SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Junior quarterback CJ Carr was named to the 2026 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award Preseason Watch List. The award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback. 2026 marks the 50th anniversary season of the award.
Notre Dame players have been finalists for the award on five occasions: Tony Rice in 1988 and 1989; Rick Mirer in 1992; and Brady Quinn in 2005 and 2006.
Among all returning Power 4 quarterbacks, Carr was first in yards per completion (14.06) and ranked second in yards per attempt (9.35) and touchdown rate (8.2%) last year. He was named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List this month.
The Saline, Michigan native threw a touchdown pass in all 12 games in 2025, the longest streak by an Irish quarterback since 2014. Carr totaled nine games with multiple touchdown throws a season ago while also rushing for three.
Carr, one of 27 quarterbacks named to the list, started all 12 games last year, finishing the season with 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns. His 24 touchdowns were tied for the most passing touchdowns in a player’s first 12 career starts at Notre Dame since 1966. With Carr behind center last season, Notre Dame ranked second in the country in scoring offense (41.8).
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.
The 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.