DALLAS -- Missouri State's Connor Lair (Jr., West Plains, Mo.) is this week's nominee for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Lair, a fullback, beat stage four Hodgkin's lymphoma to return to the field for the Bears.

Lair was diagnosed in September of 2023 and missed all but the first two games of that season, as he began a rigorous treatment schedule over the ensuing six months. The program used #40Strong as a rallying cry throughout the campaign.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder returned to action in 2024, playing in 11 games. He caught a three-yard touchdown pass in a Sept. 21, 2024 win at UT Martin, just more than a year (54 weeks) after his initial cancer diagnosis. He added a 27-yard touchdown reception in an Oct. 26 win at Northern Iowa later in the season.

Missouri State went 8-4 in 2024, the program's final year in the FCS. Three of those losses came to teams ranked in the top-three of the FCS poll, and the other loss came to FBS Ball State.

The Bears are now 2-3 in their debut season in the FBS, with Lair playing in all five games and catching three passes for 14 yards and a touchdown — the score again coming against UT Martin.

He has played in 29 games across four seasons in Springfield, primarily as a blocking back and as a special teams ace. He has returned three kicks for 37 yards in his career, adding 11 total tackles.

Missouri State's inaugural FBS season continues today (Oct. 8) when the Bears visit Middle Tennessee in a Conference USA matchup on ESPN2 (6:30 p.m. kickoff).

The Courage Award was first presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) in 2002. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship. The winner of the award will be included in festivities during Capital One Orange Bowl week and receive his 

2025 Weekly Nominees
•    Sept. 17: Army safety Larry Pickett Jr.
•    Sept. 24: Michigan linebacker Ernest Hausmann
•    Oct. 1: North Carolina quarterback Max Johnson
•    Oct. 8: Missouri State fullback Connor Lair
 
About Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl is a primarily volunteer non-profit sports organization with more than 400 members that promotes and serves the South Florida community. With its primary mission since being created in 1935 to bring tourism to South Florida through an annual football game and events, it has also maintained a legacy of charitable contributions and community outreach. Orange Bowl's community outreach is embodied by the four pillars of its Orange Bowl Cares program: Youth Sports, Education, Community Engagement, and Legacy Programs. Orange Bowl features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026.For more information about Orange Bowl events, including promotional inquiries and volunteer opportunities through the Ambassador Program, visit orangebowl.org or follow @OrangeBowl on social media.

About FWAA
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or tiger@fwaa.com.
To submit a nomination for the 2025 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award, contact Matt Fortuna at matt.fortuna@gmail.com.