ATLANTA, GA — Four Texas college football coaches were recently named to the 2026 Dodd Trophy preseason watch list, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. announced.
The four Texas coaches named include the University of Texas' Steve Sarkisian, TCU's Sonny Dykes, Texas A&M's Mike Elko and Houston's Willie Fritz.
The Dodd Trophy recognizes a head coach whose program succeeds on the field while also emphasizing scholarship, leadership and integrity — the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s coaching philosophy.
“For more than five decades, The Dodd Trophy has established itself as the most coveted head coaching award in college football because it represents more than just wins on the field,” said Jim Terry, chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. “Equally as important, we also focus on a coach's impact on developing student-athletes in the classroom and within their communities.”
The preseason watch list was created by evaluating each program’s Academic Progress Rate (APR), Graduation Success Rate (GSR), community service efforts and projected success for the 2026 season. Coaches in their first season at a program were not eligible, and each coach was required to have an APR above the national average of 971.
Sarkisian, who has now appeared on the preseason watch list for the fourth consecutive year, led Texas to a 10-3 record during the 2025 season. The Longhorns earned their third straight 10-win season and fourth consecutive top-25 finish, the program’s longest streak since 2006-09. Texas also recorded three wins over top-10 opponents during the 2025 season and finished the year by winning seven of its final eight games, including a Cheez-It Citrus Bowl victory over Michigan.
Dykes, led the TCU Horned Frogs to a 9-4 overall record in 2025 and closed the year ranked No. 25 in the final AP Top 25 Poll. The team recorded eight victories over Power 4 opponents and won the Valero Alamo Bowl over No. 16 USC.
Elko has guided Texas A&M to a 19-7 record through his first two seasons in Aggieland, marking the second-best two-year start by a head coach in program history. The Aggies also entered the final week of the regular season with an opportunity to earn a berth in the SEC Championship Game in each of Elko’s first two years at the helm.
The 2022 Dodd Trophy winner, Fritz led Houston in 2025 to a 10-3 record, a Texas Bowl win over LSU in the Cougars' backyard at NRG Stadium, a 6-0 road record and a top 25 ranking to end the season.
Four Texas college football coaches named to the Dodd Trophy preseason watch list.
The 20 coaches on this year’s watch list have combined for four national championships, 31 FBS conference championships and 1,841 career victories.
2026 Dodd Trophy Preseason Watch List
- Bret Bielema, Illinois
- Jeff Brohm, Louisville
- Curt Cignetti, Indiana
- Mario Cristobal, Miami
- Spencer Danielson, Boise State
- Ryan Day, Ohio State
- Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
- Sonny Dykes, TCU
- Mike Elko, Texas A&M
- Kirk Ferentz, Iowa
- Jedd Fisch, Washington
- Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
- Willie Fritz, Houston
- Josh Heupel, Tennessee
- Brent Key, Georgia Tech
- Dan Lanning, Oregon
- Lincoln Riley, USC
- Steve Sarkisian, Texas
- Kirby Smart, Georgia
- Brent Venables, Oklahoma
Four coaches on the list have previously won the award: Indiana’s Curt Cignetti (2025), Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman (2024), Houston’s Willie Fritz (2022) and Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz (2015).
The Big Ten leads all conferences with seven coaches on the list, followed by the SEC with six, the ACC with three and the Big 12 with two.
“The Dodd Trophy has long recognized the qualities that define exceptional leadership in college football through its three guiding pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity,” said Peach Bowl, Inc. President and CEO David Epps. “Those three principles are at the heart of this award, and we look forward to following this outstanding group of coaches as they compete and lead their programs throughout the upcoming season.”
A midseason watch list will be released in the fall. Finalists will be selected after the 2026 season by a panel that includes previous winners, national media members, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member.
The winner of the 2026 Dodd Trophy will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
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