The Pony Express Award Announces Mid-Season Watch List

Draft Insiders’ Staff

Annual Award Celebrating Best Tandem in College Football to be Presented in December

DALLAS, TX (Oct. 15, 2026) – The Pony Express Award announced its mid-season watch list for 2026, a regular season award that honors the best tandem in college football, regardless of position. Craig James and Eric Dickerson – former teammates at SMU and proud members of various Halls of Fame from high school to the NFL – created the award to celebrate selflessness, collaboration, and true team excellence.

“Eric and I have always been about team success over individual success,” said James. “It’s how we were coached from a young age through high school, as SMU teammates and eventually the NFL. A ‘we’ honor in a ‘me’ era, The Pony Express Award is presented annually to the most dynamic and selfless tandem in college football. While on-field performance certainly matters, this recognition is rooted in an unshakable team-first mindset.”

Added Dickerson, “The Pony Express Award is about the players who set the tone of their team’s culture. There are some really good duos who have stepped up in the first half of the season. We can’t wait to see who sets themselves apart.”

Whether it’s a QB and WR with undeniable chemistry, two offensive linemen paving the way down the field, or a linebacker-safety combo relentlessly anchoring the defense (or other duo/combinations), the award looks for tandems who embody the spirit of The Pony Express Award. James’ and Dickerson’s shared faith as brothers-in-Christ has been the foundation of their near 50-year relationship.

The final award winners are not necessarily limited to this mid-season watch list, as new candidates continually present themselves as the season continues.

The Pony Express Award winners will be announced in December.

2026 The Pony Express Award Watch List

All selections are listed alphabetically by university, without rankings.