Valparaiso University football redshirt senior quarterback Rowan Keefe (Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South) has been named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award. Celebrating its 37^th year, the Campbell Trophy recognizes an individual as the best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
 
Keefe, a team captain, graduated in May 2026 with a degree in marketing with a 3.56 cumulative grade point average. He is currently pursuing his MBA. On the field, Keefe is 51-of-81 passing for 544 yards and four touchdowns in three games this season as the team's starting quarterback. He has completed 41 passes over his last two games, setting career highs in each of those contests, both against Missouri Valley Football Conference opponents. Keefe passed for a personal-best 249 yards in the Sept. 12 game at Murray State.
 
Last season, Keefe was named to the Academic All-Pioneer Football League Second Team and was tabbed to College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. He also earned the team's Most-Improved Player Award for the second time in his career, and was named the PFL Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 16 after leading the Beacons to a comeback win over Stetson.
 
Off the field, Keefe has served as a flag football referee for the Boys & Girls Club, has volunteered for gift drives for Christmas in Merrillville, has done volunteer construction work at a veteran home in Valparaiso and has participated in Polar Plunge to raise money for Special Olympics.
 
Keefe is one of 45 semifinalists from FCS programs and one of 206 semifinalists across all levels of college football. The NFF will announce 12 to 16 finalists on Oct. 21, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship.