Members of The O'Brien National Selection Committee are asked to vote for a NCAA Division
I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) quarterback who embodies the attributes of football legend
Davey O'Brien. As such, they are asked to evaluate each candidate on the criteria of his
quarterback skills and athletic ability, academics, character, reputation as a team player,
leadership and sportsmanship.
The 2011 season marks the fifth year in The O'Brien's history that fans have participated in the
voting. The fan vote counts as 5% during each round of voting, and it is combined with the
results from the Selection Committee. Fans are invited to cast their vote for the nation's best
quarterback as often as once daily at www.VoteOBrien.org; Fan Vote totals are cleared after
each voting round.
Watch List
Watch List candidates are determined by a subset of the Selection Committee and approved by
the Executive Committee. This same subset will vote weekly for the O'Brien Quarterback of the
Week to be featured in weekly press releases from the beginning of the season until the
Semifinalists are announced.
The O'Brien Watch List will be released July 15.
Semifinalists
The ballot will consist of all 120 FBS quarterbacks. The Selection Committee will be asked to
select their top 16 candidates from the ballot. Ballots will be issued the week of Oct. 17 and are
due Oct. 23.
Beginning Sept. 6 fans will have all 120 FBS starting quarterbacks to choose from until the
voting closes at noon CT on Oct. 23. The fan vote will count for 5% of the overall Semifinalist
vote.
Sixteen Semifinalists will be announced Oct. 24.
Finalists
The ballot is comprised of the 16 Semifinalists. The Selection Committee will be asked to select
their top three choices. Ballots will be issued the week of Nov. 14 and are due Nov. 20.
Beginning Oct. 24 fans will have the Semifinalists to choose from until the voting closes at noon
CT on Nov. 20. The fan vote will count for 5% of the overall Finalist vote.
The three candidates with the most votes will be submitted to the Davey O'Brien Executive
Committee for approval. Finalists will be announced on Nov. 21.
Winner
The ballot is comprised of the three Finalists. The Selection Committee will be asked to rank the
finalists. Ballots will be issued the week of Nov. 28 and are due Dec. 4.
Beginning Nov. 21 fans will have the Finalists to choose from until the voting closes at noon CT
on Dec. 4. The fan vote will count for 5% of the overall Winner vote.
The 2011 Davey O'Brien Winner will be announced on The Home Depot College Football
Awards on ESPN Dec. 8 and will be honored at the 35th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner
on Feb. 20, 2012 in Fort Worth, Texas.
