2026 Big Ten Football Preseason National Awards Watch Lists

As attention turns to the 2026 college football season, Big Ten student-athletes have earned national recognition on various preseason award watch lists. Below is a list of featured student-athletes.

Bednarik Award
Matthew Bailey, Illinois
Rolijah Hardy, Indiana
Isaiah Jones, Indiana
Tyrique Tucker, Indiana
Zach Lutmer, Iowa
Daniel Wingate, Maryland
Jyaire Hall, Michigan
John Henry Daley, Michigan
Jordan Hall, Michigan State
Anthony Smith, Minnesota
Robert Fitzgerald, Northwestern
Kenyatta Jackson, Ohio State
Earl Little Jr., Ohio State
Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon
Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon
A’Mauri Washington, Oregon
Jeremiah Cooper, Penn State
Jontez Williams, USC
Mason Posa, Wisconsin 

Davey O’Brien Award
Josh Hoover, Indiana
Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Dante Moore, Oregon
Rocco Becht, Penn State
Jayden Maiava, USC
Demond Williams Jr., Washington

Doak Walker Award
Ca’Lil Valentine, Illinois
Khobie Martin, Indiana
Turbo Richard, Indiana
Kamari Moulton, Iowa
DeJuan Williams, Maryland
Cam Edwards, Michigan State
Bo Jackson, Ohio State
Jordon Davison, Oregon
Carson Hansen, Penn State
James Peoples, Penn State
Fame Ijeboi, Purdue
Wayne Knight, UCLA 

Biletnikoff Award
Jayshon Platt, Illinois
Charlie Becker, Indiana
Griffin Wilde, Northwestern
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Iverson Hooks, Oregon
Jamari Johnson, Oregon
KJ Duff, Rutgers 

Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
Amare Ferrell, Indiana
Jyaire Hill, Michigan
Earl Little Jr., Ohio State
Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon
Koi Perich, Oregon 

John Mackey Award
DJ Vonnahme, Iowa
Dorian Flemming, Maryland
JJ Buchanan, Michigan
Luke Lindenmeyer, Nebraska
Hunter Welcing, Ohio State
Jamari Johnson, Oregon
Benjamin Brahmer, Penn State
Gabe Burkle, Penn State
Decker DeGraaf, Washington 

Butkus Award
Rolijah Hardy, Indiana
Isaiah Jones, Indiana
Jayden Montgomery, Iowa
Daniel Wingate, Maryland
Troy Bowles, Michigan
Jordan Hall, Michigan State
Maverick Baranowski, Minnesota
Owen Chambliss, Nebraska
Kooper Ebel, Penn State
Sammy Omosigho, UCLA
Xe’ree Alexander, Washington
Mason Posa, Wisconsin 

Ray Guy Award
Bryce McFerson, Maryland
Hunter Green, Washington 

Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Amare Ferrell, Indiana
Rolijah Hardy, Indiana
Isaiah Jones, Indiana
Zach Lutmer, Iowa
John Henry Daley, Michigan
Kenyatta Jackson Jr., Ohio State
Jaylen McClain, Ohio State
Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon
Koi Perich, Oregon 

Outland Trophy
Carter Smith, Indiana
Trevor Lauck, Iowa
Kade Pieper, Iowa
Andrew Sprague, Michigan
Ben Murawski, Michigan State
Greg Johnson, Minnesota
Carson Hinzman, Ohio State
Luke Montgomery, Ohio State
Austin Siereveld, Ohio State
Bear Alexander, Oregon
Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
A’Mauri Washington, Oregon
Alani Noa, USC 

Lou Groza Award
Nico Radicic, Indiana
Eli Ozock, Iowa
Sean O’Haire, Maryland
Trey Butkowski, Michigan
Jackson Kleather, Northwestern
Connor Hawkins, Ohio State
Ryan Barker, Penn State
Ryon Sayeri, USC
Tyler Robles, Washington 

Paul Hornung Award
Andrew Marsh, Michigan
Jacory Barney Jr., Nebraska
Brandon Inniss, Ohio State
Koi Perich, Oregon
Wayne Knight, UCLA 

Rimington Trophy
Jake Renfro, Illinois
Bray Lynch, Indiana
Kade Pieper, Iowa
Mihael Hershey, Maryland
Jake Guarnera, Michigan
Ashton Beers, Minnesota
Justin Evans, Nebraska
Jake Carsello, Northwestern
Carson Hinzman, Ohio State
Iapani Laloulu, Oregon
Brock Riker, Penn State
Kilian O’Connor, USC
Landen Hatchett, Washington 

Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
Brendon Henderson, Illinois
Charlie Becker, Indiana
Jayden Montgomery, Iowa
Malik Washington, Maryland
Jordan Marshall, Michigan
Jordan Hall, Michigan State
Anthony Smith, Minnesota
Donovan Jones, Nebraska
John Fussell, Northwestern
Jaylen McClain, Ohio State
Dante Moore, Oregon
Cooper Cousins, Penn State
CJ Madden, Purdue
Michael O’Connor, Rutgers
Halakilangi Muagututi’a, UCLA
Jayden Maiava, USC
Landen Hatchett, Washington
Chris Brooks Jr., Wisconsin 

Walter Camp Award
Charlie Becker, Indiana
Tyrique Tucker, Indiana
Bryce Underwood, Michigan
Anthony Smith, Minnesota
Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Dante Moore, Oregon
KJ Duff, Rutgers
Jayden Maiava, USC

Maxwell Award
Josh Hoover, Indiana
Jordan Marshall, Michigan
Bryce Underwood, Michigan
Cam Edwards, Michigan State
Darius Taylor, Minnesota
Anthony Colandrea, Nebraska
Caleb Komolafe, Northwestern
Bo Jackson, Ohio State
Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Rocco Becht, Penn State
Antwan Raymond, Rutgers
Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
Waymond Jordan, USC
Jayden Maiava, USC
Demond Williams, Washington

Players listed on three-or-more Watch Lists heading into the 2026 season:

4 Lists

• Jayden Maiava, USC — Davey O'Brien, Wuerffel, Walter Camp, Maxwell

3 Lists

• Rolijah Hardy, Indiana — Bednarik, Butkus, Nagurski
• Isaiah Jones, Indiana — Bednarik, Butkus, Nagurski
• Charlie Becker, Indiana — Biletnikoff, Wuerffel, Walter Camp
• Jordan Hall, Michigan State — Bednarik, Butkus, Wuerffel
• Anthony Smith, Minnesota — Bednarik, Wuerffel, Walter Camp
• Julian Sayin, Ohio State — Davey O'Brien, Walter Camp, Maxwell
• Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State — Biletnikoff, Walter Camp, Maxwell
• Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon — Bednarik, Thorpe, Nagurski
• Dante Moore, Oregon — Davey O'Brien, Wuerffel, Walter Camp
• Koi Perich, Oregon — Thorpe, Nagurski, Hornung