Projecting how a college quarterback will pan out often proves a fool’s errand, despite how many people have dedicated their livelihoods to trying.
But that doesn’t mean they’ll stop trying, because sometimes, you end up with a Fernando Mendoza, the one-time two-star recruit and Cal transfer who vaulted Indiana to a national championship and became the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.
So as the 2026 season approaches, we’re back to rank every projected starting quarterback in major college football in the second annual edition of The Athletic’s College QB Tiers.
For those unfamiliar, the inspiration for this comes from Mike Sando’s NFL QB Tiers. Our goal is to rank all 138 FBS starting quarterbacks to identify who experts believe are the best. This is not an NFL Draft ranking; we’re ranking them as college quarterbacks.
College QB Tiers: Trinidad Chambliss is No. 1
Antonio Morales
Our expert panel consisted of roughly three dozen coaches, general managers, personnel directors, scouts and front office staffers across the country, representing every conference. These people, who spoke on condition of anonymity so they could offer their honest opinions, gave us their thoughts on how quarterbacks in their league compared, what they think of players they’ve competed against and who the very best in the country are, regardless of conference. We relied heavily on this feedback to form the list. There was no formal point system or vote tally. We simply leaned on these experts for their insight.
Just like last year, we categorized the 138 quarterbacks into tiers. There is no fixed number for each tier; they are divided where separations felt natural based on feedback.
Although this isn’t a draft projection, we included draft analysis for some 2027-eligible prospects, courtesy of Dane Brugler and Nick Baumgardner.
Let the debate begin.
Tier Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 4 Tier 5 Tier 6 Tier 7
Conference ACC American Big 12 Big Ten CUSA Independent MAC Mountain West Pac-12 SEC Sun Belt
Status New starter Returning starter Transfer
Loading
Try changing or resetting your filters to see more.
Tier 1
Chambliss was largely unknown at this time a year ago, a D-II transfer slated to back up Austin Simmons. Instead, he became one of college football’s best, leading the Rebels to the College Football Playoff semifinals. He appealed for and won an extra year and heads into 2026 with Heisman Trophy hype.
“Trinidad is probably the best one (in the SEC),” an SEC assistant said. “I think he’s a baller.”
Said a Power 4 OC, “He can beat you in a multitude of different ways.”
He’s not considered an elite NFL prospect in large part because of his size, which is why he’s still in the SEC. With Lane Kiffin gone, he’ll have a new head coach, play caller and several new receivers, which has opponents intrigued. But nobody we spoke with has doubts about Chambliss doing his part.
“He’s a winner. He’s a gamer,” an SEC general manager said. “Should have a ton of confidence and has a ton of experience.”
All due respect to the mighty Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, but Chambliss’ near-seamless jump from Ferris State to the SEC was something to behold. An electric mover with the ball in his hands, Chambliss was able to use his accuracy and decision making to overcome a lack of size. If Dillon Gabriel can be a third-round pick, Chambliss has it in him, too. — Nick Baumgardner
Tier 1
SEC
Returning starter
Moore likely would’ve been a first-round pick had he declared for the NFL Draft. But he’s back, and there was no argument about him being the top quarterback in the Big Ten and one of the best in college football.
“I love Dante,” an SEC assistant coach said. “I think Dante would’ve been the first pick in the draft this year. I love the way he throws. I love how calm he is. I love his demeanor.” A Power 4 head coach said, “He’s phenomenal. Super electric, not only with his arm but with his feet.”
Moore was thrown into the fire as a true freshman at UCLA in 2023 but played very well at Oregon last year after backing up Dillon Gabriel for a season.
He’ll be playing for a new offensive coordinator (Drew Mehringer) and behind a rebuilt offensive line, but Moore and the Ducks should be in the mix for a national title this season.
Moore’s poise and maturity have stood out for years, including in his decision to sit and learn as a sophomore behind former Oregon starter Dillon Gabriel. Moore’s calm under pressure last year gave off Jayden Daniels vibes. A very good athlete who can make plays out of the pocket, Moore showed improved footwork and pocket awareness. He still needs more time on task as a processor, and returning to school — despite what would have been a lofty 2026 draft grade — felt like a wise decision. He’s a possible No. 1 pick in ’27. — Baumgardner
Tier 1
Big Ten
Returning starter
There’s a ton of excitement about Carr in the coaching and personnel community after an exceptional first season as a starter.
“For sure top-three (quarterback),” a P4 general manager said. “Poised, makes all the throws, can layer the ball, elite processor, captain, kids love him, ultra competitor. He’s unbelievable. He’s a top-10 pick.”
Carr has all the tools, and he’ll be asked to shoulder more of the load this season after Notre Dame lost its two first-round running backs, Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, and four of its top five pass catchers. He has the talent, poise and experience to handle it.
“I think he is a really high-level NFL prospect,” a Power 4 offensive coordinator said. “I like his game a lot. He makes some big-time throws. I think he got to where he was pretty confident playing at a high level, so I think he’ll take the next step and really be able to be a guy for them.”
CJ and his younger brother, Michigan freshman Tommy Carr, own one of college football’s best bloodlines: One grandfather is Hall of Fame coach Lloyd Carr; the other is Hall of Fame defensive back Tom Curtis. CJ Carr also owns top-end arm talent (his father, Jason, shared a QB room at Michigan with Tom Brady). CJ still needs more polish in several areas, including footwork consistency and risk-reward decision-making. But whenever he’s ready for the NFL, Carr will offer first-round talent. — Baumgardner
Tier 1
Independent
Returning starter
There are several talented quarterbacks in the ACC, but there was little doubt or pushback regarding No. 1.
“If you have a Word doc, put that in bold and underline. It’s a clear-cut No. 1,” an ACC personnel staffer said of Mensah, the top transfer available this offseason. Mensah plays with calm and confidence, has legitimate arm talent and processes very well.
He played in a conference championship game at Tulane in 2024, won a conference title at Duke in 2025 and should be in position to win another ACC title at Miami, which has surrounded him with a great supporting cast.
“I would be very surprised if he doesn’t go and have a great year and they win a lot of games again,” a Power 4 offensive coordinator said. “I think those guys do a good job developing quarterbacks. And he makes more plays than Carson Beck does.”
Miami’s last two high-dollar transfers entered the program with something to prove — and did so. Cam Ward skyrocketed from a potential Day 3 (Rounds 4-7) draft prospect to the No. 1 pick; Carson Beck arrived from Georgia with some scouts wondering whether he’d be drafted and boosted his stock into the third round. Mensah isn’t the prospect Ward was, but I can pretty easily see a world in which the athletic QB is better than Beck. Mensah is a very good processor who isn’t afraid to stand in there and throw. He’s a runner (a good one) second and a passer first. — Baumgardner
Welcome to one of the most polarizing debates. As a first-time starter, Sayin was the most accurate quarterback in college football and a Heisman Trophy finalist who led the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff.
But there’s a wide range of opinions as to whether Sayin is an elite quarterback or just a product of Ohio State’s system and the talent around him. He generates extreme takes on both sides of the argument — especially after he stumbled against Indiana and Miami to end last season.
“He’s just a game manager. Overrated,” a Big Ten general manager said. “Not a guy who can win them the title.” Meanwhile, an ACC front office staffer said, “I think people are criminally low on Sayin. I think Sayin is a top-two or -three quarterback, and anyone else who doesn’t have him there is wrong.”
The Buckeyes face their toughest schedule in recent memory this fall, so Sayin will have opportunities to prove himself.
Sayin is a confident, poised thrower with pretty advanced processing ability for his age. There are some size limitations, and mechanical inconsistencies still lead to too many off-target attempts, but Sayin’s football IQ and fearlessness — especially as an anticipatory thrower — are things you can’t teach. If he cleans up the little things, he’ll be an easy first-round prospect. — Baumgardner
Tier 1
Big Ten
Returning starter
Few on this list received as much praise from our panel as Mestemaker, the former walk-on turned FBS passing leader in 2025 (4,379 yards) who followed coach Eric Morris and others from North Texas to Stillwater after a 12-2 season in 2025. The step up in competition from the American to the Big 12 isn’t viewed as too daunting by those we spoke with, and it helps that he’ll have his same head coach, play caller and position coach, plus 18 former teammates.
One personnel director said Mestemaker has the best arm talent in the conference.
“There’s no question (he’s the best in the league),” a Big 12 personnel staffer said. “That kid’s so good. … He’s good enough with his legs but his arm talent is freaky.”
Said a Big 12 assistant, “He’s probably the face of the Big 12 from a quarterback standpoint.”
