Seven quarterbacks from the SEC have been named to the 2026 Davey O鈥橞rien Award preseason watch list, leading all conferences. This award recognizes the top quarterback in college football, with Indiana's Fernando Mendoza as last year's recipient. The midseason watch list will be announced on Nov. 3, followed by fan voting starting Nov. 10. Semifinalists will be identified on Nov. 17, and three finalists will be revealed on Nov. 24, culminating in the winner's announcement during the College Football Awards show on Dec. 11.

By the Numbers
  • 7 SEC quarterbacks named, the most of any conference.
  • 5 quarterbacks from the Big Ten and Big 12 each, with 4 from the ACC.
State of Play
  • The Davey O鈥橞rien Award aims to identify and honor the top quarterbacks leading into the college football season.
  • Early fan engagement is anticipated with the start of voting on Nov. 10.
What's Next

Expect to see updates and additional quarterback performances influencing the watch list as the season progresses. The first updates will occur with the midseason watch list, followed by semi-finalist announcements.

Bottom Line

The SEC's dominance in the preseason watch list sets a competitive tone for the upcoming season, highlighting notable talent and boosting fan interest in the award process.