Running backs ruled the college football world in Week 4, as Saquon Barkley led Penn State to a big win on the road at Iowa, Auburn's Kerryon Johnson scored five touchdowns, and several freshmen made impacts for their teams.

Who were the players of the week for Week 4?

National Player of the Week

Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State: How do you survive the Kinnick Stadium night game curse? Having your star running back tote the rock 28 times is a good start. That's exactly what Penn State star Saquon Barkley did in the 21-19, last-second victory that shattered Iowa dreams and kept hopes alive for a Nittany Lion perfect Season. Barkley rushed for 211 yards and one touchdown on the night, as his team racked up 579 total yards and proved to be too much at the buzzer for the upstart Hawkeyes. Barkley now has 518 yards on the season; he's found the end zone four times and is averaging a whopping 7.85 yards per attempt. 

SEC Player of the Week

Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn: The week of the running back continued with Johnson's performance at Missouri, where he found the end zone early and often. Seeing his first action since leaving the season-opener with a leg injury, Johnson scored four times in the first half, a fifth time in the second half ... and still finished as Auburn's third-leading rusher. It's the first time an Auburn player has scored five rushing touchdowns since Peyton Barber did it against San Jose State in 2015. Johnson's 30 points vs. Missouri are as many as Missouri's team has scored over its last three games combined. 

Freshman of the Week

Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia: The true freshman got things cranked with a bang against Mississippi State between the hedges by connecting with a 59-yard touchdown pass to Terry Godwin off a flea-flicker on Georgia's first play from scrimmage. It didn't stop there. He connected on every pass he attempted in the first half, tossed just three incompletions on the night, threw for 201 yards and two touchdowns and averaged -- averaged -- 16.8 yards per attempt.  That's the football equivalent driving the green in two on every Par 5 in the course. 

SEC Scholar Athletes

Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama: Fitzpatrick has been a star in the Crimson Tide defensive backfield since the moment he stepped foot on campus, but he's making an even bigger impact off of it. The physical therapy major spent the break between spring and summer semesters on a mission trip in Costa Rica. On the field this year, Fitzpatrick has 15 tackles and three pass breakups -- including two in Week 4 in the big win over Vanderbilt.

Oren Burks, LB, Vanderbilt: A three-time SEC academic honor roll member, Burks has solidified himself as a leader in the class room and on the field for the Commodore defense. The human and organizational development moved up to linebacker from the defensive backfield, has 22 tackles and one interception on the year.