CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Four returning Atlantic Coast Conference quarterbacks have been named to the 2025 Manning Award Preseason Watch List, highlighting ACC talent among the nation’s best. The Manning Award uniquely considers postseason performances when selecting its winner.
This year’s 27-player watch list showcases elite passers from nine Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences. Only returning starters were eligible for the preseason list, but transfers and other newcomers will be evaluated as the season unfolds.
Created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in tribute to the legendary college careers of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning, the award’s winner is selected by a panel of national media and the Manning family themselves—making it one of the sport’s most respected honors.
The list will expand throughout the year, with finalists named prior to the postseason. The 2025 Manning Award winner will be revealed following the College Football Playoff National Championship, ensuring every big-game performance counts.
ACC Players Named to the 2025 Manning Award Preseason Watch List
Name, School, Class
Cade Klubnik, Clemson, Senior
Haynes King, Georgia Tech, Senior
CJ Bailey, NC State, Sophomore
Kevin Jennings, SMU, Junior
In addition to the Manning Award's yearly honor, each week during the regular season, eight quarterbacks are recognized as Manning Award Stars of the Week. Seventy-four quarterbacks were honored during the 2024 season and 570 different quarterbacks from 135 schools have been recognized since 2011.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 29 national champions, 110 Hall of Fame players, 55 Hall of Fame coaches and 21 Heisman Trophy winners in its 91-year history. The 92nd Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, which will double as a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal, is scheduled to be played on January 1, 2026. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, awards, scholarships and clinics. Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors thousands of student-athletes each year, while injecting over $2.5 billion into the local economy in the last decade. For more information, visit www.AllstateSugarBowl.org.