Beau Brungard Named Semifinalist For William V. Campbell Trophy
9/23/2026 11:20:00 AM | Football
Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard is one of 206 semifinalists for 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy®, which is college football's premier scholar-athlete awards. Brungard is one of just 45 FCS student-athletes to be named a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy.
The impressive list of candidates, from all NCAA divisions and the NAIA, boasts an impressive 3.64 average GPA, with more than half of the semifinalists having already earned their bachelor's degrees.
Celebrating its 37th year, this award is named in honor of the late William V. Campbell, the former chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF's Gold Medal, The William V. Campbell Trophy® has become the most prestigious and desirable "academic" award in college football. The trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
Brungard is in his fifth year as the starting quarterback for the Penguins. Last year he was the Walter Payton Award recipient along with the Walter Camp Foundation Player of the Year, FCS ADA Offensive Player of the Year and the MVFC Offensive Player of the Year. He led the FCS in total offensive yards (4,702), total points responsible for (326) and tied for first in total touchdowns (28) and total points (168).
"Every year, I'm amazed by what these young men are able to accomplish," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy® winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "Playing college football takes an enormous commitment, and to perform at a high level on the field while also excelling in the classroom and serving as a leader on campus is something special. These 206 semifinalists have a lot to be proud of, and it's a privilege to recognize their accomplishments."
The NFF will announce 12-16 finalists on Oct. 21, each finalist will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. One of the finalists will be named the winner of the 37th Campbell Trophy® during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8 and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
"These 206 semifinalists represent the power of football to develop leaders well beyond the field," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "The game challenges young men to compete, lead and pursue excellence, and these candidates have embraced those values in the classroom, on the field and in their communities."
Now in its 68th year, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments have recognized 954 individuals, with this year's scholarships pushing the program's all-time distribution above $13.5 million. The awards were the first initiative in history to grant postgraduate scholarships based on a player's academic, athletic and leadership accomplishments.
