It’s College Football season! Week 0 kicks off this weekend and the long wait without football is over. As we finish preparing for the season to start, we’re scrambling to get all of our futures bets in, and next up on that list, who will be the best quarterback in the game in 2026? That leads us to the Davey O’Brien Trophy odds. Let’s dive in and take a look at the Davey O’Brien Trophy odds and best bets for the 2026 College Football season.
Unlike some awards, this one isn’t just given to who is the best quarterback on the field on Saturdays. The honor is given to a quarterback who exemplifies Davey O’Brien’s enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics. The award has been given to many of the most prominent names in college football over the last 50 years, many of whom have gone on to illustrious NFL careers. Indiana’s Fernando Mendonza, the Heisman Trophy winning, National Champion, and number one overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft won the award last season.
Odds to Win Davey O’Brien Award
CJ Carr +500
Arch Manning +550
Dante Moore +800
Darian Mensah +800
Julian Sayin +850
Josh Hoover +900
Trinidad Chambliss +900
Gunner Stockton +1200
Sam Leavitt +1400
Jayden Maiava +1800
John Mateer +1800
Marcel Reed +2000
Byrum Brown +2500
Bear Bachmeier +3000
Demond Williams Jr. +3000
Rocco Becht +4000
Drew Mestemaker +4500
Conner Weigman +5000
Devon Dampier +5000
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele +5500
Kevin Jennings +5500
Noah Fifita +7000
CJ Bailey +8000
Alonza Barnett III +15000
Brad Jackson +15000
Broc Lowry +15000
Carlos Del Río-Wilson +15000
Micah Alejado +15000
Nick Minicucci +15000
Owen McCown +15000
Davey O’Brien Trophy Best Bets
Julian Sayin – Ohio State (+850)
Sayin has already proven he’s a legit contender for this award, having been named a Davey O’Brien finalist in 2025. On the field last year, Sayin threw for 3,610 yards, 32 TDs and only 8 INTs, while completing 77.0% of his passes—the best percentage in the country. He also finished second nationally in passer rating. He is set up for a possible National Championship run this season. Ohio State has one of the best teams in the country. He’s also throwing the ball to Jeremiah Smith, who has been described as a “generational talent.”
As far as the rest of the requirements go, Sayin was named to the Academic All-Big Ten. He was also an OSU Scholar-Athlete last season. He’s a veteran leader on this football team, he as a strong reputation already set as a good character player who exemplifies sportsmanship. You don’t have to worry about him convincing the committee he qualifies, they already know it.
Trinidad Chambliss – Ole Miss (+900)
Another player who made the finalist list last season, and is on the watch list for this season is Ole Miss’s Trinidad Chambliss. On the field, Chambliss is another exemplary player. He’s got the story of a little known Michigan kid who goes to Division II Ferris State and wins a National Championship in 2024, blowing up the stat sheet. He finds his way to Ole Miss as a backup quarterback, but gets his opportunity after the starter gets hurt. He takes that opportunity and runs with it. In 2025 Chambliss had 3,937 passing yards , 22 passing TDs , only three interceptions, 527 rushing yards , and eight rushing TDs.
The guy transferred from Division II, walked into the SEC, won the starting job, led Ole Miss to its best regular season in program history, made the CFP, won SEC Newcomer of the Year and became a national award semifinalist. On top of all that, he made the Dean’s Honor Roll at Ole Miss and was an SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll. Chambliss graduated in May from the university. His story sells itself if he can back up the play on the field in 2026.
Marcell Reed – Texas A&M (+2000)
Let’s make it a clean sweep of quarterbacks who were finalists last year. It wasn’t my intention to go that route. But, that’s how the cards stacked and these are the three guys I like the most at their odds. Reed leads an explosive offensive for the Aggies and threw for 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns last season. He’s also dangerous on the ground running for almost 500 yards and six more touchdowns. Reed averaged 8.4 yards per attempt last season, but 16 yards per completion against ranked teams. He led the team to an 11-0 start and a CFP berth.
Reed is A team captain, A multi-year starter, A returning CFP quarterback, A former Davey O’Brien finalist, A proven SEC quarterback, and A dual-threat playmaker. He checks all the boxes when it comes to leadership, character, academics, and leadership.
