Champaign, IL (CHAMBANA TODAY) – University of Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer has been named to the preseason watch list for the prestigious Maxwell Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday. The award honors the top college football player in the nation and has been presented annually since 1937.

Altmyer is among 80 players selected to the list, including 47 quarterbacks and 14 Big Ten standouts. The junior signal-caller is coming off a breakout 2024 season, where he led the Fighting Illini to a 10-3 record — tying the program’s single-season wins record. He threw for 22 touchdowns with just six interceptions and currently leads the nation with five career game-winning drives in the final minute or overtime.

Altmyer has also garnered numerous preseason honors, including second-team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele and third-team by Athlon. He was also nominated for the Wooden Citizen Cup and recognized as part of the Davey O’Brien Award Class of 2024, which honors the nation’s top quarterbacks.

The Maxwell Award, named after Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, will be presented at the end of the 2025 season. Past winners include Caleb Williams, Michael Penix Jr., and most recently, Ashton Jeanty.