With his talent to thrive off-platform, Mestemaker has an exciting skill set for the next level. He bounces around pressure with elevated eyes to find passing windows and fire downfield strikes. Mestemaker is still figuring out what he can get away with and what he can’t, so some mistakes should be expected with his play style, especially moving up to the Big 12. But his talent has the attention of NFL teams.— Dane Brugler
Just like a year ago, Manning elicited a range of opinions. Most acknowledge that his physical tools are top-notch, but the rest is up for debate. “I’m not a big Arch Manning fan. I think he’s just OK,” a Power 4 head coach said. “I think he’s a little bit overhyped.”
An SEC general manager felt differently: “Has all the tools you want to see. Got better throughout the year. Saw leadership, saw tenacity. Top tier in the country.”
Last year’s slow start was equal parts Manning’s growing pains and a struggling offensive line. Texas addressed the front and drastically upgraded his supporting cast via the transfer portal. He’s still viewed as a high-end NFL Draft prospect, but can he be more consistent this year?
“You’ve got to tip your cap to that kid, because after the start of last year, to be able to rebound the way that he did and play as good as he did down the stretch is really impressive and something that not very many people would be able to do,” a Big 12 offensive coordinator said. “I have a lot of respect for that kid and what he did. And I think he’s pretty dang good.”
People need to remember something about the shaky first half of Manning’s 2025 season: Had Manning declared for the draft, he’d have been a top-five pick (and Fernando Mendoza might not have been a slam dunk at No. 1). Manning’s physical gifts as a huge passer with elite athleticism would have outweighed the fact he wasn’t ready as a processor or a consistent player from the pocket. If Manning plays as he did during the second half of last season, he’ll be the No. 1 pick in April. — Baumgardner
Tier 1
SEC
Returning starter
After a breakout 2024 at Arizona State, Leavitt’s final season in Tempe was cut short by a foot injury. But he’s viewed as one of the most talented QBs in the country when he’s 100 percent.
“He was arguably the best QB in the portal,” a Power 4 OC said. “He’s as cool as a cucumber with the game on the line. … Throws an elite deep ball, is a really good athlete, super talented kid. You want to talk about competitive moxie? That kid’s got it through the roof.”
Some raised concerns about how he exited Arizona State, and an SEC front office staffer questioned Leavitt’s production given his talented supporting cast. Leavitt’s tendency to freelance — maybe too much — was also flagged.
“I get really worried about him playing with a Superman cape on instead of just running the offense,” a Power 4 assistant said.
The list of physically gifted quarterbacks who’ve worked with Lane Kiffin over the years is impressive. Leavitt will strengthen that list from the start at LSU. An impressive athlete, Leavitt’s arm talent and movement skills are as strong as any prospect in this class. He has some of that Garrett Nussmeier love of the YOLO throw to him, though, which he has to calm a bit. — Baumgardner
Tier 2
Maiava made considerable progress last season. His arm talent looked good, and he cut down on the poor decision making that plagued him during a handful of starts in 2024. He received rave reviews from within the program this spring, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he built on last season’s success. He’ll have to do so without his top two wideouts from last season — Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane.
“The most underrated quarterback is Lincoln Riley’s quarterback,” a Big 12 head coach said. “The dude is good. Like, really good. I was just watching USC film. He’s in the top handful of quarterbacks and nobody talks about him, which is out of this world because he’s Lincoln Riley’s quarterback. I love him.”
Did Maiava benefit from NFL Draft picks at receiver last season? Of course. But several elements of his operation took a positive jump in 2025 independent of the talent around him. His decision making and poise from the pocket are encouraging, as is his improved touch to layer throws between coverage. With the way he is wired, Maiava has a chance to be the first senior quarterback drafted in April. — Brugler
Tier 2
Big Ten
Returning starter
In 2025, Fifita reverted to his 2023 breakout form, making believers in and outside the Big 12. No QB in the league has played more games (40, including 34 starts), and it shows in his heady play. A Power 4 personnel director called him “tiny, but tough.”
“He can make every throw,” a Big 12 offensive coordinator said. “He’s athletic enough to extend. He’s really good, and I think Arizona’s a pretty sneaky, dangerous team in the Big 12.”
His stature will prevent draftniks from fawning over him, and even opponents aren’t immune to underestimating him in person.
“He does not look the part and he’s so small and then he threw all over us,” said a Big 12 personnel staffer. “He’s so calm in the pocket and he’s been playing the game at this level for so long as a starting quarterback. As long as he’s there, he’s going to make them competitive.”
Tier 2
Big 12
Returning starter
Stockton acquitted himself well in his first year as a full-time starter, earning third-team All-SEC honors. His 7% off-target rate was the lowest in the Power 4, and his touchdown-to-turnover rate (34-to-7) was third-best in the SEC. Stockton lacks elite traits, but opponents rave about his toughness and competitive fire. “He’ll do whatever he needs to do for his team to win,” said a head coach who faced him in 2025.
Said an SEC GM, “Stockton is old faithful. You know what you get and what you get is really good.”
Tier 2
SEC
Returning starter
Hoover’s talent is obvious. He’s a pinpoint passer with good touch and the mobility to extend plays.
“Arm talent is as good as anyone’s,” a Big 12 personnel director said.
As TCU coach Sonny Dykes pointed out this offseason, Hoover has a problem protecting the ball — he committed more than 40 turnovers in the past three seasons. Indiana will likely ask him to do less, so it’ll be interesting to see how Hoover cleans up those issues as he steps into the national spotlight. “I think (Indiana will) do better with him because I think he made his mistakes when there really wasn’t much to do with the ball,” a Big 12 head coach said. “Indiana’s staff is very good.”
If the marriage goes well, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Hoover in Heisman contention and the Hoosiers in the hunt for another national championship.
Reed had a tremendous start to 2025, leading the Aggies to 11 straight wins. He made big jumps in production and accuracy, particularly in the intermediate game. His deep ball accuracy still needs work. He has plenty of arm, is a significant run threat and is a leader.
But his last two performances, against Texas and Miami, linger. “I didn’t love the decision making on a big-time stage against Miami,” an FBS personnel staffer said. “I wish he would have been a little more clinical.”
Offensive coordinator Collin Klein is off to Kansas State and Holmon Wiggins was promoted to replace him. Can Reed take the next step against elite competition amid the transition?
“I think he’s a good athlete. I think probably about tapped out (on his ceiling),” a Power 4 OC said. “What he was last year is probably about the best he’s gonna be. I worry a little bit about losing Collin Klein and how the offense is gonna look from a system standpoint.”
Tier 2
SEC
Returning starter
Sagapolutele burst onto the scene last season and was the best true freshman quarterback in the country. He makes several “wow” throws per game, plays with great anticipation and is extremely accurate. JKS has turned the Golden Bears into appointment television for college football diehards or anyone who appreciates good QB play. Now he’ll be surrounded by better weapons after Cal’s busy winter in the transfer portal.
“He might be the best one (in the league),” an ACC personnel staffer said. “His ball placement is terrific, but it’s his poise. It’s his understanding of where to go when the initial read ain’t open. He was on his ass so much, yet he always got rid of the ball because he knew where to go with it. It was remarkable to me. He’s limited mobility-wise, but it doesn’t matter. Unless you’re asking him to run, he can play in any offense and excel. ”
Tier 2
ACC
Returning starter
Jennings’ production dipped last year as he battled injuries. He was less efficient as a passer, and he rushed for 300 fewer yards.
He fell from Tier 1 to Tier 2 in these rankings, but there’s still a lot to like about a veteran quarterback who has started 26 games in his career and led his team to the College Football Playoff in 2024. As Jennings enters his fifth season with coach Rhett Lashlee, it would not shock anyone if he takes it up a notch.
“He’s one of those guys that just kind of gets the job done and has been really solid and probably overlooked because it doesn’t look the prettiest all the time,” a Power 4 offensive coordinator said. “But they’ve been really good on offense the last couple of years. And he’s played at a high level. So I think he’s made believers out of a lot of people.”
Tier 2
ACC
Returning starter
Mateer’s terrific start to 2025, which garnered early Heisman Trophy buzz, was disrupted by hand surgery. Though he missed just one game, the difference pre- and post-injury was noticeable.
“Everyone was like, ‘Where’d John Mateer go?’ I mean, he had screws in his hand,” an SEC front office staffer said. “He’s pretty solid.”
Multiple people lauded his ability to run and make plays off schedule. “He’s just so damn hard to get on the ground and get your hands on,” an FBS general manager said.
But some want to see him be more consistent as a passer.
“He’s got to play within himself more,” an SEC assistant said. “He tries to make all these wow, sidearm, feet-off-the-ground throws and it’s like, ‘Dude, the pocket’s clean. You don’t have to do that. Just throw the ball like a normal human.’ So if he does that, I think he’s one of the better guys.”
Tier 2
SEC
Returning starter
Tier 3
Bailey, entering his third season as the starter, is a talented passer who can hurt defenses with his legs.
