We’re only three weeks into the season so, as expected, our awards races for offensive and defensive players of the year have changed quite a bit compared to last week. We have a new leader on defense, along with two new names on offense.

Starting now, we’ll also add a third category that’ll change every week. The new addition this time around: Freshman of the Year. Take a look:

Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year

1. Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett (five first-place votes): The league’s best player is pretty obvious at this point. Barrett is completing better than 67 percent of his passes and has thrown 10 touchdowns to just one interception. He’s also been a threat on the ground. Ohio State can’t ask much more of him. And neither can we.

2. Nebraska QB Tommy Armstrong: The Huskers’ senior quarterback didn’t receive a single vote last week but, suddenly, he’s our unanimous runner-up. That’s a big change, but it’s not hard to see why it happened. Not only did Armstrong throw for 200 yards and three TDs against Oregon, but he also rushed for 95 yards and another score.

3. Ohio State WR Noah Brown: He may not lead the conference in receptions or receiving yards, but Brown’s talent is undeniable. He had the whole nation talking after the catch -- you know which one -- and his four receiving TDs against the Sooners just can’t be overlooked.

T-4. Ohio State H-back Curtis Samuel: He’s tied for third in the conference in both catches (16) and receiving yards (259). That alone might merit him a mention on this list. But he’s also tied for second in rushing with 260 yards. He was overshadowed this past weekend by Armstrong and Brown, but Samuel has shown more consistency.

T-4. Penn State RB Saquon Barkley: He limped off the field Saturday after his first carry, but leave it to Barkley to make an impact when his team needed him most. Midway through the final quarter, an injured Barkley juked his way to a critical 55-yard TD that sealed the win over Temple. He already has seven TDs (6 rushing, 1 receiving) this season.

Also receiving votes: Michigan QB Wilton Speight, Michigan State QB Tyler O’Connor, Indiana RB Devine Redding, Iowa WR Matt VandeBerg

Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year

1. Michigan LB/DB Jabrill Peppers (three first-place votes): Is there anything Peppers can’t do? Not only is he coming off Big Ten player of the week honors -- on both defense and special teams -- but he’s currently leading the conference with 9.5 tackles for loss on the season.

2. Ohio State S Malik Hooker (two first-place votes): The Buckeyes’ playmaker has been all over the field the first three weeks, registering three interceptions the first two games and picking up eight tackles and a half-sack against Oklahoma. Said Urban Meyer: “He can do whatever he trains to do.”

3. Ohio State CB Marshon Lattimore: According to Pro Football Focus, opposing quarterbacks that target Lattimore are averaging a passer rating of 27.5. Let that sink in for a moment; that’s not QBR. Lattimore has been a shut-down corner for Ohio State and, like Hooker, he also has three picks this season.

4. Michigan State DT Malik McDowell: His effort may not show up on the stat sheet, but it’s impossible to downplay McDowell’s impact. Notre Dame struggled running up the middle against the Spartans -- the Irish averaged 2.3 yards per rush -- and McDowell made sure they didn’t convert a single third down when running inside.

5. Nebraska S Kieron Williams: Coach Mike Riley singled Williams out for his play on Monday, and it’s hard to disagree. The safety leads the team in tackles (22), picked off two passes against Wyoming and broke up a deep Oregon pass with less than a minute left.

Also receiving votes: Maryland CB Will Likely, Illinois LB Hardy Nickerson Jr.

Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year

1. Ohio State RB Mike Weber (five first-place votes): This freshman could soon start seeing some votes in the Graham-George OPOY race. He currently leads the Big Ten in rushing with 351 yards, which is nearly 100 yards more than the No. 2 back (260 yards).

2. Michigan DL Rashan Gary: Expectations were sky high for the recruit that ESPN hailed as the top prospect in the nation, but he’s lived up to them so far. He boasts 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a pair of QB hurries this season.

3. Iowa DL Anthony Nelson: The 6-foot-7 redshirt made a splash in his first career game with 2.5 sacks, and he’s not looking back. Nelson is second in the conference with 3.5 sacks, and he posted a quarterback hurry against North Dakota State. (The Hawkeyes finished with just two that game.)

Also receiving votes: Michigan State WR Donnie Corley, Ohio State OL Michael Jordan