KU linebacker Joe Mortensen was one of 88 players named to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Award. The award is given annually to the best defensive player in the nation by the Football Writers Association of America. Big 12 players that made the list include:

Ian Campbell, DE, Kansas State
Auston English, DE, Oklahoma
Nic Harris, DB, Oklahoma
George Hypolite, DT, Colorado
William Moore, S, Missouri
Joe Mortensen, LB, Kansas
Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri