Miami Football 2026 Award Watch List Tracker: Davey O'Brien Award
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The Miami Hurricanes' 2025 season ended at home, at Hard Rock Stadium, in the National Championship game, falling short to the Indiana Hoosiers, after defeating Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Ole Miss, before the season ended on a Carson Beck interception.
Now the Canes are back as they look to right the wrongs of last season with a better roster and a clear mindset.
Moreover, during the 2026 season, the Hurricanes could be adding more to their historic list of award winners, as more are being named to the watchlist as the season quickly approaches.
Miami has three Heisman-level players on its roster, along with other coaches and players who can be award-winning players.
One to keep a close eye on is Malachi Toney, who could be the first Hurricane to ever win the Biletnikoff Award if he follows up his All-American freshman season with a better one. The same could also be said about Mario Cristobal and many of his coaching staff.
Here is a watchlist tracker of what awards a few Hurricanes are up for this season:
Dodd Trophy
(Annual Coach of the Year award given to the Division I coach whose team excels on the field, in the classroom, and in the community)
Watch List: Mario Cristobal named to watch list on July 9
No previous winners
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
(The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team honors student-athletes who use their platforms to strengthen their communities and support causes important to them.)
Watch List: Ahmad Moten Sr. named to watch list on July 20
During the fall semester, Moten completed 65 hours of community service with the Branches After School program. Branches is a Miami nonprofit that partners with families to build educational and financial assets, strengthen communities and foster hope.
No previous winners
Maxwell Award
(The Maxwell Award has recognized the most outstanding player in college football annually since 1937.)
Watch List: Darian Mensah, Malachi Toney, and Mark Fletcher Jr. listed on August 3
Previous Winners: Vinny Testaverde, Gino Torretta, and Ken Dorsey
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy, presented by the FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club, is awarded annually to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player.
Watchlist: DB Bryce Fitzgerald, DL Ahmad Moten Sr., DE Damon Wilson II
Previous Winners: Warren Sapp, 1994 | Dan Morgan, 2000
Paul Hornung Award
(Presented by Texas Roadhouse, the Paul Hornung Award is given annually to the most versatile player in college football.)
Watchlist: Malachi Toney
No previous winners
Jim Thorpe Award
Nation’s top defensive back
Watchlist: Bryce Fitzgerald
Previous Winners: Bennie Blades
Walter Camp Award
(The watch list will be trimmed to 10 semifinalists in early November, with three finalists announced in early December. The 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year will be selected by the nation’s 138 FBS head coaches and sports information directors and announced during the second week of December.)
Watchlist: Darian Mensah, Malachi Toney, Mark Fletcher Jr.
Previous Winners: Gino Torretta (1992) Vinny Testaverde (1986)
Biletnikoff Award
(The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes college football’s outstanding receiver at any position, where any player who catches a pass is eligible for the award; Miami is one of nine programs tied for the most Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list selections.)
Watchlist: Malachi Toney, Cooper Barkate
No previous winners
Davey O'Brien Award
(Mensah is one of 30 quarterbacks selected to the preseason list for the award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top college quarterback.)
Watchlist: Darian Mensah
Previous Winners: Gino Torretta (1992) Vinny Testaverde (1986), Cam Ward (2024)
Number of Miami Winners for Every NCFAA Award
- Maxwell Award: 3
- Walter Camp Award: 2
- Davey O'Brien Award: 3
- Doak Walker Award: 2
- Biletnikoff Award: 0
- Mackey Award: 1
- Outland Trophy: 2
- Lombardi Award: 1
- Rimington Trophy: 1
- Bednarik Award: 1
- Nagurski Trophy: 2
- Butkus Award: 1
- Thorpe Award: 1
- Hornung Award: 0
- Lou Groza Award: 1
- Ray Guy Award: 0
- William V. Campbell Trophy: 1
- Eddie Robinson Award: 1
- George Munger Award: 0
- Stallings Award: 1
- Broyles Award: 1
- Wuerffel Trophy: 0
- Buddy Teevens Award: 0
- Disney Spirit Award: 0
Full Miami Hurricanes Schedule
— Sep. 4th vs Stanford
— Sep. 10th vs FAMU*
— Sep. 18th vs Wake Forest
— Sep. 26th vs Central Michigan*
— Oct. 3rd vs Clemson
— Bye Week
— Oct. 17th vs Florida State *
— Oct. 24th vs Pittsburgh*
— Oct. 31st vs North Carolina
— Nov. 7th vs Notre Dame
— Nov. 14th vs Duke *
— Nov. 20th vs Virginia Tech*
— Nov. 28th vs Boston College*
*Home Game
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Justice Sandle is a graduate of Mississippi State University earning a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Communications with a concentration in Print and Digital Journalism. During his time in Starkville, he spent a year as an intern working for Mississippi State On SI primarily covering basketball, football, baseball, and soccer while writing, recording, and creating multimedia stories during his tenor. Since graduating, he has assumed the role of lead staff writer for Miami Hurricanes On SI covering football, basketball, baseball, and all things Hurricanes related.
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