Four ACC Quarterbacks Named to 2026 Davey O’Brien Award Watch List
PHOTO: NCSU ATHLETICS
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Darian Mensah, CJ Bailey and Kevin Jennings headline the ACC’s representation on the national quarterback award watch list.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Four Atlantic Coast Conference quarterbacks have been named to the 2026 Davey O’Brien Award Preseason Watch List, giving the conference another strong presence in the national awards conversation ahead of the upcoming season.
California’s Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Miami’s Darian Mensah, NC State’s CJ Bailey and SMU’s Kevin Jennings were among 30 quarterbacks selected to the preseason watch list by the Davey O’Brien Foundation.
All four quarterbacks have already received significant preseason recognition. Each was also named to the 2026 Maxwell Award Watch List, putting the group among the ACC players expected to draw national attention throughout the season.
Four ACC Quarterbacks Enter the National Spotlight
The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation’s top college quarterback and is the oldest major national award dedicated specifically to the position.
The 2026 preseason watch list was selected based on previous NCAA Division I career performance as well as expectations entering the upcoming campaign.
The ACC’s four selections include:
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, sophomore — California
Darian Mensah, senior — Miami
CJ Bailey, junior — NC State
Kevin Jennings, fifth-year — SMU
For Miami, Mensah enters the season carrying particularly high expectations after being selected as the 2026 ACC Football Preseason Player of the Year and earning a spot on the Preseason All-ACC Team.
Jennings finished second in the ACC’s preseason player of the year voting, while Bailey finished fourth, further underscoring the expectations surrounding the conference’s quarterback position heading into 2026.
ACC Quarterbacks Among National Award Contenders
The Davey O’Brien watch list adds another layer to what has already been a busy preseason awards cycle for the four quarterbacks.
Mensah, Bailey and Jennings have emerged as prominent names within the ACC’s preseason quarterback conversation, while Sagapolutele gives California representation on a national list featuring 30 players.
With the regular season approaching, each quarterback will have an opportunity to strengthen his case through individual production and team success.
The award recognizes performance throughout the season, meaning the preseason watch list serves as an initial starting point rather than a final indication of the eventual finalists.
The Road to the Davey O’Brien Award
The Davey O’Brien Foundation will narrow the field as the season progresses.
The official Davey O’Brien Midseason Watch List is scheduled to be announced Nov. 3, followed by the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2026 on Nov. 10.
The semifinalists will be announced Nov. 17, with three finalists set to be revealed Nov. 24.
The 2026 Davey O’Brien Award winner will be announced live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 11, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
For the ACC, the journey begins with four quarterbacks carrying national expectations into the 2026 season.
As Mensah, Bailey, Jennings and Sagapolutele take the field, their performances will determine which names remain in the conversation when the award race moves from preseason projections to postseason recognition.