“He’s a big, talented kid,” a Power 4 OC said. “He’s one of those guys that doesn’t always look the prettiest when he’s playing or when he’s throwing it, but he was super efficient and did a really good job for those guys last year. I don’t know if he’s like a Tier 1 guy, but I think he’s right there on the cusp of that. He’s probably a top-25 guy.”
The Wolfpack have won just 14 games over the past two seasons with Bailey at QB, so the focus has to be on capitalizing on his talent while he’s still on the roster.
Tier 3
ACC
Returning starter
The much-hyped Sellers fell flat in 2025. His production dipped across the board, and it didn’t help that he played behind a struggling O-line and was pressured more than any SEC QB (42.8 percent of dropbacks).
There’s a new offensive coordinator in Columbia (Kendal Briles) but plenty of questions about what the freakishly talented Sellers will be. He has first-round size, strength and athletic ability, but will the play ever match?
“I wanted to like Sellers so bad … but you just watch the film and it’s hard to like him,” a Power 4 OC said. “He’s very inconsistent as a passer. His highs are as high as probably anybody in the draft. But his lows are bad.”
Said an SEC assistant, “He’s not accurate enough to just drop back and throw the ball all the time. I think Kendal will make him run a little more and do what he does well, which I think will help.”
Sellers might be the most intriguing “wait-and-see” prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft. At 6-4 and 245 pounds with 4.4 speed, the South Carolina native is dynamic with the ball in his hands, buying time off platform or picking up yards with his legs. But his inconsistent reads and underdeveloped pocket presence must improve in 2026 for NFL teams to believe in him as a future starter. — Brugler
Tier 3
SEC
Returning starter
Brown last season emphatically answered the questions that lingered following an underwhelming and injury-marred 2024. He led the American Conference with 347.2 total yards per game and was responsible for a league-high 42 touchdowns.
Opponents are intrigued by his production and physical profile. “He looks like an NFL tight end,” a Power 4 head coach said. Almost everyone we spoke with commented on his unconventional throwing motion, with one SEC assistant calling it “as bad as you’ll see.”
There are questions about whether he can replicate his USF production against SEC competition, but most believe Brown is capable.
“He has a chance to sneak up on some people (with) his unique blend of size and experience and being in the same system,” an SEC GM said. “Maybe not getting enough credit right now. …he’s a winner and he’s big.”
Williams was at the center of some offseason portal drama but returned to Washington after it became clear it would be really expensive to sign with another school. There’s no doubt Williams — now in his third season with coach Jedd Fisch — is talented, but he played his worst against the best defenses he faced last season, and those teams all managed to negate his mobility, which is supposed to be a strength.
“Demond is a good player. Another undersized QB,” a Big Ten front office staffer said. “If you’re going to be the guy who’s running around you better be Lamar Jackson fast, and faster than their fastest guy, which I don’t think Demond is.”
If Washington is going to make noise in the Big Ten, Williams has to be better against the league’s top-tier teams.
Tier 3
Big Ten
Returning starter
Washington has been the centerpiece of Maryland’s program since he committed to the Terrapins in June 2024 — and for good reason. His size, arm strength and athleticism are all there.
“NFL talent,” a Big Ten assistant coach said. “Can’t believe he was a freshman. Tremendous zip on the ball, can make all the throws.”
Several Big Ten front office staffers noted that Washington is still very raw. Still, the ceiling is extremely high. No FBS program ran the ball less than Maryland last season, so making life easier for Washington will be key to maximizing his potential.
Tier 3
Big Ten
Returning starter
Expectations were high for Dampier as he entered the Big 12, and he largely met them. His running ability is his superpower — he had the third-most rushing yards among Power 4 QBs last year (835) — and he had one of the best touchdown-to-turnover ratios in the country (34-to-6).
“He’s electric,” a Big 12 personnel director said. “He’s someone who you want the ball in his hands.”
His ability as a passer drew plenty of criticism, though, with one conference personnel staffer flagging Dampier’s footwork when pressured.
“When (Texas Tech) got pressure on him consistently, everything (went) out the window,” the staffer said. “He was off his back foot, running around. The accuracy issues, they’re there. It’s really hard for me to like him.”
Tier 3
Big 12
Returning starter
Heintschel was elevated to the top of the depth chart a month into last season and threw for at least 300 yards in four of his first five starts. He’s a solid distributor who plays without fear and shows a willingness to run. However, his aggression can lead to turnovers.
“For a young guy, he played with good enough poise,” an ACC personnel staffer said. “He’s a little erratic. But when he’s going, he’s going.”
Heintschel’s production dipped late in the season as Pitt faced more difficult competition, but his overall play was encouraging enough to believe he is the long-term answer.
Tier 3
ACC
Returning starter
Becht, who followed Matt Campbell to Penn State, is the most accomplished quarterback in Iowa State history. He led the Cyclones to their first-ever 10-win season and sits second in career touchdown passes (64) and third in career completions (714). But some in the industry aren’t overly impressed.
“I’m kinda off the Rocco Becht train,” a Power 4 offensive coordinator said. “He’s just got a ceiling as a quarterback. He’s got a very high floor, but then a pretty low ceiling as well.”
On the flip side, others are more than comfortable with the certainty a veteran like Becht provides. “Doesn’t turn the ball over. Smart with the ball. … The guy has won how many games?” a Big Ten general manager said. “He’s in a similar system. He has led. He’s a little bit underrated. OK he’s not as talented as those other guys, but he can win you 10 games and take Penn State to the Playoff.”
You could argue that Iamaleava was more impressive during the Bruins’ 3-9 season than he was as the starter during Tennessee’s CFP season in 2024. He took fair criticism for how his time with the Volunteers ended but showed a ton of competitive character last year despite a horrendous team season that featured a messy coaching situation, underwhelming skill support and a bad offensive line. Iamaleava showed up and battled every week with no complaints even though his team was undermanned almost every game, and he essentially willed UCLA to one of the biggest upsets of the season against Penn State.
“This guy is so freaking good,” a Big Ten assistant coach said. “Singlehandedly beat Penn State. Dangerous in every sense of the word. Can make every throw.”
There are reasons to be optimistic about Iamaleava this year now that UCLA should have competent coaching with Bob Chesney.
Spend five minutes watching Iamaleava, and it won’t be difficult to see the talent that made him a five-star recruit and created optimism for his NFL future. He has dual-threat skills and the big arm to attack every level of the defense, especially downfield. However, it is also obvious how inconsistent he is on a snap-to-snap basis, even on check-downs and layups. Like most 21-year-old quarterbacks, he is still a work in progress at the hardest position to play in the sport. — Brugler
Tier 3
Big Ten
Returning starter
Simmons entered 2025 as Ole Miss’ QB1, but an early-season injury opened the door for Trinidad Chambliss, who never relinquished the gig. Simmons, who has just two starts and 262 career snaps in three years, will get another shot as the starter at Mizzou.
There aren’t many questions about his ability. He has legitimate arm talent, good ball placement, mobility and processing skills.
“Early on, you saw a lot of flashes,” an SEC general manager said. “I think there’s a chance that it works out well at Missouri.”
Jackson was clearly the top pick among the Group of 6 quarterbacks. He won’t overwhelm you with his size, but he is a dynamic signal caller. His completion percentage (71.3) was in the top five nationally, and he’s extremely dangerous with his legs. He broke out in 2025 with 3,224 passing yards, 744 rushing yards and 38 total touchdowns in his first season as the starter.
“He is a baller,” said a head coach who faced Jackson last year. “I think he’s really good. He’s athletic. He’s a gamer. He’s tough. How they kept him is unbelievable.”
Tier 3
Pac-12
Returning starter
Weigman’s 2025 was a refreshing change from his injury-plagued tenure at Texas A&M. He gave the surprising 10-3 Cougars what they needed: experience, leadership and production (2,705 passing yards, 700 rushing).
Despite the arrival of five-star recruit Keisean Henderson, Weigman is safe as QB1, looking to take the Cougars into Big 12 title game contention while grooming his successor. Nobody we spoke with was wowed by his traits, but most commended his toughness.
“He’s gritty … better athlete than you think,” a Big 12 OC said. “He’s solid throwing the football, but kind of pushes it, not an elite arm talent.”
Said a Big 12 assistant, “He’s got some moxie to him.”
Tier 3
Big 12
Returning starter
Lindsey more than held his own in his first season as a starter. He threw for 2,382 yards, led the Golden Gophers to eight wins and solidified himself as a key building block for the program. His size, tools and play have even generated some early NFL Draft buzz, and he should only be better this season now that he has a year of starting experience under his belt.
“He’s got a big arm,” a Big Ten front office staffer said. “If you look more at the statuesque passer-type with a big-bodied kid who makes a ton of plays for them, too.”
