PSU Football
Information
Penn Staters on 2026 Pre-Season Trophy Watchlists—
UPDATED
Lott IMPACT Trophy (Announced May 20)—Tony Rojas LB
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominees (Announced July 20)—Cooper Cousins OL (was also 2025 nominee), Matt Campbell (Nick Dawkins C was Captain of this team in 2024)
Shriners East-West Bowl 1000 (Announced July 22)—19 total PSU players selected/15 newcomers—Rocco Becht QB, Ben Brahmer TE, Tony Rojas LB, Kooper Ebel LB, Caleb Bacon LB, Zion Tracy CB, Audavion Collins CB, Anthony Donkoh OT, Brock Riker C, Trevor Buhr OL, Ikenna Ezeogu DE, Keanu Williams DT, Siale Taupaki DT, Carson Hansen RB, Marcus Neal S, Jeremiah Cooper S, Gabe Burkle TE, Brett Eskildsen WR, & Chase Sowell WR
2026 Big Ten Players to Watch (announced at July Media Days)—none (PSU had 3 players named in 2025)
Maxwell Award (Announced Aug. 3)—Rocco Becht QB (2nd year in row/2025 at ISU)
Patrick Mannelly Award (Announced Aug. 3)—Blaise Sokach-Minnick LS (Chris Stoll LS was 2022 winner of this award)
Outland Trophy (Announced Aug. 4)—none
Bronko Nagurski Trophy (Announced Aug. 4)—none
John Mackey Award (Announced Aug. 5)—Ben Brahmer TE (was 2025 Semifinalist) & Gabe Burkle TE (Tyler Warren TE was 2024 winner of this award)
Rimington Trophy (Announced Aug. 6)—Brock Riker C
Lou Groza Award (Announced Aug. 7)—Ryan Barker PK
Paul Hornung Award (Announced Aug. 10)—none (Saquon Barkley RB was 2017 winner of this award)
2026 The Athletic “Freaks List” (101 players per Bruce Feldman/Announced Aug. 10)—#25 Tony Rojas LB (was #30 in 2025), #35 Brett Eskildsen WR, & #91 Audavion Collins CB—former PSU QB Beau Pribula of Virginia is #90
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy (Announced Aug. 11)—Cooper Cousins OL (2nd year in row)—Nick Dawkins C was 2024 winner of this trophy
Lombardi Award (Announced Aug. 11)—Ben Brahmer TE
Paycom Jim Thorpe Award (Announced Aug. 12)—none
Butkus Award (Announced Aug. 13)—Kooper Ebel LB
Ray Guy Award (Announced Aug. 14)—none
Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year Award (Announced Aug. 17)—none
Doak Walker Award (Announced Aug. 18)—James Peoples RB & Carson Hansen RB
Biletnikoff Award (Announced Aug. 19)—none
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Announced Aug. 19)—Rocco Becht QB (2nd year in row/2025 at ISU)
Davey O’Brien Award (Announced Aug. 20)—Rocco Becht QB (2nd year in row/2025 at ISU)
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year (Announced Aug. 20)—Siale Taupaki DT (2nd year in row/2025 at UCLA)
Comeback Player of the Year Award (Announced Aug. 20)—Tony Rojas LB, Max Granville DE, & Jeremiah Cooper S
Bednarik Award (Announced Aug. 21)—Jeremiah Cooper S (was on Nagurski & Thorpe watchlists in 2025 at ISU)
2027 Senior Bowl Top 300 (Announced Aug. 23)—Rocco Becht QB, Ben Brahmer TE, Tony Rojas LB, Jeremiah Cooper S, Audavion Collins CB, Anthony Donkoh OT, Siale Taupaki DT, Ikenna Ezeogu DE, & Carson Hansen RB
Manning Award (Announced Aug. 24)—Rocco Becht QB (2nd year in row/2025 at ISU)
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award (Announced Aug. 26)—James Peoples RB & Chase Sowell WR
Hispanic College Football Player of the Year (Announced Aug. 27)—Tony Rojas LB
2026 NFF Campbell Trophy nominee (Expected Sept.)—TBA
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award (Expected Fall)—TBA
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award—Matt Campbell not eligible in 1st season at PSU by award rule
