Dampier on Davey O’Brien Award Watch List
8/20/2026 9:57 AM | Football
Award is given annually to the nation’s best college quarterback
Fort Worth, Texas — Utah senior quarterback Devon Dampier has been selected to the Davey O'Brien Award Watch List, the Davey O'Brien Foundation announced on Thursday.
The Davey O'Brien Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. Dampier is one of 30 quarterbacks to make the preseason list for the award, which will be presented for the 50th time in 2026.
Dampier earned Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors, Third Team All-Conference recognition and was a Manning Award Finalist in 2025 after throwing for 2,180 yards and 22 touchdowns, while rushing for 687 yards and seven scores during the regular season.
The Phoenix, Ariz., native earned Las Vegas Bowl MVP honors, rushing for 148 yards and three touchdowns along with completing 19-of-31 passes for 310 yards and two more scores as No. 15 Utah defeated Nebraska, 44-22. It marked Dampier's second game of the season with five total touchdowns as well as his second game with 200-plus passing yards and 100-plus rushing yards.
The official Davey O'Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 3 and will contain active starting quarterbacks from the Preseason Watch List, players honored as weekly Great 8 recipients through the season's first eight weeks, and any additional quarterbacks approved by the selection subcommittee.
The Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2026 will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 10. For the sixth straight year, fan voting on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) will earn players bonus selection committee votes during the semifinalist, finalist and winner voting rounds. First-round fan voting will begin Nov. 10 following the QB Class announcement.
Semifinalists selected from the QB Class will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The Foundation will announce the three finalists one week later (Tuesday, Nov. 24). The 2026 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 11, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
The Davey O'Brien Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. Dampier is one of 30 quarterbacks to make the preseason list for the award, which will be presented for the 50th time in 2026.
Dampier earned Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors, Third Team All-Conference recognition and was a Manning Award Finalist in 2025 after throwing for 2,180 yards and 22 touchdowns, while rushing for 687 yards and seven scores during the regular season.
The Phoenix, Ariz., native earned Las Vegas Bowl MVP honors, rushing for 148 yards and three touchdowns along with completing 19-of-31 passes for 310 yards and two more scores as No. 15 Utah defeated Nebraska, 44-22. It marked Dampier's second game of the season with five total touchdowns as well as his second game with 200-plus passing yards and 100-plus rushing yards.
The official Davey O'Brien Midseason Watch List will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 3 and will contain active starting quarterbacks from the Preseason Watch List, players honored as weekly Great 8 recipients through the season's first eight weeks, and any additional quarterbacks approved by the selection subcommittee.
The Davey O'Brien QB Class of 2026 will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 10. For the sixth straight year, fan voting on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) will earn players bonus selection committee votes during the semifinalist, finalist and winner voting rounds. First-round fan voting will begin Nov. 10 following the QB Class announcement.
Semifinalists selected from the QB Class will be named on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The Foundation will announce the three finalists one week later (Tuesday, Nov. 24). The 2026 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 11, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
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