Noah Fifita One of 30 Quarterbacks Named to Davey O'Brien Award Watch List
08/20/2026 | Football
TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona Football quarterback Noah Fifita has been selected as one of 30 quarterbacks named to the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award watch list, the Davey O'Brien Foundation announced on Thursday morning.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award.
Fifita, the nation's active career leader with 73 touchdown passes, enters the 2026 season as one of the top signal callers in the nation. Last year, while leading the Wildcats to nine wins, he threw for 3,228 yards and 29 touchdowns on a 275-of-429 passing effort. His performance last year landed him on the All-Big 12 First Team, making him the first Arizona quarterback to earn first team all-conference honors in 50 years.
Through his four-year career at Arizona, Fifita has posted 9,183 yards and 73 touchdowns through the air while adding 206 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. He has steered the Wildcats to 20 wins as a starter and is the first quarterback in program history to be the primary starting QB for two nine-win teams.
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.
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.
Fifita and the Wildcats open the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Casino Del Sol Stadium in Tucson as they host Northern Arizona.
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award.
Fifita, the nation's active career leader with 73 touchdown passes, enters the 2026 season as one of the top signal callers in the nation. Last year, while leading the Wildcats to nine wins, he threw for 3,228 yards and 29 touchdowns on a 275-of-429 passing effort. His performance last year landed him on the All-Big 12 First Team, making him the first Arizona quarterback to earn first team all-conference honors in 50 years.
Through his four-year career at Arizona, Fifita has posted 9,183 yards and 73 touchdowns through the air while adding 206 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. He has steered the Wildcats to 20 wins as a starter and is the first quarterback in program history to be the primary starting QB for two nine-win teams.
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.
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.
Fifita and the Wildcats open the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Casino Del Sol Stadium in Tucson as they host Northern Arizona.
Tickets
Season tickets, single-game tickets, mini plans, and more options for the 2026 Arizona Football season are available for purchase now. Fans who don't want to miss a minute of the action at Casino Del Sol Stadium this fall can secure their tickets by clicking HERE or by calling 520-621-CATS (2287) today.
Players Mentioned
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