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Illinois' Luke Altmyer Makes O'Brien Award Watch List: What Are His Chances?

The Illini will first have to replicate last year's magic, but even in that best case, national awards may be out of Altmyer's reach
Jared Shlensky|
Dec 31, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) gets ready to throw the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first quarter at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
Dec 31, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) gets ready to throw the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first quarter at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images | Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images

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Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer was one of the more underrated quarterbacks in college football last year, but on Thursday the fifth-year senior received a measure of recognition when he was one of 36 quarterbacks from across the country named to the Davey O'Brien Award watch list.

Altmyer is the first Illinois quarterback named to the preseason list since Nathan Scheelhaase in 2012. He was also named to the Walter Camp Player of the Year and Maxwell Award watch lists earlier in recent weeks.

As a junior last year, Altmyer threw for 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns while completing 60.8 percent of his pass attempts. And the dual-threat signal caller got it done on the ground, too, rushing for 217 yards and four additional scores. Arguably most impressive of all, Altmyer has the most career game-winning drives in the final minute of regulation or overtime for any active college football quarterback, with five.

If the Illini have any chance of replicating last year's magic – the program's first 10-win season since 2001 – they're going to need Altmyer to be even better in 2025. Given that he lost his top target from a year ago in receiver Pat Bryant, Altmyer is going to need to find some hands he trusts early in the season.

What are Luke Altmyer's chances to win the O'Brien Award?

Although Altmyer is one of the more productive and savvier quarterbacks in college football, he would seem to have the slimmest of chances to win the O'Brien. There are plenty of other quarterbacks – Arch Manning, Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar, etc. – who will put up bigger numbers on higher-profile teams.

What would improve his chances is if Illinois were to qualify for the College Football Playoff. But even that might not even be enough to put him over the top. He operates as a situational playmaker for the Illini, airing it out – and often connecting – only when his team really needs it, rather than as a matter of course.

Altmyer deserves whatever preseason hype he's finally getting, but national awards such as the O'Brien or Heisman – and even Big Ten Player of the Year – are likely going to be out of his reach. Expect him to make plays when he has to and put the Illini in position to win another 10 games again this year.

More From Illinois on Sports Illustrated:

The Big Question: Will Illinois Football Have a Top-15 Defense in 2025?

Illinois Football's Week 4 Matchup at Indiana Sells Out: What it Means

Illinois Football Seeking to Flip Wisconsin Class of 2026 Commit Jack Janda

ESPN Releases Top 32 College Football Playoff Contenders: Is Illinois on the List?

USA Today Coaches Poll: Where Illinois Football and 2025 Opponents Rank

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Jared Shlensky
JARED SHLENSKY

Jared Shlensky is a contributing writer for On SI and a freelance play-by-play broadcaster. Jared was previously a sports betting writer for Yardbarker, an On-Air YouTube Personality for the Sports Geek and a minor league play-by-play broadcaster.

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