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

FORT WORTH, Texas (Sept. 23, 2009) – The 2009 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award^® (The O’Brien) Marquee Match-up for week four 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: Texas Tech at Houston
Saturday, Sept. 26 at 8:15 p.m. (CST) on ESPN 2
The Texas Tech Red Raiders, led by Taylor Potts, will head to Houston for a shootout against the No. 17 Houston Cougars with Case Keenum at the helm. The primetime match-up of two former Southwest Conference rivals will be the first time they have met in 14 years and is expected to draw the largest crowd in the history of Robertson Stadium.

Houston and Texas Tech have two of the strongest passing attacks in the nation this season. The Cougars, coming off a bye-week, will fight to keep the momentum going after they upset Oklahoma State, 45-35, where Keenum completed 32 of 46 for 366 yards and three touchdowns.  Houston, ranked fifth in total offense, will have to put the pressure on the Red Raiders’ spread offense and signal-caller Potts who leads the NCAA with 1,281 passing yards. The Red Raiders head into Saturday’s sold out game after suffering their first loss of the season to No. 2 Texas where Potts threw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns.

Other Notable Games (based on start times)

• Arkansas (Ryan Mallett) at Alabama (Greg McElroy)
  Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2:30 p.m. (CST)
• California (Kevin Riley) at Oregon (Jeremiah Masoli)
  Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2:30 p.m. (CST) on ABC
• Illinois (Juice Williams) at Ohio State (Terrelle Pryor)
  Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2:30 p.m. (CST) on ABC
• Miami (Jacory Harris) at Virginia Tech (Tyrod Taylor)
  Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2:30 p.m. (CST) on ABC

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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