Ballage, Coaches Earn Several Weekly National Awards

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State junior running back Kalen Ballage earned several Week 2 National Player of the Week honors after his record-tying performance against Texas Tech. Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey and running backs coach John Simon also earned national weekly awards as well. 

Thus far, Ballage has been named the CFPA National Performer of the Week, Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, Rose Bowl Game Pac-12 Player of the Week, Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll and CBS National Player of the Week. Along with his awards, Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman listed Ballage on his top-five of Heisman Trophy candidates. 

Lindsey earned the National Coordinator of the Week honor via Athlon Sports, while Simon was named the Running Backs Coach of the Week via CoachingSearch.com.

Ballage, who totaled eight touchdowns and 207 all-purpose yards, rewrote several records on Saturday night in the Sun Devils' 68-55 victory:

• Tied the NCAA record for touchdowns in a game (only player to do so against an FBS opponent)
• Tied the FBS record for touchdowns in a quarter with four in the 2nd quarter (last happened in 2002)
• Broke the Pac-12 record for touchdowns accounted for in a regular season game (scored or passed for)
• Broke the Pac-12 record for touchdowns scored in a game (set by Anthony Davis in 1972 & Dick Dunn in 1922 with six)
• Broke the Pac-12 record for rushing touchdowns (7)
• Broke the Pac-12 record for points scored (48)
• Broke the ASU record for touchdowns in a game (set last by Ben Malone in 1973 with five)
• Broke the ASU record for points accounted for in a game (48)

The Peyton, Colorado-native also totaled more touchdowns in the game than he did in his two-year ASU career up to that point. 

Ballage was also awarded a Pac-12 helmet sticker from ESPN, and ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in The Washington Post's 'Other College Football Top-25'.

The junior and his teammates will take the field on a short week Friday, Sept. 16 at UTSA on ESPN2.