Three Buckeyes Named to Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, wide receiver, Jeremiah Smith and running back Bo Jackson were all named to the 2026 Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List.

The Maxwell Award recognizes college football's most outstanding player each year. This award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937, making this season the 90^th anniversary of the award. Named after Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a former standout player for Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official.

Sayin and Smith return to the list after being named semifinalists for the award in the 2025 season, making Ohio State the only school to have two previous semifinalists on the current watch list. The Buckeyes' lead the Big Ten in most players chosen and is one of two schools to have three players selected.

Sayin is the only finalist from the 2025 season to return to college football and be named to the 2026 watch list.

More on the Watch List Members
Sayin won his first 12 games as the starter for Ohio State, becoming the third Buckeye quarterback in the Ryan Day era to do so.

In the process, he became a Heisman Trophy finalist and led the nation in completion percentage (77.0 pct.), ranking second nationally in efficiency (177.5) while throwing for 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns (fourth nationally) with only eight interceptions.

His 77.0 completion percentage in 2025 is the best in single-season program history, is a Big Ten Record and also is third highest in FBS history (Bo Nix in 2023 at Oregon (77.4 pct.) and Mac Jones in 2020 at Alabama (77.4 pct.).
3,610 passing yards in 2025 ranks fifth in single-season program history. 301 pass completions in 2025 rank fourth in single-season program history.

He became the first Ohio State quarterback to complete better than 85 pct. of his passes in a game for over 300 yards and at least three TDs and no interceptions when he did so vs. Minnesota (85.2 pct.-326 yards-3 TDs) on Oct. 4, 2025 and Wisconsin (85.7-393-4) on Oct. 18, 2025.

Sayin goes into the 2026 season with six career 300-plus yard passing games which ranks sixth in career program history.

Over his first two collegiate seasons, Smith totaled 2,558 receiving yards and 27 touchdown receptions are the most by any Big Ten receiver in their first two years in college. One of three receivers in Ohio State history to have two 1,000-yd receiving seasons.

Smith has more receiving yards and receiving touchdowns - 2,558 and 27, respectively - than anyone in the country the past two seasons and he has the second-most receptions - 163 - the last two years (Toledo's Junior Vandeross has 167).

Jackson was one of three true freshmen to top 1,000 rushing yards last season (Caleb Hawkins, North Texas; Nate Sheppard, Duke). Additionally, he was the fifth Buckeye true freshman to top 1,000 rushing yards for a season after Robert Smith (1,126 yards in 1990), Maurice Clarett (1,237 yards in 2002), JK Dobbins (1,403 yards in 2017) and TreVeyon Henderson (1,248 yards in 2021).

Maxwell Award Process
Semifinalists for the award are announced on November 10, 2026, with the three finalists being named on November 24. The winner of the Maxwell Award will be announced on the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 10, with the formal presentation of the award taking place on March 13, 2027, at the Maxwell Football Club Awards.

Ohio State Preseason Honors

Phil Steele:
- Six Ohio State players were named preseason All-Americans by the publication while 16 Buckeyes were placed on the preseason All-Big Ten team.

Athlon Sports:
- Seven Ohio State players were named preseason All-Americans by the publication while 16 Buckeyes were placed on the preseason All-Big Ten team.

Walter Camp:
- Junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and redshirt junior offensive lineman Austin Siereveld were placed on the first team while redshirt sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin was listed as a preseason second team selection by the organization.

Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List:
- Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
- Jermaine Mathews Jr.
AFCA Good Works Nominees:
- Jaylen McClain
- Head coach Ryan Day
Shriners Children's East-West Bowl 1000
- Ohio State football had 19 players selected to the Shriners Children's East-West Bowl 1000. The list includes a representative from almost every position room at Ohio State including five defensive lineman, four offensive linemen, three safeties and three wide receivers.
Big Ten Preseason Honors List:
- Julian Sayin
- Jeremiah Smith

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