Lindsey is one of the more underrated quarterback prospects in college football. A good-sized passer, he has a strong arm and delivers with touch. And he anticipates well to put the ball where his receiver will be, not where he is. His 2025 tape is littered with decisions he would like back, which is to be expected of a first-year starter in the Big Ten. But scouts are excited to see what Year 2 looks like. — Brugler
Tier 3
Big Ten
Returning starter
Bachmeier’s production as a true freshman (3,033 passing yards, 527 rushing, 26 TDs responsible for) was terrific. He’s a tough runner and a capable, though not elite, passer with plenty of room for improvement. He didn’t impress coaches with his physical traits, but many called him solid.
“Big, tough, perfect for BYU’s system and what they do,” a Big 12 head coach said. “He’ll continue to grow. I don’t think he’s an NFL-type, first-round draft pick right now. He’s still young.”
Said a Big 12 OC, “He’s kind of a game manager. He can run but he doesn’t scare you in that he’s gonna take over and win you a game throwing the football.”
Tier 3
Big 12
Returning starter
Tier 4
There was a ton of hype surrounding Underwood entering last season as the No. 1 recruit in his class, but the play didn’t match the buzz. He was just a true freshman, and Michigan’s dysfunctional coaching situation didn’t help matters. He has all the physical tools to become a special QB, but it’ll be on a new coaching staff, particularly offensive coordinator Jason Beck, to optimize that ability.
“If you drew up an athlete, they would look like (him),” a Big Ten assistant coach said. “Big, strong, fast, put together the right way. Mechanics and natural feel not to the level of the other guys (at the top of the league), but he has elite talent for sure.”
Tier 4
Big Ten
Returning starter
Taylor showed an appealing skill set in his two starts as a true freshman for the Bulldogs. His size and running ability make him a chore to tackle. If he can throw it well enough to make defenses fear him, he has star potential.
“I think he’ll blow up in the SEC,” an FBS personnel staffer said. “He has some juice. Will he be as clinical as he needs to be and protect the ball and put it in the right spot? I don’t know, but intangibles-wise, traits-wise, he has everything you want.”
Said an SEC assistant: “Really raw as a passer but really athletic, really good kid. … I think he’s gotten better as a passer. You’re not going to survive being a runner in this league very long unless you’re Cam Newton and 250 pounds.”
The Crimson Tide haven’t yet publicly declared a starter between Russell and Austin Mack, but Russell’s talent is enticing. “He’s going to burst out onto the scene,” a Power 4 personnel director said.
Russell, Alabama’s 2025 five-star signee, has a quick release and is accurate. His athleticism to extend plays can give opponents headaches. His only action last year was 38 combined snaps in blowout wins over Louisiana-Monroe and Eastern Illinois, but coaches and scouts inside and outside the SEC believe he has star potential. How will he handle the pressure if he wins the job in Tuscaloosa?
“He’s got a lot of ability,” an SEC GM said. “We just haven’t seen it on the big stage yet.”
Minchey narrowly lost the starting QB competition to CJ Carr last year at Notre Dame and has logged only 105 snaps in 10 career games. But opponents are bullish on Minchey’s potential given his dual-threat ability. “He’s got a ton of arm talent,” a Power 4 personnel director said.
Power 4 GM concurred, saying Minchey “can make all the throws” but suggested Kentucky take advantage of his athleticism. “He’s a deceptive runner,” the GM said. “If a team was smart, they’d run him. That kid’s got all the talent in the world. He’s going to go to Kentucky and let it rip.”
With Brendan Sorsby out of the picture, the Red Raiders’ hopes rest on Hammond, their 2024 quarterback signee. His dazzling second-half performance against Utah in relief of Behren Morton won supporters last season, but he was up-and-down in a loss to Arizona State.
He’s still recovering from a knee injury suffered last October, but head coach Joey McGuire recently confirmed Hammond is expected to be cleared and ready for Week 1.
“He has pretty good talent,” a Big 12 personnel director said. “How much do they run him coming off of knee surgery? That’s what made him really dangerous. He’s ridiculously strong.”
Said a Big 12 head coach: “A lot of talent, but how does it all come together coming off an injury? There’s a reason they paid a guy $5 million to come in this year. There’s got to be something they didn’t love or trust completely right now.”
Joseph, the 2025 Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, is a true dual-threat passer who produced at a high level against P4 competition with his legs (179 rushing yards and two TDs vs. Indiana) and arm (276 passing yards and two TDs vs. Virginia Tech). He provides some excitement for a Wisconsin program that needs some juice.
“He’s a great athlete who can make plays with his legs,” a G6 general manager said. “He’s got some limitations as a passer that I wonder how that will translate to the Big Ten level. When used correctly, playing to his strengths, he can be productive. He’s not going to fit everybody’s system.”
Johnson’s talent has rarely been an issue; the questions surrounding him are more existential. “What has he done in three years?” a Big 12 head coach pondered.
A supreme athlete, Johnson was expected to take off in 2025 if he cut down on turnovers. Instead, his production dipped across the board. “All the talent in the world. I don’t know where the disconnect was,” said a personnel director who faced him last year. “I think pressure is a huge problem for him.”
The good news is a familiar face is back. Collin Klein, the coach who recruited Johnson to the Wildcats, returned to Manhattan as head coach after a two-year stint as Texas A&M’s OC. A Big 12 OC believes it will help Johnson rebound.
“That system will play into his strengths,” the OC said. “He’s still limited as a passer. If he just lets himself be athletic instead of trying to force himself to be an NFL pocket passer, I think he’ll have a really good year.”
Much of the NFL optimism around Johnson started to wane last season as he struggled with his consistency as a passer. The dual-threat talent is exciting, but can he take the next step with his decision making and accuracy? Johnson’s draft projection is directly tied to whether or not his passing development improves as a senior or stays the same. — Brugler
Tier 4
Big 12
Returning starter
Craig, a two-time first-team All-Ivy Leaguer at Harvard, is one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in the Big 12. He had draftable grades from NFL scouts and considered going that route before opting to transfer to the Power 4, where he’ll succeed Josh Hoover. His size, arm and smart play (52 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions) drew plenty of interest in the transfer portal.
“He’s got a really good arm. He’s accurate,” a Big 12 personnel staffer said. “He’s OK with his legs. He’s more of a scrambling guy, he’s not going to make anyone miss.”
A Power 4 personnel director said “there’s no reason he can’t” succeed at the Power 4 level.
“He probably has better feel in the pocket than (2025 starter Josh) Hoover, but he won’t give you the wow plays like a Hoover,” he said.
With 31 combined career starts at Virginia and UNLV, Colandrea has a wealth of experience and production (7,542 career passing yards, 1,151 rushing yards and 61 total touchdowns). During that time, he’s become known for playing a chaotic brand of football.
“He’s going to make plays outside of the system but he’s going to make mistakes outside of the system,” a Mountain West head coach said. “You don’t get one without the other.”
Colandrea is undersized, but his moxie, experience and playmaking ability are what the Cornhuskers needed after Dylan Raiola transferred and Kenny Minchey left them at the altar for Kentucky.
Kentucky inserted Boley into the starting lineup three weeks into the 2025 season, and he had his ups and downs as a redshirt freshman. The traits were eye-catching: He’s big, mobile, has plenty of arm strength and can capably manage the offense. On the downside, he turned it over a lot. His 4.5 percent interception rate in his two seasons at Kentucky is the highest among any FBS quarterback who has made at least 10 starts in the last two years.
“He has the potential to be third in the league (in terms of quarterbacks), but he has the potential to be 14th in the league too if he turns the ball over and doesn’t fix that,” a Big 12 coach said.
Houser was very productive (3,300 passing yards, 28 total touchdowns) in East Carolina’s fast-paced offense last season. He’s also a really accurate passer with a wealth of experience (26 career starts, including seven at Michigan State in 2023). Those factors made him attractive in the portal this offseason. His fit at Illinois, which isn’t exactly known for an up-tempo offense, raises some questions.
“I think he was great for that scheme (at ECU),” an American Conference personnel director said. “I’m not so sure how it’ll go at that level against that speed of defense. He needed a more old school Big-12 type system.”
What was supposed to be a big sophomore season at Florida turned into a slump. Lagway’s lingering offseason health issues didn’t help him in the 2025 season, but other parts of his game drew criticism.
“When you watch his tape from Florida, his decision making was a big issue,” a Big 12 offensive coordinator said. “If it wasn’t man-to-man and he just knew where he needed to go with the football right away — if he had to get through progressions — he put the ball in jeopardy a lot.”
Still, his elite traits — size, unparalleled arm strength, mobility — allow for optimism. “The sky is still the limit,” an SEC general manager said. Multiple people cited the pairing with Baylor offensive coordinator Jake Spavital as positive for Lagway.
“The talent is there,” a Big 12 head coach said. “Wouldn’t surprise me if he had a good year.”
