Jan. 22, 2008

• Read more at BCEagles.com

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -Boston College's Matt Ryan won the Manning Award, given to college football's top quarterback.

The Manning Award was created by the Sugar Bowl to honor the accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that considers the candidates' bowl performance. The award is voted on by a panel of local and national media, as well as each of the Mannings. Florida's Tim Tebow finished second.

Ryan completed 59 percent of his passes for 4,507 yards with 31 touchdowns. He led the Eagles to an 11-3 record.

Ryan is the fourth winner of the award, joining USC's Matt Leinart (2004), Texas' Vince Young (2005) and LSU's JaMarcus Russell (2006).

"In an exceptional season for quarterbacks, Matt Ryan's performance rose above our most-talented class of finalists ever to win this year's award," Archie Manning said.

Ryan beat out Tebow and eight other finalists for this year's award: Erik Ainge (Tennessee), Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Colt Brennan (Hawaii), Chase Daniel (Missouri), Dennis Dixon (Oregon), Graham Harrell (Texas Tech), Patrick White (West Virginia) and Andre Woodson (Kentucky).