Best Quarterbacks in College Football (Davey O’Brien Award Watch List 2025)

Published on: September 1, 2024

Updated on: August 30, 2025

Category: Advice & Tips

Best Quarterbacks in College Football (Davey O'Brien Award Watch List) - Blog - Square Bettor

The following post features the best quarterbacks in college football (Davey O’Brien Award Watch List 2025).

Some college football teams have an NFL-level QB capable of singlehandedly carrying a team to victory. These are the QBs you need to know about when betting on college football.

Read: Best Kickers in College Football

Related: Best Tight Ends in College Football

The Davey O’Brien Award Watch List features the top quarterbacks in the nation heading into the 2025 college football season.

So, who are the best QBs in 2025? Here’s what you need to know.

Overview

Miami’s Cam Ward won the 2024 Davey O’Brien Award after throwing for 4,313 yards and 39 TDs, while also adding 204 rushing yards and 4 rushing TDs. He was selected over two other finalists: Dillon Gabriel of Oregon and Shedeur Sanders of Colorado.

How the Award Works

Throughout the season, the Davey O’Brien Award Committee evaluates the performance of quarterbacks on the preseason watchlist. At mid-season, the committee narrows the list down to 10 semifinalists. From these semifinalists, the top three finalists are selected. The winner is chosen from these three finalists by a panel of college football coaches, media members, and former Davey O’Brien Award recipients.

Click here for the official Davey O’Brien Award Watch List.

Davey O’Brien Award Watch List (2025)

In alphabetical order by last name, here is the 2025 Davey O’Brien Award Watch List:

Player

Team

Drew Allar

Penn State Nittany Lions

Luke Altmyer

Illinois Fighting Illini

Alonza Barnett III

James Madison Dukes

Rocco Becht

Iowa State Cyclones

Carson Beck

Miami Hurricanes

Braylon Braxton

Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles

Devon Dampier

Utah Utes

Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi

Colorado State Rams

Tucker Gleason

Toledo Rockets

Taylen Green

Arkansas Razorbacks

Josh Hoover

TCU Horned Frogs

Blake Horvath

Navy Midshipmen

Nico Iamaleava

UCLA Bruins

Keyone Jenkins

Florida International Panthers

Kevin Jennings

SMU Mustangs

Avery Johnson

Kansas State Wildcats

Haynes King

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Cade Klubnik

Clemson Tigers

DJ Lagway

Florida Gators

Sam Leavitt

Arizona State Sun Devils

Maddux Madsen

Boise State Broncos

Arch Manning

Texas Longhorns

John Mateer

Oklahoma Sooners

Owen McCown

UTSA Roadrunners

Fernando Mendoza

Indiana Hoosiers

Darian Mensah

Duke Blue Devils

Chandler Morris

Virginia Cavaliers

Behren Morton

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Miller Moss

Louisville Cardinals

Maalik Murphy

Oregon State Beavers

Parker Navarro

Ohio Bobcats

Garrett Nussmeier

LSU Tigers

Diego Pavia

Vanderbilt Commodores

Sawyer Robertson

Baylor Bears

LaNorris Sellers

South Carolina Gamecocks

Brendan Sorsby

Cincinnati Bearcats

Davey O’Brien Award Winners (2000 – Present)

Here are the winners from years past – notice lots of NFL names on this list.

Year

Player

Team

2024

Cam Ward

Miami Hurricanes

2023

Jayden Daniels

LSU Tigers

2022

Max Duggan

TCU Horned Frogs

2021

Bryce Young

Alabama Crimson Tide

2020

Mac Jones

Alabama Crimson Tide

2019

Joe Burrow

LSU Tigers

2018

Kyler Murray

Oklahoma Sooners

2017

Baker Mayfield

Oklahoma Sooners

2016

Deshaun Watson

Clemson Tigers

2015

Deshaun Watson

Clemson Tigers

2014

Marcus Mariota

Oregon Ducks

2013

Jameis Winston

Florida State Seminoles

2012

Johnny Manziel

Texas A&M Aggies

2011

Robert Griffin III

Baylor Bears

2010

Cam Newton

Auburn Tigers

2009

Colt McCoy

Texas Longhorns

2008

Sam Bradford

Oklahoma Sooners

2007

Tim Tebow

Florida Gators

2006

Troy Smith

Ohio State Buckeyes

2005

Vince Young

Texas Longhorns

2004

Jason White

Oklahoma Sooners

2003

Jason White

Oklahoma Sooners

2002

Brad Banks

Iowa Hawkeyes

2001

Eric Crouch

Nebraska Cornhuskers

2000

Chris Weinke

Florida State Seminoles

Conclusion

In conclusion, being aware of the top quarterbacks provides an advantage when betting on college football. Keeping these QBs (and their teams) in mind is key to finding yourself on the winning side.

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