UCLA's Carson Steele was named by The PwC SMU Athletic Forum as a preseason candidate for the 2023 Doak Walker Award. The Forum annually presents the award to the nation's top college running back.

Steele, who transferred to UCLA from Ball State, started all 12 games last season for the Cardinals and finished ninth in the nation and atop the Mid-American Conference (MAC) with 1,556 rushing yards. He posted nine 100-yard games (137-Western Michigan, 141-Murray State, 104-Georgia Southern, 124-Central Michigan, 179-UConn, 101-Eastern Michigan, 192-Kent State, 198-Toledo, 180-Miami (OH) in 2022. Steele scored 14 touchdowns last season, including a season-best three rushing scores in games against both Toledo and UConn. His rushing average of 129.7 yards per contest rated as the eighth-best mark in the country and led the MAC. Steele also caught 29 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2023 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards. The award is named for SMU's three-time All-America running back Doak Walker.

The Bruins will begin the 2023 season in the Rose Bowl Stadium on Sept. 2 against Coastal Carolina. ESPN will televise the game beginning at 7:30 p.m. After a Sept. 9 trip to play at San Diego State, the Bruins will return to Pasadena for a Sept. 16 battle with North Carolina Central at 2 p.m. to complete the non-conference slate.