Preseason award watch list season is officially in full swing.
It seems like almost everyday a new Sooner is popping up on a different watch list for some sort of postseason award that won't be handed out until December. These serve only as expectations based on last season and nothing more, but they're still noteable nonetheless. Oklahoma players will also continue to be included on these lists, so here's one updated spot to keep track.
Every Sooner on a preseason award watch list
Award
Patrick Mannelly Award
A fifth-year senior, Ben Anderson is on basically the only watch list he can be on for the Patrick Mannelly Award, which goes to the best long snapper. He was a semifinalist for the award in 2025 and was also a Second-Team All-SEC selection.
Award
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Linebacker Kip Lewis will be the heartbeat of the Sooners' defense in 2026, which should give him the stage for a big national spotlight. He's already on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, for the most outstanding defensive player, and should be on even more by the time the season kicks off.
Last season, he led the Sooners with 76 total tackles, plus 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. If he levels up like expected, Lewis will win some hardware in 2026.
Award
Rimington Trophy
After transferring from Stanford last year, Jake Maikkula took over as the Sooners' starting center and is now one of four returning starters along the offensive line in 2026. There weren't exactly high expectations for Maikkula for 2025 but there are now after 10 starts. That's rightfully landed him on the watch list for the Rimington Trophy, which goes to the most outstanding center.
Award
Maxwell Award
Quarterback John Mateer was a Heisman Trophy front runner early in 2025 before a broken thumb that required surgery derailed the rest of his season. He still toughed it out and missed just one game while totaling 2,885 passing yards with 14 TDs and 431 rushing yards with eight TDs.
Now healthy and a year of SEC experience under his belt, plus what appears to be an extremely progressive offseason, Mateer should be even better in 2026 with even more weapons to bolster his play. Although the hype isn't as high as last year, Mateer is still already being considered for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the best player in college football regardless of position, and will continue to pop up on more watch lists.
Read more: John Mateer keeps giving Oklahoma fans every reason to believe in 2026
Award
Lou Groza Award
Obviously the reigning Lou Groza Award winner would be on the list again to be deemed the best kicker in college football. Tate Sandell last year became the first kicker to ever win the award after transferring from UTSA.
Award
Paul Hornung Award
Isaiah Sategna III was John Mateer's top receiver last season but also served as the Sooners' punt returner. On top of 965 receiving yards and eight TDs, Sategna also had 138 return yards. Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle also isn't afraid to hand the ball to Sategna on occassion.
Read more: John Mateer and Isaiah Sategna's greatest advantage gets dismissed in QB/WR duo ranking
Sategna being a do-it-all man has him on the watch list for the Paul Hornung Award, which is for the most versatile player in major college football. He should also be on watch for receiver-specific awards.
Awards
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Outland Trophy
David Stone, a junior, is the only one on this list that's not a fifth-year senior and also the only one that's been included on two watch lists so far between the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (most outstanding defensive player) and Outland Trophy (best interior lineman).
There's also a fair argument that fellow junior defensive tackle Jayden Jackson should be on both lists with Stone.
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