DALLAS - Miami offensive lineman Evan Malcore and Western Michigan offesnive lineman Chad Schuster were both named to the 2026 Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List, as announced by the Football Writers Association of America on Tuesday. The Outland Trophy is given annually to the top interior lineman across FBS football. 

Malcore is in his first year with the RedHawks, spending the past three years with the Huskies from Northern Illinois. He started 32 games at left tackle for the Huskies from 2023-25 and earned third-team All-MAC in 2024 and 2025.

The FWAA will announce the Outland Trophy semifinalists on Nov. 18, and those players will then be pared down to three finalists announced on Nov. 24. The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from those finalists who will be part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually the three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends and edge rushers are not eligible.

Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. For a third year now, the FWAA will announce an Outland Trophy National Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week’s honored player will be added at that time.

#MACtion on 2026 Preseason Watch Lists
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
Joshua Franklin, Western Michigan