The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^® (The O’Brien) honors the nation’s best college quarterback and is the nation's oldest and most prestigious quarterback award. The O’Brien honors candidates who exemplify Davey O’Brien’s enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics.

Prior to the start of the season, The O’Brien Watch List is determined by a subset of The O'Brien National Selection Committee. This same subset will vote weekly for the O’Brien Quarterback of the Week, which is featured in weekly press releases from the beginning of the season until the Semifinalists are announced. The Selection Committee narrows the field of candidates to 16 Semifinalists in October, three Finalists in November and selects the Winner in December.

In the spirit of Davey O'Brien and his great legacy, the Selection Committee, which is comprised of journalists, broadcasters, commentators and former winners, is asked to evaluate each candidate on the following criteria:

            Quarterback skills/athletic ability

Academics 

            Reputation as a team player                                          

Character

            Leadership                                                                               

Sportsmanship

The 2010 season marks the fourth time in The O'Brien's history that fans have had a say in the voting. The Fan Vote counts as 5% during each round of the voting process, and it is combined with the results from the Selection Committee.

The Winner of The O’Brien receives a replica bronze of the original O’Brien Trophy and his name is engraved on the base of the original, which is housed in The O’Brien Hall of Fame. The O’Brien also carries with it a $10,000 grant to the scholarship program of the university in which the Winner is enrolled. Since 1977 the Davey O’Brien Foundation has awarded more than $290,000 to the various Winners’ universities.