IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa senior Bennett Stirtz has been named to the 2025-26 Oscar Robertson Trophy Preseason Watch List, it was announced Monday by the board of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.

It is the nation’s oldest award and the only one named after a former player.

It is the third preseason Player of the Year preseason nod for Stirtz as he was also named to the NABC Watch List on Friday and the Naismith Trophy Watch List this morning.

The Liberty, Missouri, native has also been named a preseason All-American by CBS Sports (second team), Field of 68 (second team), Jon Rothstein (second team), Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook (fourth team) and Jay Bilas (honorable mention).  He is also on the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Watch List.

Stirtz, who is in his first season as a Hawkeye, was an All-American by three outlets during the 2024-25 season at Drake.  He was also tabbed as the Missouri Valley Conference Larry Bird Player of the Year and Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year.

He led the MVC in scoring (19.2), steals (2.21) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.86), while ranking second in assists (5.7).  He also led the NCAA in minutes played, averaging 39:22 per game.

Stirtz is one of 50 players nationally named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch List.

At the conclusion of the regular season, the USBWA will name finalists for the award, which is voted on by the entire membership. The winner of the award will be announced at the 2026 Men’s Final Four in Indianapolis, with the formal presentation to follow at the annual USBWA Awards Luncheon hosted by the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis.

The Hawkeyes host Robert Morris on Tuesday in their season opener at 7:30 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The game will be televised on BTN.

Tickets are available at  hawkeyesports.com/tickets.