IRVING, Texas (Sept. 23, 2026) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame proudly announced today a record 206 semifinalists for the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award. Celebrating its 37th year, the Campbell Trophy® recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
The 206 semifinalists, each nominated as their school’s sole nominee and best all-around student-athlete on their respective teams, represent every NCAA division and the NAIA. The group is the largest in the history of the award, eclipsing the previous record of 204 set in 2024. Collectively, the semifinalists boast a 3.64 average GPA and include 130 team captains, 24 All-Americans and 98 players who have already earned their undergraduate degrees.
“Every year, I’m amazed by what these young men are able to accomplish,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy® winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. “Playing college football takes an enormous commitment, and to perform at a high level on the field while also excelling in the classroom and serving as a leader on campus is something special. These 206 semifinalists have a lot to be proud of, and it’s a privilege to recognize their accomplishments.”
Now in its 68th year, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments have recognized 954 individuals, with this year’s scholarships pushing the program’s all-time distribution above $13.5 million. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on a player’s academic, athletic and leadership accomplishments.
2026 WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY® SEMIFINALISTS NOTES
37th year of the William V. Campbell Trophy®
68th year of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments
206 Semifinalists
3.64 Average GPA
98 Nominees who have already earned their bachelor’s degrees
7 Nominees with a perfect 4.0 GPA
87 Nominees with a 3.7 GPA or better
20 Academic All-America selections
130 Captains
24 All-Americans
114 All-Conference picks
95 Nominees from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)
45 Nominees from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS)
19 Nominees from NCAA Division II
44 Nominees from NCAA Division III
3 Nominees from the NAIA
111 Offensive Players
82 Defensive Players
13 Special Teams Players
“These 206 semifinalists represent the power of football to develop leaders well beyond the field,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “The game challenges young men to compete, lead and pursue excellence, and these candidates have embraced those values in the classroom, on the field and in their communities. They exemplify the kind of leaders the NFF has sought to recognize and develop throughout its history. Our committee has an incredibly difficult job ahead in selecting the finalists, and that speaks volumes about the caliber of this year’s candidates.”
The NFF will announce 12 to 16 finalists on Oct. 21, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. During the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 37th Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000. Click here for more information on the Awards Dinner, including options to purchase tickets online, special travel rates to the event from Delta Air Lines and room rates at the Bellagio.
Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, each candidate must be competing in the 2026 season as a senior in his final year of eligibility or a graduate student/graduate transfer who has already earned a degree; have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale; have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor; and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is composed of a nationally recognized group of media, NFF College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
The Campbell Trophy® was first awarded in 1990, adding to the prestige of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards. Past Campbell Trophy® recipients include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and ten first-round NFL Draft picks. Click here for a list of the past winners of the trophy.
Named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, the trophy has been prominently displayed inside its official home at the New York Athletic Club since 2013, and the winner is honored each year during a special luncheon at the storied venue.
Fidelity Investments became the presenting sponsor of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards in 2011, marking its 16th year of support in 2026. As part of its commitment to the NFF and higher education nationwide, Fidelity helped launch the NFF Faculty Salutes, which honor the faculty athletics representative (FAR) at each institution with a Campbell Trophy® finalist. Following the selection of the finalists, the NFF presents each school’s FAR with a commemorative plaque, and Fidelity contributes $5,000 to the school’s academic support services. Since the program’s inception, the Salutes have recognized 214 FARs, with Fidelity providing a total of $1.07 million in donations.
