University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Heintschel Named to Manning Award Preseason Watch List
8/24/2026 11:19:00 AM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Sophomore quarterback Mason Heintschel has been named to the 2026 Manning Award Preseason Watch List, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Monday.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the Manning family. It is the only major quarterback award that considers candidates' postseason performances when selecting its winner.
Heintschel established himself as one of college football's most productive young quarterbacks during the 2025 season. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound native of Oregon, Ohio, completed 201-of-316 passes (63.6%) for 2,354 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding two scores on the ground. Pitt went 6-3 in his nine starts.
A semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, Heintschel was named ACC Quarterback of the Week once and ACC Rookie of the Week twice. He surpassed 300 passing yards four times and threw at least three touchdown passes in three games.
Heintschel became the first true freshman since Florida State's Jameis Winston in 2013 to produce at least 300 passing yards and three touchdowns in three of his first six career games.
His signature performance came against NC State, when he became the first Pitt quarterback since Kenny Pickett in 2021 to throw for 400 yards in a game. Heintschel was also the first ACC freshman in the past 30 seasons to pass for 400 yards and three touchdowns in a contest.
That performance included an 84-yard touchdown pass, tying the longest completion by a Pitt player at Acrisure Stadium and ranking as the fourth-longest in program history.
Heintschel is among 40 quarterbacks selected for the Manning Award's preseason watch list. Inclusion on the preseason list is not required to win the award, and additional candidates will be added during the season. A midseason watch list will be released in October, with finalists announced before the postseason. The winner will be selected following the College Football Playoff National Championship.