There were moments during his true freshman season at Florida when Lagway looked like a future top-10 pick in the NFL Draft. But the interceptions and sacks taken increased last year as a sophomore, and his explosive plays decreased despite seeing more snaps. Lagway transferred to Baylor this offseason, where he is hoping to reignite his draft stock as a potential early-round player. — Brugler
Barnett had a terrific 2025, leading James Madison to the College Football Playoff. The first-team All-Sun Belt pick is on the smaller side but has legitimate speed and is a capable passer.
“He does a good enough job in the passing game,” a Group of 6 general manager said.
His accuracy leaves a lot to be desired, though, and will be worth watching as he moves into the Power 4. He was 114th last year in off-target percentage.
“He was really good at what they did with him but I would take (Wisconsin QB Colton Joseph) over him and probably (Texas State QB Brad Jackson) over him, too,” a Sun Belt head coach said.
Angeli, who transferred from Notre Dame last year, was limited to four games due to a torn Achilles suffered in the third quarter of a win at Clemson. Syracuse lost eight consecutive games to finish the season and failed to score 18 points in a game after Angeli’s injury.
Coach Fran Brown beefed up his quarterback depth with transfers Amari Odom (Kennesaw State) and Malachi Nelson (UTEP), but Angeli should be the starter if healthy.
A game manager-type quarterback,” a Power 4 general manager said. “Makes all the right throws, all the right reads. He’s a timely thrower.”
Tier 4
ACC
Returning starter
Grunkemeyer was thrown into the fire at Penn State after Drew Allar suffered a season-ending injury and immediately faced three elite defenses (Iowa, Ohio State and Indiana). His production increased after that stretch — and he displayed some positive signs in seven starts — but more will be asked of him as he becomes a full-time starter after following coach James Franklin to Blacksburg.
“They seem to think he has a very high ceiling, and I don’t disagree with that, but I also kind of wonder if he can get it to that point,” a Power 4 front office staffer said.
The Cavaliers brought in experienced Pitt transfer Eli Holstein, but Pribula was announced as QB1 entering the preseason. He played extended snaps for the first time last season at Missouri after he was utilized as more of a gadget player at Penn State. He’s a good runner, but hr suffered an ankle injury late in October, and he didn’t excel as a passer. He threw eight touchdowns in nonconference games and just three in SEC play, and he didn’t throw a touchdown pass after Oct. 11.
“At times, saw a tough competitor, but that’s kind of it,” one SEC general manager said. “Overall, just thought he was average.”
McCown, entering his fourth year at UTSA and his second as the full-time starter, remains one of the top QBs in the Group of 6. He’s not the most physically imposing, but he makes up for it with accuracy and intelligent play, which isn’t surprising given his pedigree (he’s the son of former NFL QB Josh McCown).
“That kid was probably throwing passes out of the womb,” a G6 general manager said. “Smart. Accurate. Smaller guy. If he was his dad’s height, he wouldn’t be at UTSA. But he can put the ball in your back pocket if you want him to.”
He’s not immune to mistakes, though.
“(He’s good for) three-to-five ‘wow’ throws a game and three-to-five ‘what the f—’ throws a game,” an American personnel director said.
Tier 4
American
Returning starter
North Carolina did not set up Lopez for success last season. Could he have been better? Sure, but the offense was a mess. Now he’ll be the Demon Deacons’ starter and away from a troubled offensive system, so there’s potential for a bounceback season.
“I think he’s going into Wake underrated,” a Power 4 GM said. “He’s good. We liked him at South Alabama. Toward the end of last year, he was really good, but the (North Carolina) defense was trash. I think people are going to be sleeping on him.”
The former top-100 recruit steps into the starting role full-time after playing in four games last season. Lewis showed flashes of the talent that attracted suitors out of high school, but he still has a lot to prove.
“From a physical traits standpoint, nothing just jumped off the screen like, ‘Wow, this kid’s a big-time player,’” a Big 12 offensive coordinator said.
A Big 12 assistant felt more bullish on Lewis after the arrival of new offensive coordinator Brennan Marion.
“I think Brennan will turn it around with him,” the assistant said. “The Go-Go offense might be entertaining with him.”
A three-year starter and former Sun Belt Freshman of the Year at Arkansas State, Raynor has more career offensive yards (9,888) and more career starts (36) than any other Big 12 quarterback. His OC at Arkansas State, Keith Heckendorf, is now his QB coach at Iowa State.
One Big 12 OC called Raynor a “sneaky good pickup” for the Cyclones.
“He’s been giving us trouble for three years now,” said a Sun Belt staffer who faced Raynor. “He can spin it, too. … We weren’t looking forward to having to tackle him, either.”
Minicucci was thrust into the lineup when starter Zach Marker hurt his knee in the first quarter of the opener, and he turned that opportunity into a breakout season. Minicucci threw for 3,683 yards, second to Drew Mestemaker among Group of 6 quarterbacks. He has solid tools and size and decent mobility and should be one of the top G6 passers this year.
“He’s an excellent quarterback,” a G6 general manager said. “Very scrappy, but dead-on accurate, knows that offense and does a good job. He’s a dark horse for conference player of the year.”
Tier 4
CUSA
Returning starter
The reigning Mountain West Freshman of the Year is among the top G6 QBs in the country and plays much bigger than his measurables.
“That is one where 13 teams walked in thinking they were going to kick the crap out of that kid and 13 walked out like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” said one G6 general manager. “About as perfect a fit for what they want to do schematically.”
Alejado led Hawaii to its first bowl game in five years and passed for 3,106 yards last season. He has a good arm and a knack for playmaking and winning that dates back to his high school days at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas.
Tier 4
Mountain West
Returning starter
It’s rare these days to see a quarterback wait three years for a starting opportunity, but Vizzina is poised to get his chance this fall — if he holds off freshman Tait Reynolds. Vizzina is inexperienced but looks the part and can move a bit. He’ll be tutored by new-but-familiar OC Chad Morris, who will try to get the Clemson offense back to an elite level.
“He’s just OK,” an ACC personnel staffer said. “Obviously, another year and him finally being the guy and getting more reps isn’t gonna hurt him. But he didn’t do anything where I’m like, ‘Oh my, I’m scared of him.’”
A true question mark because Kienholz has just 36 career pass attempts. Nearly half (17) came in Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl loss to Missouri in 2023 when he was a third-string true freshman. But Kienholz was committed to Kalen DeBoer at Washington, signed with Ryan Day at Ohio State and is now playing for Jeff Brohm at Louisville. Those are three coaches with a strong read on QBs.
“To me, the price tag was too high for somebody that really hasn’t played,” a Big 12 personnel staffer said. “Obviously, Brohm has got a good eye for that, so it’ll be interesting to see.”
Philo saw limited snaps (63 in 2025) while backing up Haynes King at Georgia Tech, so there’s still much to learn. He has been effective in his limited duty, accounting for 29 explosive plays in his 180 career snaps (a 3.4 percent explosive play rate would be top 30 nationally if sustained over starter snaps).
“I think he’s a really good player,” an SEC assistant said. “The thing about him is he needs a lot of help. He’s not a runner. He’s not going to go out there and win the game himself, but he’ll make the easy throws if guys are open.”
The Blue Devils did well to land someone with Eget’s experience (18 career starts at San Jose State) after Darian Mensah left them on the last day of the portal window for Miami. Eget, who underwent offseason knee surgery, is an aggressive downfield passer who isn’t afraid to test defenses even if it leads to turnovers (19 interceptions over the past two years).
“Risk taker, probably a better player than he gets credit for,” an ACC personnel staffer said. “Will be interesting to see how he looks at this level. He’s shown he can play in big games and give his team a chance. He can also look terrible in other games.”
Flipping Curtis, a top-five recruit committed to Georgia, was a coup for the Commodores. He’s the highest-rated signee in program history. Is he worth the hype? “Probably so, yeah,” an SEC GM said.
He’s still battling for the job with Blaze Berlowitz, who backed up Diego Pavia the last two years, but Curtis is clearly Vanderbilt’s QB of the future. He’s big with the arm to make any throw at all levels and can be a problem when extending plays given his strength and mobility.
“We couldn’t afford him, but we liked him,” an SEC assistant said. “I think he’s really good. We’ll see what his mental makeup is. I think he’s going to get beat up early, and if he can weather then I think he’ll be fine.”
Lowry won’t win any passing competitions — he’s a run-first quarterback. But he does that well, finishing sixth among FBS QBs last season with 963 rushing yards.
“He hurt us with his feet,” an FBS head coach said. “Big, strong guy. He can be super lethal.”
There’s room to improve as a passer, but he’s comfortable throwing on the move and downfield enough to keep defenses honest.
“He executes their system at a very high level,” a MAC head coach said. “He’s able to move the sticks, make critical plays and convert third downs.”