2026 WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY® SEMIFINALISTS
FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION
Appalachian State University – Darrin Fugitt
Arizona State University – C.J. Fite
Arkansas State University – Tristian Smith
Auburn University – Byrum Brown
Baylor University – Michael Allen
Boise State University – Maddux Madsen
Boston College – Luca Lombardo
Brigham Young University (BYU) – Raider Damuni
Central Michigan University – Angel Flores
Clemson University – Will Heldt
Duke University – Matt Craycraft
Eastern Michigan University – Zach Mowchan
Florida Atlantic University – Blake Burris
Florida International University (FIU) – Shamir Sterlin
Florida State University – Duce Robinson
Fresno State – Merhauti Xepera
Georgia Southern University – David Mbadinga
Georgia State University – Cameran Brown
Georgia Tech – Justice Haynes
Indiana University – Drew Evans
Iowa State University – Jaylen Raynor
James Madison University – Zach Greenberg
Kansas State University – Wesley Fair
Kennesaw State University – Baron Hopson
Kent State University – Dustyn Morell
Liberty University – Caleb Ryan
Michigan State University – Trent Fraley
Middle Tennessee State University – Ashton Logan
Mississippi State University – Ethan Pulliam
Missouri State University – Connor Lair
New Mexico State University – James Jones
North Carolina State University – Isaiah Shirley
Northwestern University – Robert Fitzgerald
Ohio State University – Carson Hinzman
Ohio University – Jack Fries
Oklahoma State University – Ethan Wesloski
Old Dominion University – Zion Frink
Oregon State University – Jake Reichle
Penn State University – Gabe Burkle
Purdue University – Bisi Owens
Rice University – Chibby Nwajuaku
Rutgers University – Michael O’Connor
San Jose State University – John Norwood
Southern Methodist University – Joshua Bates
Stanford University – Niki Prongos
Syracuse University – David Clement
Texas Christian University (TCU) – Jaden Craig
Temple University – Colin Chase
Texas A&M University – Wilkin Formby
Texas State University – Beau Sparks
Texas Tech University – Sheridan Wilson
Troy University – Tyler Cappi
Tulane University – Jackson Courville
United States Air Force Academy – Isaac Hubert
United States Military Academy – Parker Poloskey
University at Buffalo – Clint Walker
University of Alabama – Bray Hubbard
University of Arkansas – Sutton Smith
University of Delaware – Steven Demboski
University of Georgia – Gunner Stockton
University of Hawaii – Elijah Palmer
University of Houston – Kentrell Webb
University of Iowa – Jayden Montgomery
University of Kansas – Calvin Clements
University of Kentucky – Ty Bryant
University of Louisville – Clev Lubin
University of Maryland – Bryce McFerson
University of Michigan – Nico Andrighetto
University of Minnesota – Ashton Beers
University of Mississippi – Keaton Thomas
University of Missouri – Dominick Giudice
University of Nebraska – Luke Lindenmeyer
University of North Carolina – Christo Kelly
University of North Texas – Zakye Barker
University of Notre Dame – Luke Talich
University of Oklahoma – Jake Maikkula
University of Oregon – Dante Moore
University of South Carolina – Nyck Harbor
University of Southern California – Braylan Shelby
University of Tennessee – Arion Carter
University of Texas – Hero Kanu
University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) – Caile Hogan
University of Toledo – Connor Walendzak
University of Tulsa – Grayson Tempest
University of Utah – JC Hart
University of Virginia – Will Bettridge
University of Washington – Jacob Manu
University of Wisconsin – Matt Jung
University of Wyoming – Charlie Coenen
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) – Alex Orji
Utah State University – Brevin Hamblin
Vanderbilt University – Nick Rinaldi
Virginia Tech – Tyson Flowers
Wake Forest University – Gabe Kirschke
West Virginia University – Jaden Bray
FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION
Austin Peay State University – Jackson Head
Brown University – Danny Thompson
Bucknell University – Sam Milligan
Butler University – Reagan Andrew
Campbell University – Ebenezer Bedada
Charleston Southern University – Steve Zayachkowsky
Colgate University – Luke Vogeler
College of the Holy Cross – Cam Nolan
College of William & Mary – Sean McElwain
Columbia University – Charlie Newton
