The National College Football Awards Association’s annual preseason watch list rollout began Monday as Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, running back Bo Jackson and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith were all named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which honors college football’s best player.
ANNOUNCING THE 2026 MAXWELL AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST!
— Maxwell Football (@MaxwellFootball) August 3, 2026
The Maxwell Football Club is proud to reveal the candidates for the 2026 Maxwell Award, presented annually to the College Football Player of the Year.
From elite quarterbacks to dynamic running backs and explosive… pic.twitter.com/qgx5MlS7dK
Ohio State is one of only two schools, along with Miami, with three nominees for the Maxwell Award.
As Ohio State players are named to preseason watch lists over the next three weeks, we’ll be tracking all of their selections in this thread. The full schedule for the NCFAA’s watch list rollout:
Here's our preseason watch list calendar for 2026. Over 15 weekdays, we will unveil lists from 16 national college football awards. pic.twitter.com/wHfWTWBcgy
— NCFAA (@ncfaa) June 15, 2026
Ohio State Players on Preseason Watch Lists
- QB Julian Sayin: Maxwell Award
- RB Bo Jackson: Maxwell Award
- WR Jeremiah Smith: Maxwell Award
- DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr.: Lott IMPACT Trophy
- CB Jermaine Mathews Jr.: Lott IMPACT Trophy
