Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown named Campbell Trophy finalist
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The gist
Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown was named a finalist for the 2026 Campbell Trophy on Oct. 21.
The winner of college football's top scholar-athlete honor gets a $25,000 scholarship.
Background
Byrum Brown is Auburn's fifth-year quarterback, a Raleigh, North Carolina native and a record-setting dual-threat passer. The Campbell Trophy, first presented in 1990, is college football's premier scholar-athlete honor, awarded by the National Football Foundation (NFF, the body that runs the award and its scholar-athlete program). Brown, who graduated magna cum laude from South Florida in December 2025 with a 3.81 GPA, becomes Auburn's sixth NFF National Scholar-Athlete and first since Anders Carlson in 2022. The honor follows his role in Auburn's Oct. 17 upset of No. 1 Georgia in Athens.
How it unfolded
- Dec 2025Brown graduated magna cum laude from South Florida with a degree in health science and public health and a 3.81 GPA.
- Oct 17, 2026Auburn beat No. 1 Georgia in Athens; Brown had 115 rushing yards, 150 passing yards and two total touchdowns, and Alex McPherson made a 34-yard game-winning kick. Brown took a hit to the head but Auburn avoided injury to him.
- Oct 19, 2026Brown named SEC Offensive Player of the Week after the upset.
- Oct 20, 2026Brown named to the Davey O'Brien Great 8 quarterback award list for his Week 7 performance.
- Oct 21, 2026The National Football Foundation announced Brown as a finalist for the 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy. LSU prepared for his dual-threat ability ahead of Saturday's game.
- Dec 8, 2026The 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, where the 37th Campbell Trophy winner will be named and his scholarship increased to $25,000.
Who’s saying what
- Coach
- Auburn head coach Alex Golesh told Brown "Being you is enough" amid outside criticism and said he has continued to improve.
- Player
- Brown credited his teammates, saying that was the vision Golesh wanted when he became head coach at the end of last year.