Some 2026 announcements remain pending
LINK TO PENN STATE MAJOR COLLEGE AWARD WINNERS
Penn State Players on 2026 Pre-Season All-America Teams—
The Athletic Big Ten Pre-Season Team (Announced July 26)—Anthony Donkoh OT (2nd Team), Ryan Barker PK (2nd Team), Kooper Ebel LB (2nd Team), Ben Brahmer TE (3rd Team), & Marcus Neal S (3rd Team)
Athlon Sports Pre-Season All-America Team (Announced June 24)—Ben Brahmer TE (4th Team) & Marcus Neal S (4th Team)
Athlon Sports Pre-Season All-Big Ten Team (Announced June 28)—Ben Brahmer TE (2nd Team), Caleb Bacon LB (2nd Team), Marcus Neal S (2nd Team), Ryan Barker PK (3rd team), Anthony Donkoh OT (3rd Team), Tony Rojas LB (3rd Team), Carson Hansen RB (3rd Team), Jeremiah Cooper S (3rd Team), & Chase Sowell WR (4th Team)
Phil Steele Pre-Season All-America Team (Announced June 9)—Ben Brahmer TE (3rd Team) & Marcus Neal S (4th Team)
Phil Steele Pre-Season All-Big Ten Team (Announced June 14)—Ben Brahmer TE (1st Team), Blaise Sokach-Minnick LS (2nd Team), Anthony Donkoh OT (3rd Team), Jeremiah Cooper S (3rd Team), & Tony Rojas LB (4th Team)
Lindy’s Pre-Season All-Big Ten (Announced June 10)—Ryan Barker PK (1st Team) with two 2nd Teamers & one 3rd Teamer (the PSU Lindy’s magazine cover version features Andrew Rappleyea TE)
2026 Pre-Season Polls—
2026 Cleveland.com Big Ten Pre-Season Poll (technically “official”—released July 27)—#6 Penn State (had been ranked #1 in 2025)—In 2026, PSU was ranked anywhere from 4th to 11th by the 31 voters (receiving 380 points)—2026 #1 is Ohio State (15 1st place votes/540 pts.)—In 2026, PSU plays #4 USC, #5 Michigan, #7 Washington, #10 Minnesota, #12 Wisconsin, #14 Northwestern, #15 Maryland, #17 Rutgers, & #18 Purdue
2026 Big Ten Pre-Season Media Poll (Announced July 27)—#7 Penn State
2026 US LBM Coaches Pre-Season Poll (Announced by USA Today Aug. 4)—#17 Penn State (first ranking in Coaches Poll & first national ranking of any kind since game 6 of 2025 season vs. Northwestern when ranked #22)—Ohio State is ranked #1
2026 PWAA-NFF Super 16 Pre-Season Poll (Announced Aug. 9)—Penn State is technically #17 (received 49 pts. in voting to place behind #16 Michigan)—Ohio State is ranked #1
2026 On3 Pre-Season Top 25 (Announced Aug. 11)—#18 Penn State (Ohio State ranked #1)
2026 CBS Sports/247Sports Pre-Season 138 Poll (Announced Aug. 12)—#18 Penn State (Ohio State ranked #1)
2026 Associated Press (AP) Pre-Season Poll (Announced Aug. 17)—#18 Penn State (first appearance in AP Poll since game 5 of 2025 season at UCLA when ranked #7)—This is the 4th straight season (9th of last 10) in which PSU has appeared in AP Pre-Season Poll—Other Big Ten teams ranked: Ohio State #1, Oregon #2, Indiana #6, USC tied for #14, Michigan #16, Washington #17, & Iowa #22—PSU plays USC, at Michigan, & at Washington in 2026
2026 The Athletic Pre-Season 138 Poll (Announced Aug. 24)—#29 Penn State (Indiana #1, Ohio State #2)
Penn State Players on 2025 Pre-Season Trophy Watchlists—
Lott IMPACT Trophy—AJ Harris CB
Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award—James Franklin
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee—Cooper Cousins OL (Nick Dawkins C was Captain of this team in 2024)
Maxwell Award—Drew Allar QB (2nd year in row), Nick Singleton RB (2nd year in row), & Kaytron Allen RB
Outland Trophy—Vega Ioane OL & Zane Durant DT
Bronko Nagurski Trophy—Zane Durant DT & AJ Harris CB
Paul Hornung Award—Trebor Pena WR (Singleton on 2024 watchlist but not ’25)
