Every year the Manning Award is given to the best quarterback in the nation. Unlike other awards given out to quarterbacks, the Manning Award is the only one that takes into account bowl games and the Playoff. The Heisman Trophy and Unitas Award is based solely on the regular season.
The watch list gets updated throughout the season as quarterbacks who get hurt or underperform will be replaced with quarterbacks giving surprise production. Although, being named to the preseason watch list has to give Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard at least a little confidence.
He is one of 30 quarterbacks on the watch list at the start of the season, and one of four Big Ten quarterbacks.