in the NFL as well. He became the ninth player to rush for 2,000-plus yards in the regular season and won the AP Offensive Player of the Year honor.
Barkley plans on continuing his professional peak of his career in 2025-26. In the offseason, he prioritized rest and recovery to ensure he's 100 percent healthy for the start of the season and won't have any physical limitations.
The Eagles also won the "Best Team" award over a number of teams: the Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Liberty, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma City Thunder, North Carolina Tar Heels, United States Women's National Soccer Team, and UConn Huskies.