20 Quarterbacks Named 2025 Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalists

FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 12, 2025) — The Davey O’Brien Foundation unveiled the 20 players named as semifinalists for the 2025 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. Only two of the quarterbacks have previously been semifinalists for the award and none have been past finalists.

This year’s list features eight seniors, five juniors, four sophomores and three freshmen. Navy’s Blake Horvath and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia return to the list after both were semifinalists a year ago.

The 20 quarterbacks have helped guide their respective teams to a combined record of 154-31 (.832). With five apiece, the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten Conference share honors for the most semifinalists.

The next step in the process will be to select the award’s three finalists, who will again be chosen based on voting from the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee as well as bonus ballots awarded from the second round of the Davey O’Brien Fan Vote.

For the sixth straight year, fan voting on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) will earn players bonus selection committee votes. Second-round fan voting will begin immediately following the semifinalist announcement. To vote, fans must like the official graphic from the @daveyobrien social media account that highlights their favorite quarterback. The second round will close Friday, Nov. 21, at 11:59 p.m. (CT).

The Davey O’Brien Foundation will announce the three finalists Tuesday, Nov. 25. The 2025 Davey O’Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 12, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.

The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 49th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas. For more information, visit www.daveyobrienaward.com.

The Davey O’Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award was first issued in 1981. Over its time, the Davey O’Brien Foundation has given away more than $1.4 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life.

In 1938, O’Brien, who was a star quarterback for TCU, became the first player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award in the same year. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. 

2025 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Semifinalists

Luke Altmyer, Illinois, Sr., 6-2, 205, Starkville, Miss.

Bear Bachmeier, BYU, Fr., 6-2, 230, Murrieta, Calif.

Byrum Brown, USF, Sr., 6-3, 232, Raleigh, N.C.

CJ Carr, Notre Dame, R-Fr., 6-3, 210, Saline, Mich.

Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, Sr., 6-0, 200, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Joe Fagnano, UConn, Sr., 6-4, 225, Williamsport, Pa.

Blake Horvath, Navy, Sr., 6-2, 195, Hilliard, Ohio

Haynes King, Georgia Tech, Sr., 6-3, 215, Longview, Texas

Jayden Maiava, USC, Jr., 6-4, 230, Palolo, Hawaii

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, Jr., 6-5, 225, Miami, Fla.

Darian Mensah, Duke, So., 6-3, 205, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Drew Mestemaker, North Texas, R-Fr., 6-4, 211, Austin, Texas

Dante Moore, Oregon, So., 6-3, 206, Detroit, Mich.

Chandler Morris, Virginia, Sr., 6-0, 192, Highland Park, Texas

Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt, Sr., 6-0, 207, Albuquerque, N.M.

Marcel Reed, Texas A&M, So., 6-1, 185, Nashville, Tenn.

Julian Sayin, Ohio State, So., 6-1, 208, Carlsbad, Ala.

Ty Simpson, Alabama, Jr., 6-2, 208, Martin, Tenn.

Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati, Jr., 6-3, 235, Denton, Texas

Gunner Stockton, Georgia, Jr., 6-1, 215, Tiger, Ga.