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy—Cooper Cousins OL (Nick Dawkins C was 2024 winner of this trophy)
Patrick Mannelly Award—Tyler Duzansky LS (2nd year in row)—Named Finalist in December
Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year Award—Drew Allar QB & Nick Singleton RB (2nd year in row)
Doak Walker Award—Nick Singleton RB & Kaytron Allen RB (2nd straight year for both)
Biletnikoff Award—Trebor Pena WR & Devonte Ross WR
Davey O’Brien Award—Drew Allar (2nd year in row/was semifinalist in 2024)
Mackey Award—Khalil Dinkins TE (Tyler Warren TE was 2024 winner of this award)
Bednarik Award—Dani Dennis-Sutton DE, AJ Harris CB, & Zane Durant DT
Lombardi Award—Vega Ioane OL & Zane Durant DT—Mid-season Watchlist-Ioane, Durant, & Dani Dennis-Sutton DE
Manning Award—Drew Allar QB (2nd year on watchlist)
Polynesian College Football Player of the Year—Vega Ioane OL—Named Finalist Dec. 9
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award—Drew Allar QB (2nd year in row/made top 10 in 2024)
2025 NFF Campbell Trophy nominee—Nick Dawkins C (Tyler Warren TE was Semifinalist in 2024)
Ray Guy Award Ongoing Watchlist—Riley Thompson P (who was not starting for PSU), Gabe Nwosu P (added Sept. 16)
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award—Nick Dawkins (added Sept. 30)—Named Semifinalist on Oct. 15
2025 Big Ten Players to Watch (announced at July Media Days)—Drew Allar QB, Nick Singleton RB, & Dani Dennis-Sutton DE
2025 The Athletic “Freaks List” (101 players per Bruce Feldman)—#8 Zane Durant DT (3rd year on list), #19 Nick Singleton RB, #30 Tony Rojas LB, #47 Elliot Washington CB, & #71 Khalil Dinkins TE—former PSU DT Jordan van den Berg of Georgia Tech was #18 (also made this list once at PSU)
2025 Pre-Season Polls—
2025 Cleveland.com Big Ten Pre-Season Poll (technically official—released July 21)—#1 Penn State (first time ranked #1 since poll began in 2011 to replace official conference poll that ended in 2010)—PSU received 11 of possible 24 first place votes (435 points)
2025 Kings of the North Big Ten Pre-Season Poll—#1 Penn State (received 35 of 54 first place votes)
2025 PWAA-NFF Super 16 Pre-Season Poll—#3 Penn State (received 11 first place votes out of 57)—behind #1 Texas & #2 Ohio State—#3 is PSU’s highest ranking since this poll debuted in 2014
2025 USA Today Sports/US LBM AFCA Coaches Pre-Season Poll (released Aug. 4)—#1 Texas, #2 Ohio State, #3 Penn State (14 first place votes), #4 Georgia, #5 Notre Dame—PSU was ranked #9 to open the 2024 season & was ranked #5 at end of 2024 season (James Franklin was on the Board of Coaches for the 2025 season giving him a vote in this poll)
2025 Associated Press (AP) Pre-Season Poll (released Aug. 11/voted by 65 media members)—#1 Texas (25), #2 Penn State (23 first place votes/only 1 voter selected PSU lower than 5—they voted PSU 6th), #3 Ohio State (11), #4 Clemson, #5 Georgia, #6 Notre Dame, #7 Oregon—PSU was ranked #8 to open 2024 season & #5 at end of 2024 season (best PSU finish since 2005 at #3)—Texas just edged PSU for #1 in total points by only 5 pts. with 1,552 (25 first place votes) to PSU’s 1,547 (23 first place votes)—It was the closest pre-season balloting for #1 since 1998—This was the highest pre-season ranking for PSU since the Lions were #1 to open 1997 season—It was the first time ever that PSU opened #2—The Lions have opened #3 on 3 occasions (1969, 1978, & 1999)—Prior to 2025, the last time that Penn State was ranked #2 by the AP was during the 2017 season