Tier 4
MAC
Returning starter
Veltkamp is a big, experienced, productive passer. He was second in the American in passing yards last year, and returning for a second season in Zach Kittley’s offense should only help his progression. He’s accurate and can throw to all parts of the field, but one issue lingers. No FBS QB has turned it over more than Veltkamp in the last two seasons with 37, including 20 last year.
“He’s a big kid, tough kid, way better athlete than you think, and they do a good job with him in that system,” a G6 general manager said. “He’s always been productive; he fits what they do, so I’m sure he’ll be one of the better guys in the league again.”
Tier 4
American
Returning starter
Tier 5
Seminoles fans weren’t necessarily inspired by the addition of Daniels, who has started 23 games in his four-year career at Stanford and Auburn. His strengths — and limitations — are well known by now.
“Hell of an athlete. Big, can run, he’s physical, he’s not afraid, but he can’t throw the ball?” an ACC front office staffer said.
But there are still some who believe in Daniels’ ability.
“Put in situations to succeed, he can be successful,” a second ACC front office staffer said. “When you look at the quarterbacks Mike Norvell has been really successful with, he’s a lot more like a Jordan Travis and Tommy Castellanos than he is a DJ Uiagalelei. I think he’s a good fit for what they do.”
There’s no more accomplished quarterback in the Group of 6 than Madsen, who has led the Broncos to two Mountain West championships and a CFP trip in 2024 when he was supported by superstar running back Ashton Jeanty. But questions remain about his ceiling and whether he can carry an offense, considering how much he’s struggled against some top nonconference opponents.
“I don’t think he’s a bad quarterback for the league,” a G6 general manager said. “But I just don’t think, ‘Oh, he could be the best.’”
Tier 5
Pac-12
Returning starter
Mendoza, the younger brother of Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza, is in line to be the Yellow Jackets’ starter. He’s played only late in blowouts at Indiana but has shown legitimate speed (two 50-plus-yard runs last season) when given the opportunity. There’s still more to learn about him as a passer.
“That is going to be a fascinating one. I think it speaks volumes Indiana didn’t keep him,” an ACC front office staffer said. “I think they’re going to use him kind of like Haynes (King) where he’s going to be running it a lot because physically he looks good.”
Ryan Silverfield hasn’t publicly named his QB1 — and the Razorbacks brought in redshirt freshman AJ Hill, who followed the head coach from Memphis — but Jackson, who backed up Taylen Green last year, has a tad more experience. Jackson played extensively in the final two games of 2025, including starting the season finale against Missouri.
The southpaw is big and athletic and most dangerous when on the move. He doesn’t have the biggest arm but shows nice touch as a passer, particularly when throwing on the run. When he keeps it, he’s hard to bring down. He showed maturity and poise in making decisions under duress, but his accuracy and consistency from the pocket need work.
Arnold is a former five-star prospect who has never put it all together at the collegiate level. He was benched at Oklahoma in 2024 and at Auburn in 2025 because he’s an inconsistent passer who takes too many sacks. He landed at UNLV this offseason to work with coach Dan Mullen, who typically gets the most out of his quarterbacks. It figures that Mullen will lean into Arnold’s strengths (running the ball) and avoid his weakness (pocket awareness) as he builds the offense.
“He’ll have a chance to be one of the top quarterbacks in the league,” one Mountain West head coach said.
Tier 5
Mountain West
Transfer
Szarka started only seven games last season, but that was enough to leave a positive impression on his competition.
“He was a beast. He was a problem for us,” an opposing head coach said.
Szarka is a good passer, especially for an option offense, and rushed for 922 yards and 13 scores last season, turning Air Force’s offense into a serious threat.
“He’s really good,” a personnel director said. “He could throw it. He could run it. He competes. I was impressed with him. I think he can absolutely play civilian football in the Mountain West.”
Tier 5
Mountain West
Returning starter
Tier 6
Williams spent the last three years at Miami and the last two backing up Cam Ward and Carson Beck, respectively, and transferred after the Hurricanes acquired Darian Mensah. He hasn’t started since 2023, his freshman season, and has just 298 career snaps, but scouts are high on him given his size and pedigree. He’s a big, strong, traditional pocket passer.
“He was a steal for East Carolina,” a Big 12 personnel staffer said. “That kid’s a legitimate Power 4 quarterback.”
Del Rio-Wilson didn’t start until Week 3 last year but found immediate success when he did, leading the Thundering Herd to wins in four of the next five games. The 2026 preseason Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year is one of only two returning FBS quarterbacks to throw for at least 2,000 yards, run for at least 600 and complete at least 65 percent of his passes.
He’s an effective downhill runner, and with his size, he can be like a bulldozer when he gains steam. But he can win with his arm as well, delivering strikes over the middle of the field.
Tier 6
Sun Belt
Returning starter
Edwards has one season of adequate production in five years of college football, and it came during Maryland’s 4-8 season in 2024. So he still has something to prove, and he’s even more of a question mark now that he’s coming off a knee injury that limited him to just 16 passing attempts at Wisconsin last season.
“Being hurt most of last year killed him, but he’s solid,” an ACC personnel staffer said. “But what Billy Edwards are they getting? Are they getting the one that played really well at times at Maryland? I feel like more often than not, he was just kind of ‘meh’ most of the time.”
Milivojevic started the final four games last season and showed enough that Pat Fitzgerald and the new coaching staff didn’t bring in a transfer. He distributes the ball well and doesn’t force the issue.
“Can spin it, sharp and all that. I think the only concern is athletically, being able to get out of the way,” said an assistant coach who worked in the Big Ten last year. “I think he has a chance to be a good one. It’s just how well they’re going to be able to protect him, how well they’ll be able to run the ball to make it easier on him.”
The optimism about Chiles espoused within the coaching and personnel community this time last year been muted a bit after he was benched at Michigan State. But there’s still intrigue about how the talented-yet-inconsistent California native will mesh with new Wildcats offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
“I thought the offense at Michigan State wasn’t necessarily tailored to his skill set,” an assistant coach who worked in the Big Ten last year said. “I think he’ll be really good in Chip’s system. There were times when he was Michigan State’s best runner, and I think he’ll be able to showcase that in Chip’s system.”
It was a bad situation in Corvallis last season. While Murphy possesses raw talent, he didn’t do much to elevate the offense. He was benched midway through the Beavers’ 2-10 season but now has a fresh start under new head coach JaMarcus Shephard. He will have to hold off FCS transfer Braden Atkinson, who threw for 3,596 yards and 34 touchdowns and earned SoCon Freshman of the Year honors at Mercer in 2025.
Murphy, on his third school and in his fifth year of college, has the experience edge.
“He’s just massive. Definitely has a live arm. I don’t think he’s the type to come in and take over a game, though,” a Power 4 personnel director said.
Tier 6
Pac-12
Returning starter
The Mountaineers, who haven’t publicly named a starter, could go with Hawkins, the Oklahoma transfer, or Scotty Fox Jr., who started six games for WVU last year and showed promise. But pairing the athletic Hawkins with transfer running back Cam Cook — the FBS leading rusher in 2025 — is an enticing proposition that could draw comparisons to Pat White and Steve Slaton, the dynamic duo Rich Rodriguez coached in his first West Virginia stint.
Hawkins, who backed up Jackson Arnold in 2024 and John Mateer in 2025, is dynamic as a runner. “He has legit athleticism,” a Big 12 personnel director said. Passing-wise, his sidearm delivery and accuracy issues are concerns.
Van Buren brings a decent bit of Power 4 starting experience to Tampa. He started eight games as a true freshman at Mississippi State in 2024 and four last year at LSU. He improved his accuracy and cut his interception rate as a sophomore and could be a breakout player in the American if he continues to progress.
“Good on them for paying a guy that started 12 SEC games,” an American personnel director said. “I don’t see an SEC body, but he at least produced enough there to make it interesting.”
Singleton, who started his career at Arkansas and transferred in from Purdue, has a stocky build but is a natural thrower and runner. He’s comfortable operating from the pocket or on the move, and he’s a chain-mover in the run game. He proved effective in short-yardage runs for the Boilermakers and can absorb hits.
He just needs reps. He has yet to start a game and has just 229 career snaps in 16 appearances.
Tennessee hasn’t yet declared a starter between Brandon and redshirt freshman George MacIntyre. But Brandon, a top-10 national recruit, has the profile and ability to compete right away. He’s tall and lean with a big arm and good mobility. He has no fear taking downfield shots when the opportunity arises, which fits the Vols’ offense well.
There will be some growing pains, as with most true freshmen, but not much question about Brandon’s physical talent.
“Brandon has the size and ability,” an SEC general manager said. “Just have to see him process.”
Hayes, who followed head coach Tre Lamb from East Tennessee State prior to last season, took over the starting job at Tulsa for good midway through 2025 and competed well. All three of Tulsa’s wins over FBS teams came with Hayes as the starter, including the Golden Hurricane’s road upset of Oklahoma State.
