University of North Texas Athletics
Mestemaker Named Manning Award Finalist
12/4/2025 11:00:00 AM | Football
NEW ORLEANS — Redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Mestemaker added another accolade to his list Thursday when he was announced as one of 10 finalists for the Manning Award, presented to the best quarterback in college football.
A redshirt freshman out of Austin, Texas, Mestemaker has completed 271 of 382 passes for 3,835 yards and 29 touchdowns to just four interceptions on the year. He has also rushed for five touchdowns on the ground. He set an American Conference record in a win over Charlotte by throwing for 608 yards.
Mestemaker leads the country in passing yards, is tied for fourth in passing touchdowns, tied for fourth in points responsible for and is fourth in total offense. He also has the most touchdown passes, passing yards and completions among all freshman QBs in FBS.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that takes the candidates' bowl and playoff performances into consideration in its balloting.
In its first 21 years, the Manning Award has recognized the top names in college football. It has honored quarterbacks from 15 different schools and from four different conferences. The Southeastern Conference (Jayden Daniels, Stetson Bennett, Bryce Young, Joe Burrow, Mac Jones, Johnny Manziel, Cam Newton, JaMarcus Russell and Tim Tebow) leads the way with nine Manning Award honorees, while the Big 12 Conference (Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, Vince Young, Colt McCoy and Robert Griffin III) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (Cam Ward, Deshaun Watson twice, Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston) have each had five winners.
All the Manning Award winners follow in the footsteps of the Mannings themselves. In college, Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning combined for over 25,000 passing yards and 201 touchdowns while playing in 10 bowl games and earning four bowl MVP awards. Archie was the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, while both Peyton and Eli were selected No. 1 overall.
Mestemaker and the Mean Green, who entered the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time on Tuesday night at No. 24, will take on No. 20 Tulane on Friday at 7 p.m., in New Orleans, for the American Conference championship and a spot in the CFP.
A redshirt freshman out of Austin, Texas, Mestemaker has completed 271 of 382 passes for 3,835 yards and 29 touchdowns to just four interceptions on the year. He has also rushed for five touchdowns on the ground. He set an American Conference record in a win over Charlotte by throwing for 608 yards.
Mestemaker leads the country in passing yards, is tied for fourth in passing touchdowns, tied for fourth in points responsible for and is fourth in total offense. He also has the most touchdown passes, passing yards and completions among all freshman QBs in FBS.
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that takes the candidates' bowl and playoff performances into consideration in its balloting.
In its first 21 years, the Manning Award has recognized the top names in college football. It has honored quarterbacks from 15 different schools and from four different conferences. The Southeastern Conference (Jayden Daniels, Stetson Bennett, Bryce Young, Joe Burrow, Mac Jones, Johnny Manziel, Cam Newton, JaMarcus Russell and Tim Tebow) leads the way with nine Manning Award honorees, while the Big 12 Conference (Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, Vince Young, Colt McCoy and Robert Griffin III) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (Cam Ward, Deshaun Watson twice, Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston) have each had five winners.
All the Manning Award winners follow in the footsteps of the Mannings themselves. In college, Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning combined for over 25,000 passing yards and 201 touchdowns while playing in 10 bowl games and earning four bowl MVP awards. Archie was the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, while both Peyton and Eli were selected No. 1 overall.
Mestemaker and the Mean Green, who entered the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time on Tuesday night at No. 24, will take on No. 20 Tulane on Friday at 7 p.m., in New Orleans, for the American Conference championship and a spot in the CFP.
Players Mentioned
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