The Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, named for 1996 Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel, celebrates FBS quarterbacks and other standouts who use their platform to drive positive change. Each year the award highlights student‑athletes whose off‑field work reflects the same commitment to unity and service that defined Wuerffel’s career.
A Record‑Studded Watch List
This season’s watch list includes 113 nominees, the most ever, with the Big Ten leading the pack at 18 candidates. The ACC, SEC and Big 12 each contribute 15 players, underscoring the conference‑wide focus on community impact.
The program is a collaboration between the Wuerffel Foundation, Allstate and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Semifinalists will be announced in September, and the overall winner will be revealed on December 11, 2026, at The Home Depot College Football Awards in New York City.
Service Projects That Extend Beyond the Game
Several nominees illustrate the breadth of the initiative. Marcus Ratcliffe of Texas A&M founded Mission 3:12, funding educational trips for World War II veterans to Normandy, France. Mudia Reuben from the University of South Florida used his NIL earnings to launch the Nigerian Water Project, delivering clean water to villages across Nigeria. Colin Simmons of the University of Texas created Clay's Color Crew, a nonprofit supporting families affected by autism spectrum disorder in South Dallas, Texas.
Other standout efforts include Edwin Spillman’s Wan Famul Foundation, which builds housing for families in Sierra Leone, Gideon Davidson’s fundraising for Flourish Adoption Ministries in South Carolina, Noah Fifita’s First Down Faith Foundation youth camps in Arizona, and Jaylen McClain’s Everyday Legends Foundation scholarships in Ohio.
The finalists will be chosen by a committee that also incorporates fan input, and the winner will be celebrated at a gala presentation during the College Football Hall of Fame’s awards ceremony in Atlanta in February 2027. That honoree will also serve as captain of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, extending the award’s influence beyond the football season.