O’Brien candidates go head-to-head in this week’s games

FORT WORTH, Texas (Sept. 10, 2009) – The 2009 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^® (The O’Brien) Marquee Match-up for week two features two O’Brien Watch List candidates. Throughout the season, The O’Brien will highlight weekly match-ups which spotlight O’Brien candidates as they vie for the prestigious award honoring the nation’s best quarterback in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Marquee Match-up: Houston at Oklahoma State
Saturday, Sept. 12 at 2:30 p.m. (CST) on FSN
Case Keenum leads the University of Houston Cougars to Stillwater, Okla. as they square off against 2008 O’Brien Semifinalist quarterback Zac Robinson and the No. 5 Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. This Conference USA/ Big 12 match-up will be a showdown of passing games as the two continue their campaign for The O’Brien and hope to keep their winning seasons alive.

Keenum heads into Saturday’s game after his season opening victory last week where, in a little more than two quarters, the junior quarterback passed for 359 yards and four passing touchdowns leading to the Cougars’ defeat of Northwestern, 55-7. Robinson, who will play in front of his home crowd Saturday, looks to improve passing numbers after a hard-fought battle against SEC’s Georgia where he passed for 135 yards and two passing touchdowns.

Other Notable Games (based on start times)

• Kansas (Todd Reesing) at UTEP (Trevor Vittatoe)
  Saturday, Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. (CST)
• USC (Matt Barkley) at Ohio State (Terrelle Pryor)
  Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. (CST) on ESPN

About The O’Brien Fan Vote
Fans can now register and vote for any of the 120 FBS quarterbacks online at www.VoteOBrien.org. The Fan Vote counts as 5% during each round of the voting process. The Fan Vote will be combined with the results from the Selection Committee, an elite group of journalists, commentators, broadcasters and former Winners. The 2009 O’Brien Winner will be announced on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show airing Dec. 10 on ESPN and will be honored at the 33^rd Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner held at The Fort Worth Club on Feb. 15, 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas.

About The Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^®
The O’Brien honors the nation’s best college quarterback of the year and inspires student-athletes to triumph both on and off the field. By recognizing and honoring athletes who excel in both sports and academics while exhibiting strong character and leadership, The O’Brien aims to help instill a lifelong moral fiber in each candidate. The O’Brien is overseen by the Davey O’Brien Foundation, which was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The Foundation has given away more than $770,000 in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit www.DaveyOBrien.org.

American Airlines is the official travel partner of The O’Brien. 

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