NEW ORLEANS – The Manning Award, sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl, announced 14 additions to its 2024 Watch List on Thursday, including Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer.
Altmyer has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the nation, helping the Illini to a 6-1 record and #20 national ranking with 15 touchdown passes and only one interception. His 15/1 touchdown/interception ratio is the best in the nation among Power 4 quarterbacks, while ranking 15th in the nation in touchdown passes (15) and 17th in efficiency (161.5).
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.
Finalists for the honor will be determined by a select panel of national media covering college football, as well as each of the Mannings. That list will be released on Thursday, Dec. 5, and the winner is scheduled to be announced following the College Football Playoff National Championship.
After announcing 29 quarterbacks to its preseason watch list, the Manning Award opted to increase its spotlighted players based on the many outstanding performances during the first half of the year. While these players have been added to the watch list, every quarterback in the nation remains eligible to win the honor.
In its first 20 years, the Manning Award has recognized the top names in college football. It has honored quarterbacks from 14 different schools and from four different conferences. The Southeastern Conference (Jayden Daniels, Stetson Bennett, Bryce Young, Joe Burrow, Mac Jones, Johnny Manziel, Cam Newton, JaMarcus Russell, and Tim Tebow) leads the way with nine Manning Award honorees, while the Big 12 Conference (Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, Vince Young, Colt McCoy, and Robert Griffin III) has had five winners. The Atlantic Coast Conference (Deshaun Watson twice, Matt Ryan, and Jameis Winston) has had four Manning Award winners. LSU (Daniels, Burrow, and Russell) leads the way with three honorees, while Alabama (Bryce Young and Jones), Oklahoma (Murray and Mayfield), and Texas (McCoy and Vince Young) have each produced a pair of Manning Award winners.
All the Manning Award winners follow in the footsteps of the Mannings themselves. In college, Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning combined for over 25,000 passing yards and 201 touchdowns while playing in 10 bowl games and earning four bowl MVP awards. Archie was the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, while both Peyton and Eli were selected No. 1 overall.
