Cougars’ Luke Falk, Huskies’ Jake Browning up for Manning Award

The competition for the top quarterback in the state – and country – might not fully be decided until after the bowl season is done.

Washington State’s Luke Falk and Washington’s Jake Browning were named among the top 10 finalists for the Manning Award, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Wednesday. 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 performances into consideration in its balloting.

Falk finished the regular season third in the NCAA in completion percentage (71.0), passing (350.3), passing yards (4,204), and tied for fourth passing touchdowns (37).  Browning completed 65 percent of his passes for 3,162 yards and a school-record 40 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. On Tuesday, Browning was named the Pac-12 offensive player of the year and to the conference’s first team, while Falk was a second-team pick.

Falk is also a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, while Browning is up for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. Neither are finalists for the Maxwell or Davey O’Brien awards.

Here are the finalists for this year’s Manning Award:

• J.T. Barrett, Sr., Ohio State
• Jake Browning, So., Washington
• Sam Darnold, Fr., USC
• Luke Falk, Sr., Washington State
• Jalen Hurts, Fr., Alabama
• Lamar Jackson, So., Louisville
• Patrick Mahomes II, Jr., Texas Tech
• Baker Mayfield, Sr., Oklahoma
• Zach Terrell, Sr., Western Michigan
• Deshaun Watson, Jr., Clemson