Yale’s Reno nominated for Orange Bowl Courage Award
DALLAS (FWAA) — Yale’s Dante Reno is this week’s nominee for the 2026 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Reno, a junior quarterback, led the Bulldogs to a 41-24 win over Merrimack just one day after his father, former Yale coach Tony Reno, passed away.
“I know [Tony], and I know my dad,” Dante Reno said after the game. “He would want nothing [more] than for me to go out there and play, not miss
practice. Go out there, go to school, be around the guys. We have a culture here that not everybody has in the country.”
Tony Reno passed away on Friday at the age of 52 after battling a rare brain disorder. He had served as Yale’s head football coach for 14 years, going 83-49 and 55-36 in Ivy League play, winning five conference titles. He took a medical leave of absence in December before stepping down in February.
Inspired by his father, Dante Reno led the Bulldogs to a comeback win less than 24 hours after his father’s passing. The second-year starter threw for 298 yards and four touchdown passes, adding a career-high 39 rushing yards.
Yale had trailed Merrimack 21-7 in the second quarter.
Reno started all 12 games for the Bulldogs last season, leading the program to a 9-3 record and an Ivy League title. He finished second in the Ivy League with 21 touchdowns. Yale also earned its first-ever automatic bid to the NCAA FCS Playoffs and its first-ever NCAA playoff victory, a win over Youngstown State in which Reno threw for 260 yards and three passing touchdowns.
The Courage Award was first presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) in 2002. A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner each year. The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship. The winner of the award will be included in festivities during Capital One Orange Bowl week and receive his trophy at an on-field presentation.
About Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl is a primarily volunteer non-profit sports organization with more than 400 members that promotes and serves the South Florida community. With its primary mission since being created in 1935 to bring tourism to South Florida through an annual football game and events, it has also maintained a legacy of charitable contributions and community outreach. Orange Bowl’s community outreach is embodied by the four pillars of its Orange Bowl Cares program: Youth Sports, Education, Community Engagement, and Legacy Programs. Orange Bowl features a year-round schedule of events culminating with the 2026 CFP Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on Jan. 14, 2027. For more information about Orange Bowl events, including promotional inquiries and volunteer opportunities through the Ambassador Program, visit orangebowl.org or follow @OrangeBowl on social media.
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or tiger@fwaa.com.
2026 Courage Award Nominees
First Week: Texas OT Trevor Goolsby
Second Week: Illinois LB Ismael Kante
Third Week: Pittsburgh Equipment Manager Niko Pitney
Fourth Week: Yale QB Dante Reno
All-Time FWAA Courage Award Recipients
2025 Alex McPherson, Auburn
2024 Tylee Craft, North Carolina
2023 Mike Hollins, Virginia
2022 Cam McCormick, Oregon
2021 Utah Team
2020 Alex Charlton, Arkansas State
2019 Blake Anderson, Arkansas State
2018 Kyle Richard, SUNY-Cortland
2017 D’Cota Dixon, Wisconsin
2016 James Conner, Pitt
2015 Hunter Knighton, Miami
2014 Laken Tomlinson, Duke
2013 Anthony Larceval, San Jose State
2012 Daniel Rodriguez, Clemson
2011 Arthur Ray Jr., Michigan State
2010 Eric LeGrand, Rutgers
2009 Connecticut Team
2008 Wilson Holloway, Tulsa
2017 D’Cota Dixon, Wisconsin
2016 James Conner, Pitt
2015 Hunter Knighton, Miami
2014 Laken Tomlinson, Duke
2013 Anthony Larceval, San Jose State
2012 Daniel Rodriguez, Clemson
2011 Arthur Ray Jr., Michigan State
2010 Eric LeGrand, Rutgers
2009 Connecticut Team
2008 Wilson Holloway, Tulsa
2007 Zerbin Singleton, Navy
2006 Ray Ray McElrathbey, Clemson
2005 Tulane Team
2004 Haracio Colen, Memphis
2003 Neil Parry, San Jose State
2002 William Bratton, Toledo
To submit a nomination for the 2026 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA
Courage Award, contact Matt Fortuna at matt.fortuna@gmail.com.
