FORT WORTH, Texas — The Davey O’Brien Foundation today announced BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier has been named to the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2025. Each member of the elite class is now officially a candidate for the 2025 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award.
The Davey O’Brien Award is presented annually to the nation’s best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The 2025 Davey O’Brien QB Class features 17 seniors, 11 juniors, five sophomores and three freshmen.
Bachmeier, a 6-2, 230-pound true freshman from Murrieta, California, has started every game for No. 10 BYU, leading the Cougars to a perfect 8-0 start. Through eight games, he has completed 126-of-201 passes (62.7 percent) for 1,693 yards and 11 touchdowns. Bachmeier is averaging 211.6 yards per game passing, with an efficiency rating of 148.5.
In addition, Bachmeier is second on the team in rushing, with 94 carries for 408 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and nine additional touchdowns. Bachmeier has six games this season with both a passing touchdown and rushing score, the most in the FBS. Against Portland State on Aug. 30, he became the first true freshman quarterback ever to start a season opener for BYU.
In addition to Bachmeier, four other Big 12 Conference quarterbacks were named to the Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2025, including Josh Hoover (TCU), Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati) and Conner Weigman (Houston).
Semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award will be named on Nov. 12. The foundation will then announce three finalists on Nov. 25. The winner of the 2025 Davey O'Brien Award will be unveiled live on ESPN on Dec. 12, during The Home Depot College Football Awards Show. Fan voting on social media will earn players bonus selection committee votes during the semifinalist and finalist voting periods.
The 49th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Feb. 16, 2026, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas. For additional information visit daveyobrienaward.com.
The Davey O’Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award was first presented in 1981 to BYU Hall of Fame quarterback Jim McMahon. Since the inaugural award, two other BYU signal callers have won the prestigious award, including Steve Young (1983) and Ty Detmer (1990 and 1991). Only Oklahoma, with five, has won more Davey O'Brien Awards than BYU. Detmer is one of only four players to have won the award more than once.