CLEVELAND - Western Michigan quarterback Broc Lowry was named to the 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Preseason Watchlist, as announced by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. The award is given annually to the most outstanding football player in the nation. 

Lowry is the reigning Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year after helping lead the Broncos to a MAC Championship and a win in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Lowry, who played in all 14 games and made 11 starts, finished the season with 1,803 yards passing with nine touchdowns and rushed for 963 yards and 14 touchdowns. Both the rushing yards and rushing touchdowns are the most by a Bronco quarterback in a single season in program history. 

The 2026 Player of Year watch list will be narrowed to 10 semi-finalists 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 in the second week of December.

#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