CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Four Atlantic Coast Conference quarterbacks have been named to the 2026 Davey O’Brien Award Preseason Watch List, the Davey O’Brien Foundation announced Thursday.
Representing the ACC on the 30-player preseason watch list are California’s Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Miami’s Darian Mensah, NC State’s CJ Bailey and SMU’s Kevin Jennings.
The four ACC selections have already received national recognition ahead of the 2026 campaign, with all four also earning spots on the Maxwell Award Watch List.
The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest national quarterback award. The 2026 preseason watch list was selected based on previous NCAA Division I career performance as well as expectations entering the upcoming season.
Mensah enters the season as the 2026 ACC Football Preseason Player of the Year and the quarterback on the Preseason All-ACC Team. Jennings finished second in the conference’s preseason player of the year voting, while Bailey finished fourth.
2026 Davey O’Brien Award Preseason Watch List – ACC Selections
- Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, So., QB, California
- Darian Mensah, Sr., QB, Miami
- CJ Bailey, Jr., QB, NC State
- Kevin Jennings, 5th, QB, SMU
The official Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List will be announced on Tuesday, November 3. The Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2026 will follow on Tuesday, November 10, with semifinalists announced November 17 and three finalists unveiled November 24. The 2026 Davey O’Brien Award winner will be announced live on ESPN on Friday, December 11, during
The Home Depot College Football Awards.