TicketsCINCINNATI – Cincinnati redshirt junior quarterback Brendan Sorsby has been named a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.
Sorsby is one of 20 semifinalists for the prestigious honor, which annually recognizes the top quarterback in the country.
He is the third Bearcat named a semifinalist for a major college football award, joining teammates Jake Golday (Butkus Award) and Antwan Peek Jr. (Jim Thorpe Award).
Sorsby as previously named to the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2025 on Oct. 30, which made him an official candidate for the award.
The Denton, Texas native has put together a terrific season and has the Bearcats at No. 25 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. Sorsby has completed 144-of-237 passes for 2,064 yards, 21 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. On the ground, he has rushed for 453 yards and eight TDs. His 29 total touchdowns rank second in the country behind only Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (31).
Sorsby leads an explosive offense that ranks fifth in the nation in yards per play (7.29) and 20th nationally in scoring offense (35.6).
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.
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.
ABOUT THE DAVEY O’BRIEN AWARD
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.