LINCOLN, NEB. (SMU) - Senior Joshua Bates was named to the 2026 Rimington Trophy watch list, announced on Thursday.

The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I College Football. Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News and Football Writers Association of America will be used as the committee, where they will pull centers from all of their All-America teams. Bates joins 40 others on the list, including three from the ACC.

The Colorado native contributed to an offensive line that cleared the path for the Mustangs to average 283.1 passing yards per game, good for 12th nationally and second in the conference. He was also part of an offensive front that only allowed 19 sacks, ranked 12th nationally.

Bates was a mid-season watchlist addition last year for the Rimington Trophy while earning All-ACC Honorable Mention honors.

Already this summer, he's earned multiple All-ACC Preseason accolades from numerous publications. Additionally, Bates was named to the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List along with fellow teammate, PJ Williams.  
The award is named after Dave Rimington. The University of Nebraska Alum was a consensus first-team All-America center in 1981 and 1982. During this time, he became the only player to win the Outland Trophy twice.