Kenny Larabee, NRG Media
Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea was named to the Maxwell Award watch list Monday. The award has been given to the college football player of the year since 1937.
Colandrea transferred to the Cornhuskers after earning Mountain West Player of the Year honors last year at UNLV. He threw for 3,459 yards and 23 touchdowns while rushing for 649 yards and 10 more TDs. In his three-year career, Colandrea has thrown for 7,542 yards and 49 touchdowns while running for 12 more scores.
Colandrea is one of 81 players on the initial watch list. Of that list, 17 are from the Big Ten.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced November 10, 2026, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled November 24, 2026. The winner of the 90th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on December 10, 2026. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday, March 13, 2027, at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.