College football returned during Week 0, bringing several memorable individual performances and giving Sportsvival plenty to consider for its first IMPACT HVAC Player of the Week award of the 2026 season. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, Stanford running back Micah Ford and North Carolina defensive tackle Xavier Lewis all delivered outstanding efforts. However, Virginia quarterback Beau Pribula’s dual-threat performance in a dominant conference victory earned him the first award of the season.
Week 0 Runners-Up
Jayden Maiava, QB, USC
Maiava was nearly flawless as Sportsvival’s No. 13 USC Trojans opened their season with a 42-26 victory over San Jose State. The senior quarterback completed 25 of 29 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns while adding a one-yard rushing score. Maiava helped USC build a 28-0 halftime lead and a 35-3 advantage late in the third quarter before his afternoon was finished. He completed more than 86 percent of his passes, did not throw an interception and directed an offense that accumulated 505 total yards. Maiava made a strong argument for the award, but USC entered the game as a heavy favorite against San Jose State. USC game recap and statistics
Micah Ford, RB, Stanford
Ford was Stanford’s finisher during its exciting 37-27 victory over Hawaii. The Cardinal running back carried the ball 21 times for 99 yards and scored three touchdowns, including the go-ahead two-yard touchdown with 1:41 remaining. Stanford had surrendered a 23-7 lead and fallen behind 27-23 before responding in the closing minutes. Ford’s final touchdown capped the comeback and gave first-year Stanford head coach Tavita Pritchard a victory in his debut. Ford did not break the 100-yard mark, but three touchdowns and a game-winning score made him one of Week 0’s most important performers. Stanford game recap
Xavier Lewis, DT, North Carolina
Lewis delivered the weekend’s best defensive performance in North Carolina’s 15-10 victory over TCU in Dublin, Ireland. The sophomore defensive tackle recorded seven tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, setting career highs in all three categories. With Lewis controlling the middle of the field, North Carolina held TCU scoreless over the final 49 minutes. His 4.5 tackles for loss were the most by a Tar Heel since 2024, and his performance earned him ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week and Most Valuable Player honors for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Lewis made it clear that defensive players will receive serious consideration for this award throughout the season. North Carolina Athletics
Week 0 IMPACT HVAC Player of the Week: Beau Pribula, QB, Virginia
Pribula made an immediate statement in his Virginia debut, leading the Cavaliers to an impressive 34-8 victory over NC State. He completed 10 of 11 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns while carrying the ball 15 times for 110 yards. Pribula accounted for 265 total yards, completed nearly 91 percent of his passes and did not turn the ball over. He also became the first Virginia quarterback since Brennan Armstrong in 2022 to rush for at least 100 yards in a game. Virginia and NC State recap
The statistics only tell part of the story. Pribula controlled the game from the quarterback position and helped Virginia dominate an ACC opponent from the opening quarter. The Cavaliers finished with 413 total yards, including 258 on the ground, and possessed the ball for more than 38 minutes. Pribula consistently made the correct decision, protected the football and kept Virginia ahead of the chains. The Cavaliers led 17-0 at halftime and never allowed NC State to seriously threaten them.
Pribula’s path to Virginia has included stops at Penn State and Missouri. The York, Pennsylvania, native began his college career with the Nittany Lions, where he spent three seasons working behind Drew Allar. Pribula never became Penn State’s full-time starter, but he demonstrated his ability whenever he entered a game. During his Penn State career, he completed 37 of 56 passes for 424 yards, nine touchdowns and only one interception. He also rushed for 571 yards and 10 touchdowns, establishing himself as a dependable and dangerous change-of-pace quarterback.
Pribula transferred to Missouri for the 2025 season and started all 10 games in which he appeared. He completed 182 of 270 passes for 1,941 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions while adding 297 rushing yards and six touchdowns. His 67.4 completion percentage ranked third in the SEC. His best performance came during a comeback victory over Kansas, when he completed 30 of 39 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns. After one season at Missouri, Pribula entered the transfer portal again and found an opportunity to become Virginia’s starting quarterback. Beau Pribula’s Virginia biography
Pribula arrived in Charlottesville with experience, toughness and a proven ability to affect games with both his arm and his legs. His Virginia debut demonstrated exactly why the Cavaliers wanted him leading their offense. Against a conference opponent, Pribula was accurate, explosive and in complete command. For that performance, Virginia quarterback Beau Pribula is Sportsvival’s Week 0 IMPACT HVAC Player of the Week.
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