PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State quarterback Luke Falk was named to the Manning Award Watch List, announced by the Allstate Sugar Bowl Monday.
Falk is one of 30 quarterbacks named to the list heading into the 2016 season. The winner will be selected by a voting panel, which includes national media and each of the Mannings, after the bowls. Falk was also named to watch lists for the Maxwell Award (Player of the Year), the Davey O'Brien Award (Top Quarterback) and Walter Camp (Player of the Year).
Falk, a redshirt-junior, was an All-Pac-12 first-team selection last season after leading the country in passing at 380.5 yards-per-game and guiding the Cougars to a 9-4 record capped by a Sun Bowl victory over Miami. The Logan, Utah native set a school record with 38 touchdown passes, good for fourth in the nation, and was second in school history with 4,566 yards. Falk tallied three Pac-12 Player of the Week honors and was Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates' bowl performances in its balloting.
Inclusion on the Watch List is not necessary for the quarterbacks to be selected for the honor. Midseason additions to the Watch List will be announced on Wednesday, October 12. The list of 10 finalists will be released on Wednesday, November 30. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, January 11.