Davey O’Brien Foundation Announces Great 8 for Week 11

FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 10, 2025) — The Davey O’Brien Foundation has determined the Great 8 quarterbacks for Week 11 of the college football season. Sixty-five different quarterbacks have now been honored this season.

The Week 11 list includes Micah Alejado of Hawaii, USF’s Byrum Brown, Joe Fagnano of UConn, USC’s Jayden Maiava, Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt, Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed, Jake Retzlaff of Tulane and California’s Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele.

The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week, selected from the Great 8 list, will be revealed Tuesday at 11 a.m. (CT).

The Davey O’Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award, the oldest and most prestigious college 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 wore No. 8 as 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.

—www.DaveyOBrienAward.com—

Davey O’Brien Great 8: Week 11

Micah Alejado, Hawaii, R-Fr., 5-10, 180, Las Vegas, Nev.

·      Was 22-for-34 (.647) through the air for 256 yards and three touchdowns during a 38-6 victory over San Diego State.

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

·      Connected on 14 of 15 passes for 239 yards and two scores and rushed nine times for 109 yards (12.1 per carry) and a TD in a 55-23 win over UTSA.

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

·      Passed for 311 yards and three touchdowns, going 27-for-39 (.692), and carried six times for 51 yards in a 37-34 win over Duke.

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

·      Was 24 of 33 passing for 299 yards and two touchdowns and added a touchdown run as USC defeated Northwestern, 38-17.

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

·      Accounted for a career-best 489 yards (377 passing, 112 rushing) and four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) in a 45-38 overtime win over Auburn.

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

·      Led Texas A&M to a 38-17 win at No. 22 Missouri by completing 20 of 29 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns and adding 29 rushing yards.

Jake Retzlaff, Tulane, Sr., 6-1, 205, Corona, Calif.

·      Amassed 375 yards of total offense (332 passing, 43 rushing) and four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) as Tulane picked up a 38-32 road win at Memphis.

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, California, Fr., 6-3, 225, Ewa Beach, Hawaii

·      Steered the Bears to a 29-26 overtime win at No. 15 Louisville by going 30-for-47 through the air for 323 yards and two touchdowns.