Mississippi Sports Hall Announced Conerly Trophy Watch List
The annual preseason watch list features top college football players across Mississippi.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Football
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The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum has released the preseason watch list for the 31st annual C Spire Conerly Trophy. Each four-year college football program in the state selected three players to represent their school for the award.
Why it matters
The trophy honors the most outstanding college football player in Mississippi, continuing a long-standing tradition that recognizes excellence on the field. The award is named after former Ole Miss quarterback Charlie Conerly.
The list includes three selected players from every four-year college football program in Mississippi. The award is now in its 31st annual edition.
The players
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum
This organization preserves the history of sports in the state and manages the annual presentation of the C Spire Conerly Trophy.
Charlie Conerly
He was a former Ole Miss quarterback and a professional football standout for whom the prestigious state trophy is named.
Trinidad Chambliss
He was the recipient of the C Spire Conerly Trophy for the 2025 season.
The details
The watch list serves as the initial step in identifying the premier talent competing across Mississippi's collegiate football landscape. Following the 2025 win by Trinidad Chambliss, schools have nominated these individuals to begin the season-long evaluation process for the trophy.
Timeline
September 25, 2026: Announcement of the preseason watch list.
December 1, 2026: The 31st annual trophy presentation in Jackson.
Season Trajectory
This preseason announcement sets the stage for the 2026 season, establishing an initial pool of candidates that will evolve as conference play intensifies. Following the precedent of the 2025 C Spire Conerly Trophy, the watch list helps track individual performance trajectories that lead to year-end honors.
The watch list allows observers to identify which players are currently viewed as the top performers by their respective coaching staffs. It serves as a precursor to the final ballot, helping determine which individual stats will be most significant for voters by December.
The takeaway
The selection of three players from each institution provides a baseline of talent for fans to follow throughout the collegiate season. Keeping an eye on these identified players can offer insight into which teams are expected to perform best during conference play.
What happens next
The 31st annual C Spire Conerly Trophy presentation is officially scheduled to take place on December 1, 2026, in Jackson.
Further reading
For more on the state of college football programs, visit Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Grenada Star.
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In your community, do you follow the selections for annual local college football player awards?
