CHICAGO, Ill. – Northwestern sophomore Gianna Bennett has been named to the 2026 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team, an annual honor given to college football players for the impact they make off the field. Bennett is Northwestern’s first Good Works Team selection since Jacob Jenness in 2017.
In the 35-year history of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Bennett is the first female student-athlete to be selected to the team. She is one of 22 student-athletes across all divisions of college football and one of two NAIA players to be selected to the Good Works Team.
Bennett has raised $40,000 over the past four years through Every Kick Counts (EKC), a fundraising program supporting the stillbirth prevention campaign Count the Kicks. Through the program, Bennett leverages her on-field statistics to collect pledges. Last year, she was EKC’s top fundraiser among 400 participants, raising over $10,000. Bennett has raised more money than any kicker or punter in the nation, from high school to the National Football League.
Her service to others does not end with fundraising. Bennett is a mentor for Northwestern’s NEXT program, a tutor in the Peer Learning Center, a volunteer flag football coach for Orange City recreation, and a small group leader for the Northwestern Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) chapter.
Bennett has also made history on the football field, becoming the first female football player to score in a GPAC game and positioning herself to break college football’s all-time female scoring record. She currently sits at 66 career points, which is third in college football history behind Brittany Ryan’s (Lebanon Valley College) 100 points and Tonya Butler’s (West Alabama) 87 points. Last season, Bennett led the Raiders in scoring (49), earned All-GPAC honorable mention honors, was a CSC Academic All-District selection, and received NAIA Scholar-Athlete distinction.
Bennett has continued to make an impact on the field this season, scoring 14 points through Northwestern’s first three games. She is 11-for-12 on PAT attempts and connected on a 39-yard field goal late in the Raiders’ one-score win over Morningside.
“This is an awesome and well-deserved honor for Gianna,” head coach Matt McCarty said. “I am proud of her for the work she does on and off the field. She does an outstanding job of using her platform to make a difference and positively impact others.”
The Good Works Team consists of 11 players from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and 11 players representing the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Divisions II and III and the NAIA, along with one honorary head coach. The 2026 class was selected by a panel of former Good Works Team members, college football coaches, journalists, and other leaders. In total, members of the 2026 Good Works Team have contributed more than 12,000 hours of volunteer service, raised more than $100,000 for charitable causes, and launched seven community initiatives.
Fans can vote for the Good Works Team captain and 2026 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy recipient through November 3 at espn.com/allstate.
About the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team was established in 1992 by the College Football Association, recognizing the extra efforts made by college football players and student support staff off the field. AFCA became the governing body of the award in 1997 and continues to honor college football players who go the extra mile for those in need. Allstate worked to present the award starting with the 2008 season.
