IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior quarterback C.J. Beathard has been named to the 2016 Manning Award Watch List, the All State Sugar Bowl announced on Monday morning.
Presented to college football’s top quarterback, the Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates’ bowl performances in its balloting.
A list of 10 finalists will be released on November 30. At the end of the bowl season, a winner will be selected by a voting panel, which includes national media and each of the Mannings. The winner will be announced January 11.
Beathard (6-foot-2, 209-pounds) started all 14 games at quarterback last season, passing for 2,809 yards and 17 touchdowns, while rushing for 237 yards and six touchdowns. After leading the Hawkeyes to an undefeated regular season (12-2 overall) and their first Rose Bowl since 1991, the Franklin, Tennessee, native garnered second team All-Big Ten honors by league coaches and media and third team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele.
In July, Beathard, one of two Hawkeyes named to the Big Ten’s preseason honors list, was also named to the Maxwell Trophy Watch List, Davey O’Brien Award Watch List, and Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List. In addition, he was named preseason second-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports.
This year’s Manning Award Watch List includes 30 of the nation’s top college quarterbacks, ranging across all 10 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences. The Big 12 leads the way with five selections, followed by the Big Ten and ACC with four each.
In addition to the Manning Award’s yearly honor, each week during the regular season, eight quarterbacks are recognized as Manning Quarterbacks of the Week. Last season, Beathard garnered Manning Quarterback of the Week honors following his performance in Iowa’s road victory over rival Iowa State.
Iowa opens the 2016 season at home on Sept. 3, hosting Miami (Ohio) inside Kinnick Stadium. Tickets are available for purchase by contacting the UI Athletic Ticket Office at (800) IA-HAWKS and online at hawkeyesports.com.
