NEW HAVEN, Conn. — UTSA quarterback Owen McCown has been named to the Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List, the Walter Camp Football Foundation announced Monday.
McCown is one of 50 players — and the only one from the American Conference — chosen for the watch list for the 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year, the nation’s fourth-oldest individual college football accolade. The list includes 41 offensive players (22 quarterbacks, 11 running backs and eight receivers/tight ends) along with nine from the defensive side of the ball. Players from 38 different schools representing 11 conferences (including independents) are represented on the preseason watch list.
McCown, who also is a member of the Maxwell Award Watch List and Shriners Children’s 1000, completed 277 of 410 passes for 2,995 yards and 30 touchdowns, good for a .667 completion percentage and 149.7 pass efficiency rating as a redshirt junior last fall. The Rusk, Texas, native logged a pair of 300-yard passing games, including a career night in the 48-26 home triumph over Tulane by completing 31 of 33 passes for a program-record .939 completion percentage, piling up 370 yards and four TDs. He was named Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award National Player of the Week and American Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.
The starting QB in each of the past 27 games dating back to the 2023 Frisco Bowl win, McCown will enter his final campaign with 6,861 passing yards at UTSA, which places him third in school history, along with 59 passing touchdowns, a .657 completion percentage and a 143.9 passing efficiency rating — all of which stand second on the program’s career charts.
“We are proud to continue the great work of Walter Camp, considered the father of American football, and recognize the very best college football players in the nation,” Foundation president Michael Madera said. “This watch list is a great start to what is shaping up to be another exciting year of college football.”
The 2026 Walter Camp Player of Year Watch List will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in early November, and three finalists will be announced in early December. The 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year recipient, which is voted on by the 138 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, will be announced the second week of December.
The Roadrunners will kick off their 16th season of football and seventh under Traylor against UTRGV on Saturday, Sept. 5. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at the Alamodome. UTSA also will host Colorado State (Sept. 26), South Florida (Oct. 8), Navy (Oct. 17), North Texas (Nov. 14) and Tulsa (Nov. 27 or 28). The Roadrunners will travel to Texas State (Sept. 12), Texas (Sept. 19), Rice (Oct. 3), Tulane (Oct. 24), Florida Atlantic (Nov. 5) and UAB (Nov. 21).
Tickets are on sale by visiting goUTSA.com/tickets or by calling the UTSA Ticket Office at 210-458-UTSA (8872). Current UTSA students receive free admission to all home games by downloading tickets via their Account Manager.
The Walter Camp Foundation is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 900 recipients since 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday. For more information about the NCFAA and its college football awards, visit the redesigned NCFAA.org or follow on Twitter @NCFAA.
Roadrunners on 2026 Preseason Watch Lists
David Amador II — Paul Hornung Award, Shriners Children’s 1000
Bryce Grays — Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, Wuerffel Trophy
Will Henderson III — Shriners Children’s 1000
Owen McCown — Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Shriners Children’s 1000
Owen Pewee — Shriners Children’s 1000
AJ Wilson — Shriners Children’s 1000
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