University of Connecticut Athletics
QB Joe Fagnano Named a Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalist
11/12/2025 2:00:00 PM | Football
STORRS, CT – UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano (Williamsport, PA) was named a 2025 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award semifinalist on Wednesday as announced by the Davey O'Brien Foundation.
This year's 20-player list features eight seniors, five juniors, four sophomores and three freshmen. Only two of the quarterbacks have previously been semifinalists for the award and none have been past finalists. Navy's Blake Horvath and Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia return to the list after both were semifinalists a year ago. The 20 quarterbacks have helped guide their respective teams to a combined record of 154-31 (.832). With five apiece, the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten Conference share honors for the most semifinalists.
Fagnano ranks among the top-quarterbacks in the country this season and is among the national leaders in almost every statistical category. He ranks second in passing yards (2,840), third in passing TDs (25), seventh in points responsible for (164), 10th in passing yards per game (284.0), 11th in completions per game (23.6) and passing efficiency (162.4) and 19th in completion percentage (.688).
His 316 yards and three touchdown performance against Duke last Saturday marked his fifth 300-yard passing game this season. In the last five games, Fagnano has thrown for at least 250 yards and three or more touchdowns with no interceptions. He joins only Joe Burrow at LSU in accomplishing that feat in the last decade.
Fagnano has put up big numbers this season and done it playing mistake free football. He has completed 237 of 344 passes this season without an interception. Fagnano has thrown for more yards (2,840) and had more pass attempts (344) than any quarterback in the country without an interception. He is the only QB with over 300 pass attempts without an interception this season. He enters Saturday's game against Air Force with 10-straight games without an interception, dating back to last season. He has had 376 pass attempts and thrown 29 touchdowns since his last interception, which came at UMass in the regular season finale last season.
His 2025 numbers have several UConn season records within his sights. His 236 completions this season ranks fourth, and is 52 completions away from the record. His 2,840 yards ranks third and is 645 yards away from the UConn record. And his 25 touchdowns also ranks third, eight away from the UConn mark.
Fagnano is joined on this year's semifinalist list by Luke Altmyer (Illinois), Bear Bachmeier (BYU), Byrum Brown (USF), CJ Carr (Notre Dame), Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss), Blake Horvath (Navy), Haynes King (Georgia Tech), Jayden Maiava (USC), Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Darian Mensah (Duke), Drew Mestemaker (North Texas), Dante Moore (Oregon), Chandler Morris (Virginia), Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt), Marcel Reed (Texas A&M), Julian Sayin (Ohio State), Ty Simpson (Alabama), Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati), and Gunner Stockton (Georgia).
The next step in the process will be to select the award's three finalists, who will again be chosen based on voting from the Davey O'Brien National Selection Committee as well as bonus ballots awarded from the second round of the Davey O'Brien Fan Vote.
For the sixth straight year, fan voting on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) will earn players bonus selection committee votes. Second-round fan voting will begin immediately following the semifinalist announcement. To vote, fans must like the official graphic from the @daveyobrien social media account that highlights their favorite quarterback. The second round will close Friday, Nov. 21, at 11:59 p.m. (CT).
The Davey O'Brien Foundation will announce the three finalists Tuesday, Nov. 25. The 2025 Davey O'Brien Award winner will be unveiled live on ESPN on Friday, Dec. 12, during The Home Depot College Football Awards.
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. The 49th Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner honoring the winner will be held Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas. For more information, visit www.daveyobrienaward.com.
The Davey O'Brien Foundation was created in 1977, and the National Quarterback Award was first issued in 1981. Over its time, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has given away more than $1.4 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life.
In 1938, O'Brien, who was a star quarterback for TCU, became the first player ever to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award in the same year. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.
