Award timeline and ceremony details
The Maxwell Football Club has announced that University of Minnesota running back Darius Taylor has been placed on its watch list for the 90th edition of the Maxwell Award, given each year to the nation’s top college football player.
Established in 1937, the Maxwell Award honors the legacy of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a standout at Swarthmore College, and has become a benchmark for recognizing outstanding performance on the field.
Taylor, who has amassed 486 rushing attempts for 2,455 yards and 19 touchdowns over his collegiate career, also contributes as a receiver with 99 catches for 687 yards and two scores, and even threw a touchdown pass. His all‑around skill set has earned him a spot among 30 running backs and 17 athletes from the Big Ten conference.
Semifinalists for the award will be revealed on November 10, 2026, with the three finalists announced on November 24. The champion will be crowned at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 10, 2026, and the formal presentation will take place at the Maxwell Football Club Awards in Atlanta on March 13, 2027.
The recognition underscores the growing visibility of the Big Ten on national stages, and both ESPN and The Home Depot are proud sponsors of the ceremony that celebrates the sport’s elite.