O'Brien Quarterback Award Marquee Match-up for Week Seven

FORT WORTH, Texas (October 8, 2008) - The 2008 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award® (The O'Brien) Match-ups for week seven feature six O'Brien Watch List candidates. The O'Brien continues to highlight weekly match-ups featuring O'Brien candidates as they compete for the prestigious award honoring the nation's best quarterback in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Fans can show their support by visiting www.VoteOBrien.org and casting their vote. The top three candidates in the Fan Vote will automatically be added to the Semifinalist List announced October 27.

Marquee Match-up: Texas vs. Oklahoma
Saturday, October 11 at 11 a.m. (CST) on ABC
Saturday more than 90,000 fans plus ESPN's College GameDay will fill the Cotton Bowl Stadium to watch Colt McCoy and the Texas Longhorns take on Sam Bradford and the Oklahoma Sooners. Both quarterbacks will put their undefeated records (5-0) on the line as they enter the 2008 Red River Rivalry. McCoy, a junior, has accounted for 20 touchdowns this season. In addition to completing more than 79 percent of his passes, McCoy leads the Longhorns in rushing yards with 317. The 5th ranked Longhorns enter this game after defeating the Colorado Buffaloes on the road last week.

"We'll have everybody in America talking about the game next week, and that's what we all want," said Texas Head Coach Mack Brown after last Saturday's game. "It's fun. It's what Texas and OU have wanted forever, and we have got it back."

Bradford, a sophomore, has also accounted for 20 touchdowns this season. With 1,665 passing yards, his quarterback rating of 204.97 ranks second in the nation. The No. 1 Sooners will fight to keep their top ranking in this much-anticipated game.

"It's the same with a lot of the big rivalries; it's the tradition and the history," said Oklahoma Head Coach Bob Stoops during his weekly press conference. "It's more than just bragging rights now. It's an inside track, or one up on the other guy, on your way to a championship, hopefully."

These two quarterbacks have both been highlighted previously as O'Brien Quarterbacks of the Week due to their high level of performance. Both lead powerful offensive units with hopes of a Big 12 Title and will duel for conference supremacy Saturday in Dallas, Texas.

Head-to-Head O'Brien Match-ups (based on start times)
These O'Brien Watch List quarterbacks will clash in this week's games.

* Clemson (Cullen Harper) at Wake Forest (Riley Skinner)
Thursday, October 9 at 6:30 p.m. (CST) on ESPN

* Arizona State (Rudy Carpenter*) at USC (Mark Sanchez*)
Saturday, October 11 at 2:30 p.m. (CST) on ABC

* Pending Injury

About The O'Brien Fan Vote
Fans can now register and vote for The O'Brien Fan Vote online at www.VoteOBrien.org to show their support for their favorite college quarterback. Fans will be able to choose from any of the 119 FBS quarterbacks beginning on Tuesday, September 2, leaving room for the possibility of a quarterback who is not on the Watch List to win the award. The top three quarterbacks who garner the most votes will be added to The O'Brien Semifinalist List, and the Fan Vote will then count as 5% in determining the Finalists and Winner. The 2008 Winner will be announced during The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show airing December 11 on ESPN. The recipient will be honored February 16, 2009, at the 32nd Annual Davey O'Brien Awards Dinner at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.