SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson was named to the 2026 Maxwell Award Watch List, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.

Presented annually to the outstanding player in college football, the Maxwell Award is one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious individual honors. Now in its 90th year, the award has recognized the College Player of the Year since 1937. Jackson is one of 81 players nationally selected to this year's preseason watch list.

Jackson enters the 2026 season following one of the most prolific campaigns in Texas State history. The now-redshirt sophomore earned All-Sun Belt Conference Third Team honors and was named the Armed Forces Bowl MVP after leading the Bobcats to a postseason victory. He also finished as a semifinalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, honoring the top offensive player with ties to the state of Texas.

In his first season as the Bobcats' starting quarterback, Jackson started all 13 games and completed 251-of-352 passes for 3,224 yards and 21 touchdowns. His 71.3 completion percentage established a Texas State single-season record while ranking fifth nationally, and his 164.0 passing efficiency also set a school record and ranked seventh in the country. Jackson finished the season ranked among the program's all-time single-season leaders in passing yards (third), completions (fifth) and touchdown passes (tied for sixth). On the ground, Jackson ran for 744 yards and a program-record 17 TDs.

Jackson also opens the season as the Bobcats' AFCA Good Works Team nominee and is listed by multiple publications as a preseason All-Pac-12 selection.

The Maxwell Football Club will announce semifinalists for the Maxwell Award on Nov. 10, followed by three finalists on Nov. 24. The 2026 Maxwell Award winner will be revealed during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10 before being formally honored at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in March 2027.