FORT WORTH, TEXAS (SMU) - Kevin Jennings has been placed on the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Preseason Watchlist, the foundation announced Thursday.
 
The award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. 
 
Jennings is tied for third among returning Power Four quarterbacks in career wins as a starter (19), owns the third-highest winning percentage among active FBS quarterbacks (.731), is fifth among returning Power 4 quarterbacks in career passing yards (7,709), ranks fifth among returning Power 4 quarterbacks in career passing touchdowns (55) and is fifth nationally in career total offense for returning Power 4 quarterbacks (8,267).
 
The Dallas Native threw for 3,641 yards in 2025, which was third in the ACC and seventh in FBS. Last season, Jennings set career highs in completions (300), passing yards (3,641), passing touchdowns (26) and completion percentage (66.0).
 
As the starting quarterback for the Mustangs in 2025, he continued to set himself apart on the national stage, becoming one of just 11 quarterbacks in all of FBS to have at least 25 passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns.
 
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. 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.
 
The 50th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, March 8, 2027, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas. 
 
About Davey O'Brien:
Robert David "Davey" O'Brien was a Dallas, Texas native who competed for TCU from 1935-1938. In 1938, he  threw for 1,457 passing yards – a Southwest Conference record that stood for 10 years. He had only four interceptions in 194 passing attempts, and set a NCAA record for most rushing and passing plays in a single season. That year O'Brien led the Horned Frogs to their first undefeated season, as they outscored their opponents by a 269-60 margin and held nine of their 10 regular-season opponents to seven points or less, including three shutouts. With O'Brien at the helm of their offense, the Horned Frogs' season culminated with a National Championship title following a 15-7 victory over Carnegie Tech in the Sugar Bowl.
 
About National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA):
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football's most prestigious awards. The NCFAA's 25 awards have honored nearly 1,000 recipients since 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.
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