The Maxwell Award

THE BEST PLAYER IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

2023 Maxwell Award Winner:  Michael Penix Jr.

Penix Jr. has had a remarkable season for the Huskies, leading Washington to an undefeated season and a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Huskies are back in the playoff for the first time since after the 2016 season as Penix has completed 307-of-466 passes for 4,218 yards. He’s also thrown 33 TDs and nine interceptions. In addition to the Maxwell honor, Penix Jr. was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, Davey O’Brien Award, and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

Maxwell Award Quick Facts

The Maxwell Award is presented to the best player in college football.

  • The award is named after Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, a Swarthmore College football player, coach, and sportswriter.
  • The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 by his friend, Bert Bell, to present awards in his name to promote football safety.
  • The Maxwell Award was founded in 1937

Double Recipients

Johnny Lattner (1952, 1953) and Tim Tebow (2007, 2008) are the only players to have won the award twice.

ESPN Featured Award

The Maxwell Award is one of the two Maxwell Football Awards that is featured on the ESPN College Football Awards Show.

Maxwell Award Recipients

Since 1937

  • 2023 - Michael Penix Jr., University of Washington
  • 2022 - Caleb Williams, University of Southern California
  • 2021 - Bryce Young, University of Alabama
  • 2020 - DeVonta Smith, University of Alabama
  • 2019 - Joe Burrow, Louisiana State University
  • 2018 - Tua Tagovailoa, University of Alabama
  • 2017 - Baker Mayfield, University of Oklahoma
  • 2016 - Lamar Jackson, University of Louisville
  • 2015 - Derrick Henry, University of Alabama
  • 2014 - Marcus Mariota, University of Oregon
  • 2013 - AJ McCarron, University of Alabama
  • 2012 - Manti T’eo, University of Notre Dame
  • 2011 - Andrew Luck, Stanford University
  • 2010 - Cam Netwon, Auburn
  • 2009 - Colt McCoy, University of Texas
  • 2008 - Tim Tebow**, University of Florida
  • 2007 - Tim Tebow, University of Florida
  • 2006 - Brady Quinn, University of Notre Dame
  • 2005 - Vince Young, University of Texas
  • 2004 - Jason White, University of Oklahoma
  • 2003 - Eli Manning, University of Mississippi
  • 2002 - Larry Johnson, The Pennsylvania State University
  • 2001 - Ken Dorsey, University of Miami
  • 2000 - Drew Brees##, Purdue University
  • 1999 - Ron Dayne, University of Wisconsin
  • 1998 - Ricky Williams, University of Texas
  • 1997 - Peyton Manning, University of Tennessee
  • 1996 - Danny Wuerffel, University of Florida
  • 1995 - Eddie George, Ohio State University
  • 1994 - Kerry Collins, Pennsylvania State University
  • 1993 - Charlie Ward, Florida State University
  • 1992 - Gino Torretta, University of Miami
  • 1991 - Desmond Howard, University of Michigan
  • 1990 - Ty Detmer, Brigham Young University
  • 1989 - Anthony Thompson, Indiana University
  • 1988 - Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State University
  • 1987 - Don McPherson, Syracuse University
  • 1986 - Vinny Testaverde, University of Miami
  • 1985 - Chuck Long, University of Iowa
  • 1984 - Doug Flutie, Boston College
  • 1983 - Mike Rozier, University of Nebraska
  • 1982 - Herschel Walker, University of Georgia
  • 1981 - Marcus Allen, University of Southern California
  • 1980 - Hugh Green, University of Pittsburgh
  • 1979 - Charles White, University of Southern California
  • 1978 - Charles Fusina, Pennsylvania State University
  • 1977 - Ross Browner, University of Notre Dame
  • 1976 - Tony Dorsett, University of Pittsburgh
  • 1975 - Archie Griffin, Ohio State University
  • 1974 - Steve Joachim, Temple University
  • 1973 - John Cappelletti, Pennsylvania State University
  • 1972 - Brad Van Pelt*, Michigan State University
  • 1971 - Ed Marinaro, Cornell University
  • 1970 - Jim Plunkett, Stanford University
  • 1969 - Mike Reid, Pennsylvania State University
  • 1968 - O.J. Simpson, University of Southern California
  • 1967 - Gary Beban, UCLA
  • 1966 - James R. Lynch, University of Notre Dame
  • 1965 - Tommy Nobis, Jr., University of Texas
  • 1964 - Glenn Ressler, Pennsylvania State University
  • 1963 - Roger Staubach, U.S. Naval Academy
  • 1962 - Terry Baker, Oregon State University
  • 1961 - Robert E. Ferguson*, Ohio State University
  • 1960 - Joseph Bellino, U.S. Naval Academy
  • 1959 - Richard J. Lucas, Pennsylvania State University
  • 1958 - Peter J. Dawkins, U.S. Military Academy
  • 1957 - Robert H. Reifsnyder, U.S. Naval Academy
  • 1956 - Tom McDonald, University of Oklahoma
  • 1955 - Howard Cassidy, Ohio State University
  • 1954 - Ronald Beagle, U.S. Naval Academy
  • 1953 - John Lattner, University of Notre Dame
  • 1952 - John Lattner, University of Notre Dame
  • 1951 - Dick Kazmaier*, Princeton University
  • 1950 - Francis J. Bagnell*, University of Pennsylvania
  • 1949 - Leon Hart*, University of Notre Dame
  • 1948 - Charles Bednarik*, University of Pennsylvania
  • 1947 - Doak Walker*, Southern Methodist University
  • 1946 - Charles Trippi, University of Georgia
  • 1945 - Felix A. Blanchard*, U.S. Military Academy
  • 1944 - Glenn Davis*, U.S. Military Academy
  • 1943 - Robert H. Odell, University of Pennsylvania
  • 1942 - Paul V. Governali*, Columbia University
  • 1941 - Bill Dudley*, University of Virginia
  • 1940 - Tom Harmon*, University of Michigan
  • 1939 - Niles C. Kinnick*, University of Iowa
  • 1938 - Davey O’Brien*, Texas Christian University
  • 1937 - Clinton E. Frank*, Yale University