OU safety Peyton Bowen named Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist

NORMAN - University of Oklahoma senior safety Peyton Bowen is one of 15 semifinalists for the 2026 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, according to a SoonerSports.com release. The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association, which give the award to college football's best defensive back, announced the list Tuesday.

Bowen, from Corinth, Texas, has started all seven of OU's games this season. He has 36 tackles, 2.0 of them for loss including a sack, along with two interceptions, five pass breakups and a forced fumble. His 42-yard interception return put OU ahead 24-17 in the fourth quarter of its 27-24 win over No. 1 Texas on Oct. 10, and his end-zone interception at Mississippi State on Saturday protected a 20-7 fourth-quarter lead in a 23-15 win.

Three finalists will be announced Nov. 24 and the winner Dec. 11, the release said. Three Sooners have won the award: Rickey Dixon (1987), Roy Williams (2001) and Derrick Strait (2003).

Oklahoma (4-3, 2-2 SEC) hosts South Carolina for homecoming Saturday, Oct. 31, at 3:15 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

Source: SoonerSports.com release, "Peyton Bowen Named Thorpe Award Semifinalist," Oct. 27, 2026