He’s not the biggest and he doesn’t have the biggest arm, but he moves well and is solid throwing off-platform. An American GM called him a “gunslinger” who will turn it over but can make big plays, too.
“He’s really good at scrambling and extending plays,” the GM said. “He’s hard to get down. He’s a smaller guy as far as playing size, but he makes things happen.”
Tier 6
American
Returning starter
Hellums gives Army what it needs to run its option-heavy offense. “Solid kid. Winner. Typical Army kid,” said an American head coach. He led all FBS quarterbacks in rushing yards in 2025 (1,223) while taking control of the QB job in the second half of the season.
“Tough-ass kid,” said a Group of 6 GM. “Limited as a thrower, but can do what they want to do with the QB run game.”
Tier 6
American
Returning starter
School:
Jacksonville State
A Conference USA coach said of Creel, “For what they do, he’s pretty decent.” That is underselling it a bit.
The Gamecocks are a run-first operation, and Creel excels with his legs. He had seven 100-yard rushing performances and ran for 1,075 yards last season as Jacksonville State finished 15th nationally in yards per rush (5.31). Creel rushed and passed for at least 100 yards in six games. Is he anything to write home about as a passer? No, but he protects the ball, which is critical for a program led by a defensive-minded head coach like Charles Kelly.
Tier 6
CUSA
Returning starter
French, a two-year starter at Georgia Southern, has plenty of experience (36 games, 26 starts), sufficient arm talent and enough mobility to be a factor in the run game. “He spins the ball really well,” a Big 12 personnel director said.
But he’s much smaller than his predecessor (Brendan Sorsby was 6-3, 235) and though he had solid numbers — and improved his interception rate from 2.7 percent in 2024 to 2.1 percent in 2025 — he doesn’t jump off the page to opponents.
“I thought that kid was just average, to be honest,” a Sun Belt head coach said. “He’s so up and down.”
Woodson, who succeeds two-year starter Blake Horvath, has started a game in each of the last three years and saw meaningful action last year, starting against Notre Dame and playing in the second half against USF. He flashed ability as both a rusher and a passer and was one of only two quarterbacks to record three runs of 60-plus yards last season. He’s a gifted athlete and a natural fit for the Midshipmen.
“He’s going to be dangerous,” an American personnel director said. “He’s a big, athletic dude.”
Tier 6
American
New starter
Brown, a former West Georgia and Texas Tech transfer, had to wait behind Christian Veilleux and T.J. Finley, but he was productive enough in his four late-season starts to lead Georgia State in every major passing category and earn honorable-mention all-conference honors.
He’ll enter 2026 as the starter, and it’s easy to see why. He’s a twitchy athlete who can hurt defenses with his running ability (he ran for a combined 187 yards in his first two 2025 starts) but can also effectively deliver as a passer in the intermediate and deep parts of the field.
Tier 6
Sun Belt
New starter
Denegal spent three years at Michigan but didn’t receive extended playing time until last season, his first at San Diego State. He won’t wow anyone as a technical passer, but he’s athletic, and there’s optimism he’ll improve with a cleaner bill of health this season.
“You can see why Michigan took him out of high school. … Elite arm,” a G6 general manager who faced San Diego State last year said. “I didn’t think he had the best feel sometimes. I thought they did a good job of setting him up and using him for the throws that he’s good at.”
Tier 6
Pac-12
Returning starter
Jackson, who also made stops at Tennessee and Indiana, started 10 games for UCF last year. His physical talent is evident, even if the results haven’t consistently matched. He gives new coach Neal Brown real ability and experience that should play well in the American.
“He’ll do a good job in that conference,” a Power 4 personnel director said. “He’s a big kid, can throw a good ball. Not the most dynamic runner, but he’s big enough where you can utilize him in that way.”
Hejny was Oklahoma State’s opening-day starter last season but was limited to just 10 pass attempts after he broke his foot in the first game. Those are the only 10 passes Hejny has thrown at the collegiate level. He’s been utilized more as a runner throughout his career — 19 rush attempts for 92 yards — so we’re set to learn a lot more about him this fall.
“I am interested to see him there. I like Hauss,” a Power 4 offensive coordinator said. “I think that’s a pretty good fit for him and he’ll have a lot of success at Colorado State.”
Davenport stepped into the starting role last season after 2024 starter Gio Lopez transferred to North Carolina. The former Utah State transfer didn’t disappoint. He’s an accurate, fundamentally sound passer who worked well within the structure of the offense. Another year of experience — this will be his fourth at South Alabama — should help him improve.
“He’s a really good player, and for (head coach Major Applewhite’s) system, it’s a really good fit,” a Sun Belt personnel staffer said.
Tier 6
Sun Belt
Returning starter
Watson, who transferred from Virginia Tech, is an electric athlete. He’s small but shifty and accelerates quickly when taking off. As a passer, he’s most comfortable moving the pocket, which opens throwing lanes that weren’t available on his initial dropback. His downfield throws are more feasible due to the threat his athleticism poses.
“He’s a coach’s kid,” a MAC head coach said. “Not really, really tall, but he’s another guy that understands it. High football IQ and he’s really been a winner everywhere he’s been.”
DeShields is a snapshot of resilience. The junior tore the ACL in his right knee three times between his senior high school season (2022) and his second year at Kent State, which kept him sidelined until last year.
He thrived once his opportunity arrived, helping a Golden Flashes team that went winless in 2024 to a five-win improvement in 2025. He can spray the ball all over the field, throws downfield with confidence and is effective in the short game. He didn’t run much in 2025, but he is effective throwing on the move.
“He doesn’t wow you with anything, but he has it,” a MAC head coach said. “He just finds a way to make plays, not only within the scheme, but when it breaks down, he’s able to make something out of nothing.”
Tier 6
MAC
Returning starter
It feels like the Hilltoppers always have productive quarterbacks, and Tisdale could be the next in line. He took over midway through last season and started Western Kentucky’s final six games. The Hilltoppers went 4-2 in that span and won the New Orleans Bowl.
“Dual threat, really smooth thrower,” a Conference USA head coach said. “He’s good.”
The coaching staff brought in Florida State transfer Brock Glenn, who has experience and could push for the job. Both quarterbacks will work with new OC Bodie Reeder, who joined the program from Middle Tennessee this offseason.
Tier 6
CUSA
Returning starter
Winfield didn’t start until Week 7 last year (Walker Howard and Daniel Beale preceded him), but he didn’t let go of the job once he got it. He proved productive in his eight starts, with 667 rushing yards (third-most among 2025 Sun Belt QBs) and 20 combined rushing and passing touchdowns. He doesn’t have a rocket arm but displays good touch and is comfortable on the move.
“I think he’s a pretty good player,” a Sun Belt head coach said.
Tier 6
Sun Belt
Returning starter
Kim, who has also played at Michigan State and Coastal Carolina, started all 12 games for EMU in 2025, led the MAC in passing yardage (2,817) and has more FBS starts than any QB in the conference (17).
Kim doesn’t have an elite arm but has good pocket feel, throws in rhythm, is a run threat and capably manages the Eagles’ offense. One caveat: His 15 turnovers were third-most in the league.
“He makes a ton of plays with his arm and legs, but he’s the most turnover-prone,” a MAC head coach said.
Tier 6
MAC
Returning starter
Coleman, a former Richmond transfer, is competing for the starting job with Memphis transfer Arrington Maiden, UCF transfer Davi Belfort and returnee JC Evans. None have much FBS experience — Coleman redshirted and didn’t see the field last year, while the other three have fewer than 50 career snaps.
Coleman and Maiden have the most intriguing physical profiles. Both are similar in size and true dual threats who can throw to all parts of the field and hurt defenses with their legs. But Coleman has the most starting experience of the group (14 starts) — albeit at the FCS level — and was the only QB to earn captain status for the spring game.
Tier 6
Sun Belt
New starter
Bailey, who followed new Coastal Carolina coach Ryan Beard from Missouri State, is an elusive, make-something-out-of-nothing playmaker. He has a small, slight frame, but he makes up for it with his playmaking ability. He also shows good anticipation as a passer.
As a true freshman, Bailey played in three games and started one in place of the injured Jacob Clark. He fared well given his inexperience, and the moment didn’t appear too big for him, but his ball security — he tends to hold the ball away from his body when taking off — needs work. He’s one to watch as he steps into a bigger role in 2026.
Central Michigan uses multiple quarterbacks under coach Matt Drinkall, and Glasser was one of three who saw time last year behind 2025 starter Joe Labas. Glasser, Angel Flores and Marcus Beamon all return to compete as Labas’ successor, but Glasser has the most potential of the group.
Glasser has a first-off-the-bus frame, with the look of a high-end Power 4 starter. He has the arm to reach all parts of the field, is a run threat and can deliver strikes when scrambling. He started three games in 2024 and showed promise in his only extended action last year, playing meaningful snaps in CMU’s Week 2 loss to Pitt, but a knee injury sidelined him for the rest of the season.