Cornell University – Brendan Lee
Dartmouth College – Owen Zalc
Eastern Illinois University – Alejandro Arellano
Eastern Washington University – Ben Voigtlaender
Fordham University – Gunnar Smith
Georgetown University – Chigozie Oge-Evans
Harvard University – Jack Donahoe
Howard University – Kedrick Green
Illinois State University – Mason Kaplan
Lafayette College – Spencer Adams
Lamar University – Jaydn Girard
Lehigh University – DJ Brown
Marist University – Will Aaronson
Montana State University – Titan Fleischmann
Nicholls State University – Alex Villavaso
Northern Colorado University – Ezra Ekuban
Northwestern State University – Danny Sears
Portland State University – Terence Loville
Princeton University – Jack Comeau
Robert Morris University – Marc Koumoundouros
South Dakota State University – Max Pelham
Stephen F. Austin State University – Jamiah Harvey
Stony Brook University – Anthony Ferrelli
Tennessee Tech University – Gabe Nunez
The Citadel – Jack Weil
Towson University – Joden Nelson
University of New Hampshire – Myles Thomason
University of New Haven – AJ Duffy
University of North Alabama – Noah Bolticoff
University of Pennsylvania – Cadin Olsen
University of Richmond – Carter Glassmyer
Valparaiso University – Rowan Keefe
Western Carolina University – AJ Colombo
Yale University – Osize Daniyan
Youngstown State University – Beau Brungard
DIVISION II
Adams State University (CO) – Seth Shaw
Albany State University (GA) – Derrick Drayton
Ashland University (OH) – Ben Holzopfel
Bentley University (MA) – Amin Rahim
Black Hills State University (SD) – Jack Gentile
Carson-Newman University (TN) – Jaxon Hickson
Colorado State University Pueblo – Moosah Alsaffar
Emporia State University (KS) – Tyler Schultze
Harding University (AR) – Andrew Miller
Hillsdale College (MI) – Shea Ruddy
Minnesota State University, Mankato – Jacob Daulton
Ouachita Baptist University (AR) – Joey Ortego
Pennsylvania Western University-Edinboro – Nico Marchitelli
Saginaw Valley State University (MI) – Adom LeDuc
Slippery Rock University (PA) – Teddy Gregory
University of Texas Permian Basin – Torbyn Eakins
Wayne State University (MI) – Ethan Gates
Western Colorado University – Ian Loomis
Wingate University (NC) – GW Clemmer
DIVISION III
Albion College (MI) – Connor Davey
Bates College (ME) – Ryan Rozich
Berry College (GA) – McCormack Langford
Bethel University (MN) – Albert Rundell
Carnegie Mellon University (PA) – Giacomo Valente
Case Western Reserve University (OH) – Aaron Filips
Central College (IA) – Cam Schulte
Coe College (IA) – Henry Ryan
Denison University (OH) – Grayson Kerscher
DePauw University (IN) – Zach Reese
Gustavus Adolphus College (MN) – Max Olson
Hampden-Sydney College (VA) – Manning Lasso
Hardin-Simmons University (TX) – Harrison Foster
Hobart College (NY) – E.J. Taylor
Hope College (MI) – Jonny Rohen-Blanton
John Carroll University (OH) – Grant Myers
Johns Hopkins University (MD) – Cole Crotty
King’s College (PA) – Kaleb Beers
Lake Forest College (IL) – Preston Mosher
Lycoming College (PA) – Brendan Clark
Lyon College (AR) – Peyton Richardson
Manchester University (IN) – Angel Estrada
Middlebury College (VT) – Matt Shaw
Millsaps College (MS) – Nate Johnson
North Central College (IL) – Cortez Jones
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY) – Joseph Morello
Rhodes College (TN) – Austin Smith
Saint John’s University (MN) – Trey Feeney
Springfield College (MA) – Tyler Sordillo
St. Olaf College (MN) – Bryon Sauvy
The College of Wooster (OH) – Brock Sivon
Trinity University (TX) – TJ Scannell
United States Merchant Marine Academy (NY) – Aidan Graham
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (TX) – Will McClintock
University of Mount Union (OH) – Mitchell Coffee
University of New England (ME) – Spencer Sherck
University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic – Brooks Brewer
Washington & Jefferson College (PA) – Michael Roginsky
Wesleyan University (CT) – Austin Baker
Western Connecticut State University – Eamon Moran
Western New England University (MA) – Ben Caulfield
Westminster College (PA) – Braden Mika
Williams College (MA) – Holden Gering
Wisconsin Lutheran College – Nate Nash
NAIA
Dakota State University (SD) – Tray Hettick
Indiana Wesleyan University – Arjun Lothe
Texas Wesleyan University – Cole Francis
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