[3] The award trophy, designed by sculptor Lawrence Nowlan,[4] is awarded to the sportsman adjudged to be the best in a given calendar year of those contesting collegiate sport in the United States through the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
[8] Through the 2001 iteration of the ESPY Awards, ceremonies were conducted in February of each year to honor achievements over the previous calendar year; awards presented thereafter are conferred in July and reflect performance from the June previous.
[a][9] The inaugural winner of the Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award in 2002 was Iowa State Cyclones wrestler Cael Sanderson who ended his collegiate career that year.
The most recent winner of the award is LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels.
[13] Beginning in 2021, the awards were again separated into men's and women's versions using the current naming scheme.