CHARLESTON, S.C. (CFPA/SMU) – Ulysses Bentley IV and Shane Buechele are among 28 student-athletes named to the October watch list for the CFPA National Performer of the Year Trophy.

The Mustangs are one of only five teams (Alabama, Clemson, Florida and Texas A&M) to have multiple players make the list.

A member of the FWAA Freshman All-American Watch List, Bentley IV ranks in the top 10 nationally in rushing touchdowns (2nd, 8), total touchdowns, (4th, 8), rushing yards (6th, 506) and yards per carry (8th, 6.84). He is also seventh in total points scored (48).
 
Seven of his eight TDs came in SMU's opening three games of the season, tying him for the sixth most in a three-game span for a Mustang.
 
Against UNT (19-227, 3 TD) and SFA (6-104, 2 TD) Bentley IV posted back-to-back 100-yard games. The 227 yards against UNT were the fourth-most in a single game in SMU history, and are the most by a player in the American Athletic Conference this season by 55 yards.
 
Buechele, who was among the initial 30 players on the Sept. 1 CFPA preseason list, ranks in the top 10 nationally in passing yards (2nd, 1,710), passing yards per game (5th, 342.0), passing TDs (7th, 12), total offense (7th, 349.8) and points responsible for (9th, 78).

Among FBS career active leaders, Buechele ranks in the top five for completions (1st, 829), passing yards (1st, 10,275), total offense (2nd, 10,677) passing TDs (3rd, 76) and total TDs (4th, 83).

In the win over Tulane, Buechele posted his 11th career 300-yard game and now has multiple TDs in 15 of the last 17 games. His 46 career TDs are third at SMU, while his 5,639 passing yards rank eighth. In 2019, he set program single-season marks for passing yards (3,929) and passing TDs (34).

Buechele has also been named to the Maxwell, Manning, Davey O'Brien, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and Wuerffel Trophy Watch Lists.

The 2020 CFPA National Performer of the Year will be announced January 14, 2021. A total of four annual and multi-season/career award winners will be honored throughout the academic calendar year.

No. 16 SMU hosts No. 9 Cincinnati Saturday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.