Criteria & voting
From hundreds of candidates to four finalists.
The Lombardi Award® is a season award, not a career award: it recognizes the outstanding college football lineman or linebacker of the year, chosen by the National Selection Committee.
2026 voting schedule
- Aug 11
- Preseason watchlist announcement
- Oct 14
- Mid-season watchlist announcement
- Oct 21–31
- Semifinalist voting period
- Nov 4
- Semifinalists announced
- Nov 6–14
- Finalist voting period
- Nov 18
- Four finalists announced
- Nov 19 – Dec 3
- Winner voting period
- Dec 9
- Winner announced at the gala
Eligibility
Who can be considered
To be considered for the Lombardi Award®, a player must be a member of an NCAA FBS college football team and meet all of the following.
- Be a down lineman, end to end, either on offense or defense, setting up no further than ten (10) yards to the left or right of the ball at the time of the snap.
- Or be a linebacker on defense, setting up no further than five (5) yards deep from the line of scrimmage.
- Must not come out of the offensive backfield and set up on the line of scrimmage as a blocker or receiver, or be listed in the program as an offensive back or receiver.
- Be eligible to participate in the current season.
How voters decide
What the committee may consider
Strength of competition
A voter may consider the quality of the candidate's opposing teams, the team's strength of schedule, and the team's strength of season during the season he is a candidate.
This season's performance
A voter may consider the candidate's statistical performance for the season he is a candidate. The Lombardi Award® is not a career award but a season award recognizing the outstanding college football lineman of the year.
Watchlist additions
The Executive Committee, when appropriate, adds players to the watchlist based on performance and the criteria above, without prejudice, up to the commencement of voting by the National Selection Committee.
2026 season