DALLAS -- San Diego State senior running back Lucky Sutton has been named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List, the PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced on Tuesday. Sutton is one of five returning semifinalists for the award, which goes out to the most outstanding college running back.
Sutton is one of three players from the Pac-12 on the list and one of 62 overall.
Sutton is coming off a fantastic junior season where he rushed for 1,297 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first year as a starter. Sutton, who was named a Doak Walker Award semifinalist for the nation’s top running back and a first-team all-conference selection, had six 100-yard games to become the 20th different Aztec with a 1,000-yard rushing season in program history (28th time overall).
Sutton’s 1,297 yards were the 13th most in SDSU single-season history and most since Rashaad Penny ran for a school-record 2,248 yards in 2017. Sutton ranked among the NCAA FBS leaders in rushing attempts (fifth, 254), rushing yards (13th, 1,297) and rushing yards per game (14th, 99.77).
Sutton has now been named to three preseason NFCAA watch lists, including the Maxwell Award (college player of the year), Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Doak Walker Award (most outstanding college running back). Sutton was also named a preseason All-Pac-12 first-team selection by Phil Steele Magazine, Athlon Sports and Lindy’s Sports.
The award is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker.
The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will also be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2026 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards on Dec. 10.
Season tickets, single-game tickets and family four-packs are currently on sale for the San Diego State football team’s 2026 campaign, its first in the Pac-12 Conference.
SDSU’s home slate includes non-conference home games on Sept. 5 vs. Portland State (6:30 p.m. PT) and Sept. 19 against James Madison (7 p.m. PT), and Pac-12 home matchups with Texas State (Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. PT), Fresno State (Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. PT), Washington State (Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. PT) and Utah State (Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. PT). The Pac-12 Championship will take place on Friday, Dec. 4 with the host being the team with the best conference record.
Season tickets remain the best value for Aztec football at Snapdragon Stadium. Season ticket pricing has been lowered across the board to make tickets more affordable and accessible for the loyal fans and community. Fans are encouraged to purchase season tickets through San Diego State, which start as low as $175 ($150 plus $25 Aztec Club Membership), only $29.17 per game. This shift supports SDSU’s focus on strengthening local connections and building a gameday atmosphere worthy of the program’s next chapter.
Single-game tickets start as low as $23, which includes all fees.
After going 3-9 in the first season under Sean Lewis in 2024, SDSU improved to 9-4 in 2025, including a perfect 6-0 record at home. It was San Diego State’s first undefeated home campaign since 1996 and just the sixth in its Division I history. The Aztecs outscored the opposition, 187-41, at Snapdragon Stadium, including shutouts over Stony Brook (42-0) and California (34-0).
2026 NFCA Preseason Watch Lists
Lucky Sutton, RB, Sr.
Maxwell Award Watch List - College Player of the Year (Aug. 3)
Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List - Player of Year (Aug. 17)
Doak Walker Award Watch List - Most Outstanding College Running Back (Aug. 18)
Lucky Sutton Named to Doak Walker Award Watch List
Sutton was a semifinalist for the award last season, which goes out to the most outstanding college running back.
