DALLAS -- The Mid-American Conference was represented by three selections on the 2026 Doak Walker Award Preseason Watchlist, as announced by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum on Tuesday. Eastern Michigan's Braydon Bennett, Central Michigan's Vaughn Blue and Toledo's CJ Miller were all recognized as student-athletes to watch for the honor, which is given annually to the nation's most outstanding running back. 

Bennett has totaled 1,962 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns on 325 career carries, averaging 6.04 yards per rush. He has also recorded 77 receptions for 771 yards and four touchdowns.

Bennett enters his first season with the Eagles after joining the program as a transfer from Virginia Tech. He enrolled at EMU for the Winter 2026 semester and appeared in four games for the Hokies in 2025, scoring on a three-yard touchdown run against Wofford.

Prior to spring drills, Blue transferred to Central Michigan from Liberty, where he played three seasons. In his 28-game career at Liberty, Blue rushed for 557 yards on 101 carries with three touchdowns, a long run of 45 yards, and finished with 19 receptions for 188 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored five total touchdowns in three years.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2026 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on December 10, 2026.

#MACtion on 2026 Preseason Watchlists
Maxwell Award
Jordan Gant, Akron
Broc Lowry, Western Michigan
Jalen Buckley, Western Michigan

Outland Trophy
Evan Malcore, Miami
Chad Schuster, Western Michigan

Bronko Nagurski
Bryce Llewellyn, Eastern Michigan
Josh Franklin, Western Michigan

John Mackey Award
Terik Mulder, Kent State
Joshua Long, Eastern Michigan

Rimington Trophy
Nicholas Gallegos, Eastern Michigan

Paul Hornung Award
Keith Reynolds, Miami

Wuerffel Trophy
Caden Britton, Ball State 
Stevie Bracey, Buffalo 
Angel Flores, Central Michigan 
Dennis Strey Jr., Eastern Michigan 
Wayne Harris, Kent State 
Riley Bloch, UMass 
DJ Walker, Ohio 
Derek Houston, Sacramento State
Matt Hofer, Toledo
Dakari Frazier, Western Michigan 

Lombardi Award
Chad Schuster, Western Michigan

Jim Thorpe Award
DJ Walker, Ohio

Butkus Award
Blayne Myrick, Miami 

Ray Guy Award
Pierse Stainton, Miami

Walter Camp Award
Broc Lowry, Western Michigan

Doak Walker Award
Braydon Bennett, Eastern Michigan
Vaughn Blue, Central Michigan
CJ Miller, Toledo