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The Davey O'Brien Award is presented to the best quarterback in the nation judged by the Davey O'Brien Foundation.
| Year | Winner | School |
| 2006 | Troy Smith | Ohio State |
| 2005 | Vince Young | Texas |
| 2004 | Jason White | Oklahoma |
| 2003 | Jason White | Oklahoma |
| 2002 | Brad Banks | Iowa |
| 2001 | Eric Crouch | Nebraska |
| 2000 | Chris Weinke | Florida State |
| 1999 | Joe Hamilton | Georgia Tech |
| 1998 | Michael Bishop | Kansas State |
| 1997 | Peyton Manning | Tennessee |
| 1996 | Danny Weurffel | Florida |
| 1995 | Danny Wuerffel | Florida |
| 1994 | Kerry Collins | Penn State |
| 1993 | Charlie Ward | Florida State |
| 1992 | Gino Torretta | Miami, Fla. |
| 1991 | Ty Detmer | BYU |
| 1990 | Ty Detmer | BYU |
| 1989 | Andre Ware | Houston |
| 1988 | Troy Aikman | UCLA |
| 1987 | Don McPherson | Syracuse |
| 1986 | Vinny Testaverde | Miami, Fla. |
| 1985 | Chuck Long | Iowa |
| 1984 | Doug Flutie | Boston College |
| 1983 | Steve Young | BYU |
| 1982 | Todd Blackledge | Penn State |
| 1981 | Jim McMahon | BYU |
