Carson Beck included in midseason watch list despite poor performance vs. Louisville

Miami quarterback Carson Beck was one of 22 additions to the Manning Award midseason watch list, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Thursday. The award honors the nation's top quarterback and is the only major QB honor that includes bowl performances in its balloting. Finalists will be revealed Dec. 4, with the winner announced after the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Beck's inclusion comes from strong first half to his debut season with the Hurricanes — but also less than a week after a meltdown performance against Louisville. Beck has steered Miami to a 5–1 start and a No. 9 national ranking while throwing for 1,484 yards and 11 touchdowns through six games. His efficiency figures remain elite (he enters Week 9 with an 81.0 Total QBR, 73.0% completion rate and a 157.4 passer rating), but the timing of the announcement comes after Beck threw four interceptions in Miami's first loss of the year to Louisville.

Last season, QB Cam Ward became the program's first winner after leading the Hurricanes to a 10-win campaign. Beck now gives Miami a chance at back-to-back recognition if he can put the Louisville game behind him and sustain the form he had in Miami's first 5 games.

Manning Award Midseason Watch List

• Ty Simpson — Alabama
• Noah Fifita — Arizona
• Bear Bachmeier — BYU
• Joe Fagnano — Connecticut
• Darian Mensah — Duke
• Gunner Stockton — Georgia
• Fernando Mendoza — Indiana
• Alonza Barnett III — James Madison
• Jalon Daniels — Kansas
• Carson Beck — Miami
• Beau Pribula — Missouri
• Dylan Raiola — Nebraska
• Drew Mestemaker — North Texas
• CJ Carr — Notre Dame
• Julian Sayin — Ohio State
• Trinidad Chambliss — Ole Miss
• Dante Moore — Oregon
• Evan Simon — Temple
• Joey Aguilar — Tennessee
• Anthony Colandrea — UNLV
• Jayden Maiava — USC
• Byrum Brown — USF