North Carolina State University Athletics
Maxwell Award Names CJ Bailey to Preseason Watch List for Second Straight Season
8/3/2026 12:00:00 PM | Football
PHILADELPHIA, PA. – For the second straight year, quarterback CJ Bailey has been named to the Maxwell Award Watch List. The Maxwell Football Club announced its watch list for the 90th Maxwell Award, presented annually to the outstanding player in college football. The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official.
Bailey is one of 81 college football players named to the list, marking the third straight year the Wolfpack has had a quarterback named to the prestigious watch list.
The Miami, Fla., native is in his third year under center for the Wolfpack and already holds the school's career completion percentage with a .671 mark (469-699). He ranks seventh in career touchdown responsibility (53), eighth in the Wolfpack career record books in passing yards (5,518), fifth in passing yards per game (220.72), and eighth in touchdown passes (42). He also ranks seventh in career rushing by a quarterback (494).
Last season, Bailey was voted team captain by his teammates and once again enters 2026 as the team's leader.
The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football organization of its kind in America. The Club recognizes excellence in performance at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels of the game. The Maxwell Club is also deeply involved and fully invested in the community through programs that promote academic excellence, community volunteerism, and leadership.
The Maxwell Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. The NCFAA's 25 awards have honored more than 900 recipients since 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.
Bailey is one of 81 college football players named to the list, marking the third straight year the Wolfpack has had a quarterback named to the prestigious watch list.
The Miami, Fla., native is in his third year under center for the Wolfpack and already holds the school's career completion percentage with a .671 mark (469-699). He ranks seventh in career touchdown responsibility (53), eighth in the Wolfpack career record books in passing yards (5,518), fifth in passing yards per game (220.72), and eighth in touchdown passes (42). He also ranks seventh in career rushing by a quarterback (494).
Last season, Bailey was voted team captain by his teammates and once again enters 2026 as the team's leader.
The Maxwell Football Club was founded in 1935 and is the oldest football organization of its kind in America. The Club recognizes excellence in performance at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels of the game. The Maxwell Club is also deeply involved and fully invested in the community through programs that promote academic excellence, community volunteerism, and leadership.
The Maxwell Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. The NCFAA's 25 awards have honored more than 900 recipients since 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ FootballThursday, July 30
Wednesday, July 29
Wednesday, July 29
Tuesday, April 28