As preseason watch lists continue to roll in, the Texas Longhorns have been a popular team. That continued on Thursday when junior offensive lineman Brandon Baker was named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award. The award is given annually to the most outstanding player of Polynesian descent.
For many in Austin, Baker’s inclusion on the watch list comes as no surprise. He was a staple on the Longhorns’ offensive line last season, starting all 13 games. With Baker providing stability at right tackle, Texas’ offense was hard to stop. One of their best performances came in the home opener against San Jose State when the Longhorns had 472 yards of total offense.
Over the last week, Baker’s play last season has been rewarded with multiple honors. The California native is also on the preseason watch list for the 81st Outland Trophy. His success does not stop there, as earlier this month, Baker received Preseason All-SEC Third Team honors.
As the Longhorns look to win a national title, Baker will again be an important piece. He showed during the 2025 season that he could hold his own in the SEC and stepped up when injuries piled up. In just a few weeks, Baker will get to continue building on his success.
While Baker is focused on winning a national title, he will be watching how voting for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year plays out. Finalists for the award will be revealed on Dec. 8, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 15. For Baker, the hope is that he can add some hardware to his trophy case this holiday season.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Longhorns star in running for Polynesian College Player of Year
Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire | USA TODAY Network
