Houston quarterback Conner Weigman is on the 2026 Manning Award preseason watch list, one of 40 quarterbacks recognized on August 24.
The award, presented by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, is built around the college game’s biggest quarterback names and honors the football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It also stands apart from the other major quarterback honors because postseason production counts in the selection process.
That postseason factor matters for Weigman, and for Houston as a whole. The Cougars are ranked No. 23 in the AP preseason poll, giving Weigman a path to something most quarterbacks on the list won’t have: a conference title game and possibly a playoff run. Houston went 10-3 last season and capped the year with a 38-35 bowl win over LSU, and if the Cougars win the Big 12, they get an automatic playoff bid.
Even if Houston doesn’t win the league but still reaches the playoff, Weigman’s case could get stronger simply because more games would mean more chances to build his resume while other contenders are done.
The Big Ten placed a conference-high 12 quarterbacks on the watch list. The SEC and Big 12 each landed eight, and the ACC had six. Weigman is one of the eight Big 12 quarterbacks included.
He is also showing up on several other preseason watch lists, including the Maxwell Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Davey O'Brien Award. Last season, Weigman posted 2,705 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns and a 65.2 completion percentage, while adding 700 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.
The field around him is loaded with heavy hitters, including Texas quarterback Arch Manning, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin. The source also notes Sayin threw for 3,610 yards, while Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker had 4,379 passing yards last year when he was at North Texas, leading the nation.
Still, the Manning Award gives Weigman a real opening if Houston keeps winning. The official midseason watch list will come out on Thursday, November 5, and the winner will be announced after the College Football National Championship on January 27.
Houston opens the season September 5 against Oregon State, a game that could give Weigman and the Cougars an early jump into 2026.
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