
Academic Achievement Award Winners
The Touchdown Club of Memphis was established in 1975 as a Civic Service Club to promote fellowship among its members through meetings and social functions and having as its sole civic endeavors the following:
I. The promotion of the sport of football and athletics, in general, for the common good and benefit of the citizens of the greater Memphis area.
II. The promotion of the City of Memphis as a National Sports City.
III. The presentation of the Academic Achievement Award to the American Football Coaches Association.
IV. The offer of financial support to a local charity.
The Academic Achievement Award was established by the College Football Association in 1981. The award recognized the CFA-member Football Bowl Subdivision institution with the highest graduation rate among members of its football team. When the CFA disbanded in 1997, the AFCA stepped in to present the award. The Memphis Touchdown Club presents the annual award, which is sponsored by BSN Sports.
This year’s award marks the 13th time the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR) one-year formula has been used to select the winner. From 1981 to 2007, the award was presented based on a formula used by the College Football Association and the AFCA. From 2008-17, the criteria for the AFCA’s Academic Achievement Award was based on the highest NCAA GSR, and a Federal Graduation Rate of 75 percent or better. For 2018 and 2019, the AFCA used the NCAA’s single-year APR. The AFCA returned to the GSR one-year formula in 2022.
The GSR is based on a six-year graduation window for student-athletes and holds institutions accountable for transfer students, unlike the federal graduation rate. The GSR also accounts for midyear enrollees and non-scholarship students at schools that do not offer athletics aid. Under GSR calculation, institutions are not penalized for outgoing transfer students who leave in good academic standing. These outgoing transfers are passed to the receiving institution’s GSR cohort.
Academic Achievement Award Winners Through the Years
2024: Air Force, Clemson, Liberty, Notre Dame, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wake Forest
2023: Arkansas State, Buffalo, Clemson, Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisville, Navy, North Carolina, Northwestern, Notre Dame, South Alabama, UTSA, and Virginia
2022: Air Force, Boston College, Navy, Northwestern, Stanford, Toledo, Vanderbilt
2021: No award given
2020: No award given
2019: Air Force, Alabama, Clemson, Louisville, Rice, Utah
2018: Clemson, Kansas State, Nevada, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh
2017: Alabama, Cincinnati, Middle Tennessee State, Northwestern, Utah, Utah State, Virginia
2016: Miami (Fla.), Northwestern, & Stanford
2015: Duke & Vanderbilt
2014: Duke, Northwestern, Notre Dame, & Stanford
2013: Rice, Stanford, Georgia, & Tulane
2012: Northwestern & Stanford
2011: Boise State & Miami (Ohio)
2010: Northwestern & Rice
2009: Notre Dame & Miami (Fla.)
2008: Vanderbilt University
2007: Northwestern & Notre Dame
2006: SMU
2005: Duke & Northwestern
2004: Boston College & Northwestern
2003: Duke
2002: Northwestern
2001: Notre Dame & Vanderbilt
2000: Syracuse
1999: Duke
1998: Northwestern
1997: Duke*
1996: Boston College, Duke & Vanderbilt*
1995: Boston College, Duke & Wake Forest*
1994: Duke*
1993: Duke*
1992: Boston College & TCU*
1991: Notre Dame*
1990: Duke*
1989: Kentucky*
1988: Notre Dame*
1987: Duke*
1986: Virginia*
1985: Virginia*
1984: Duke & Notre Dame*
1983: Notre Dame*
1982: Notre Dame*
1981: Duke*
*- Presented by the College Football Association