Flores, who is used primarily as a runner, figures to also get snaps in much the way he did a year ago, but don’t be surprised if Glasser has a breakout year.
Pinnick earned 2025 Big Sky Freshman of the Year honors after he passed for 3,206 yards, rushed for 437 and accounted for 32 touchdowns while leading UC Davis to the FCS playoffs. He is a creative player in the pocket but has to cut down on turnovers (10 interceptions and four lost fumbles last season) as he moves up a level.
“I still think his best football will be after this year,” a G6 general manager said. “He’ll be good this year, but we really liked him as a young, developmental guy. He’s talented, though. Improviser, dual-sport athlete.”
Stokes, a D-II transfer from West Florida, is battling former Ohio State and South Carolina transfer Air Noland, but Stokes seemed to have the edge coming out of spring football. Stokes committed to Florida as a 2023 recruit but never got to UF after a video surfaced of him rapping along to lyrics that included a racial slur.
At West Florida, Stokes was Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2025 after leading the league in passing yards (3,297) and touchdown passes (30).
“He’s the better of the two because he’s athletic and he can make plays,” an American general manager said of Stokes. “I can see him being one of the better guys in our conference.”
Armenta is entering his third year as the Warhawks’ starter and made strides last season, improving his accuracy and ball security. His numbers won’t be eye-popping but he can make big plays, particularly as a downfield passer.
“He won’t beat you but he won’t lose it either,” a Sun Belt personnel staffer said. “Good game manager. Can rush a decent amount, can throw it all right. Doesn’t do anything over the top well but he’s a quality player for them.”
Tier 6
Sun Belt
Returning starter
Semonza, who transferred to Tulane from Ball State before the 2025 season, got lost in the shuffle as previous head coach Jon Sumrall took four transfer QBs last offseason (former BYU starter Jake Retzlaff wound up with the job). But the other three are gone, and Semonza, the 2024 MAC Freshman of the Year, returns.
Tulane did take a transfer — Houston backup Zeon Chriss-Gremillion, a former starter at Louisiana. But Semonza’s comfort and familiarity with new coach Will Hall (Tulane’s passing game coordinator/receivers coach last year) gives him an edge. Because of his lack of 2025 snaps, it’s easy to forget that Semonza was a coveted portal quarterback in the 2024-25 offseason. He’s a traditional pass-first quarterback who operates well both within offensive structure and off-platform, showing good arm strength for his frame.
Tier 6
American
New starter
The Lobos have a run-first offense, so Layne wasn’t exactly asked to do a lot in the passing game. Though he won’t blow anyone away as a passer, Layne still had some strong moments — like a 342-yard, three-touchdown effort on the road at UNLV — and helped New Mexico post its first winning season since 2016. “He was just OK in my opinion,” said a G6 general manager.
“A lot of turnovers. A lot of sacks. Did have the ability to take some deep shots. I don’t know. That was an interesting one for me.”
Tier 6
Mountain West
Returning starter
Dickens was tremendous at Western Carolina last year and was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Year. He threw for 3,508 yards with a 74.2 percent completion percentage and a 7.7 percent off-target rate, both No. 1 in the FCS. He should provide an immediate boost to the Huskies’ anemic passing game.
“Our head coach loved him,” a G6 general manager said. “My only concern with him after watching the tape is durability. He’s so small. You gotta get him a stepstool to see over the line of scrimmage. But he grades out really well.”
Tier 6
Mountain West
Transfer
Tier 7
If you’ve watched college football this decade, you’ve likely caught a glimpse of Johnson, who was a freshman at LSU in 2020. After starting there in 2021, he spent two years at Texas A&M and two at North Carolina. Injuries interrupted his time at both stops, including a broken leg in the 2024 season opener.
At Georgia Southern, he’ll attempt to be the wire-to-wire starter for the first time since he was at LSU. The southpaw is a pocket passer but can move, and he brings a wealth of experience (35 games, 24 starts, 1,843 career snaps) and has won games in the Power 4.
Brown feels like a perfect fit for Scott Abell’s gun-option offense. The Owls had some success last year with Chase Jenkins, but Brown, who has played at Miami and UCF, is much bigger. The long strider is tough to tackle, and his running ability should separate him.
“Better pure quarterback talent than what they had before,” an American GM said. “He’s a big athlete who was competent enough as a passer to get a chance at a P4 school. He’ll be able to run what they do well.”
A blue-chip prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle, Merklinger was limited to just 30 pass attempts as a reserve quarterback at Tennessee over the past two seasons. Huskies coach Jason Candle, a respected offensive mind, is entering his first season on the job and will roll with Merklinger as his starter.
“He’s athletic. Comfortable on the move,” an SEC personnel staffer said. “Not elite arm strength. … Little up and down accuracy. Needs a lot of reps. Don’t think he will ever be an elite guy. He’s the type that can make an offense run, but not going to win you games.”
Tier 7
Independent
Transfer
The Eagles hope McKenzie, who played at Saginaw Valley State in Michigan, is the latest Division II transfer quarterback success story. He is a tough player who runs a lot (942 rushing yards) but will also wait in the pocket until the last possible moment and will take whatever hit may follow. But there are questions about his size and passing ability, and he has been turnover-prone (11 interceptions and four lost fumbles last year).
“Supreme athlete, can flip and roll. I think he’s solid enough as a passer,” a G6 general manager said. “I don’t know if he’s going to be a good enough pure passer at the ACC level.”
Richter, a longtime backup for the Rockets, looks poised to slide into the starting role with Tucker Gleason gone. The veteran has good size, can make all the necessary throws, shows poise in the pocket and has been lauded for his leadership by new coach Mike Jacobs.
He doesn’t have a ton of meaningful snaps and just 207 total in four seasons, but he has been productive and efficient when given the opportunity, completing more than 65 percent of his passes for 699 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.
Wright, a redshirt freshman who was part of head coach Pete Lembo’s first Buffalo signing class, saw just 19 snaps in four games last year, mostly as a rushing threat. But the Bulls are high on him. Not only is he a dynamic runner, but he’s an effective downfield thrower who has the ability to stretch defenses with his arm talent.
Wright is battling transfer Elijah Holmes, who started 12 games at Division II Wingate (N.C.) and threw for 3,037 yards, 24 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2025.
The Hawkeyes exited the spring without a clear answer in the quarterback battle between Hecklinski and Hank Brown. Brown beat out Hecklinski for the backup job last season, but Hecklinski took over later in the year. Hecklinski, who began his career at Wake Forest, won’t impress anyone with his physical tools and has only two career passing attempts. Brown, a former Auburn signee, has 73. Iowa has taken some steps forward offensively the past few seasons, but the quarterback situation in 2026 isn’t great — on paper, at least.
This is still an open competition between Lonergan and AJ Surace, who is in his third year with the program. It seems like a relatively competitive battle, but Lonergan has the edge in experience based on his nine starts at Boston College last season. And if Rutgers was completely sold on Surace, it probably wouldn’t have needed to add a signal caller with extended P4 snaps under his belt. Lonergan, who began his career at Alabama, wasn’t horrible at Boston College but clearly wasn’t the solution either. So we’ll see what the Scarlet Knights can get out of him.
Ballard is competing for the starting job with fellow veteran Isaiah Marshall and Rice transfer Chase Jenkins. Ballard, a former walk-on, made a start in 2023 after injuries to then-starter Jalon Daniels and Jason Bean.
Given his extended time with the Jayhawks and familiarity with Andy Kotelnicki’s offense, Ballard appears to be the favorite, though it wouldn’t be surprising to see Marshall and/or Jenkins, who are more athletic, get snaps. Despite all three being at least third-year players, none are terribly experienced, with Jenkins having 358 career snaps, Ballard 104 and Marshall 18.
Crowder, the opening-day starter for the Trojans each of the last two years, had both his 2024 and 2025 seasons interrupted by injury. In 2024, he was limited to four games. Last year, he had September shoulder surgery, which caused him to miss six games in the middle of the season.
He has been effective when healthy, accounting for 19 touchdowns and 1,951 total yards in 11 starts. He’s a tough, poised, accurate passer who can win games if he can remain on the field.
Tier 7
Sun Belt
Returning starter
There hasn’t been a lot to be excited about in Reno — the Wolf Pack have won just 10 games over the past four seasons — but Jones could be a source of optimism. He was one of just a handful of true freshmen who ascended to a starting QB role last season and showed solid traits: a good arm, quick release and mobility.
“I think he’s a dude,” a G6 general manager said. “They don’t have talent, so he’s not going to look good. But I think, s—, we would’ve taken him out of the portal. … I loved that kid.”
Tier 7
Mountain West
Returning starter
Browne spent the spring of 2025 at North Carolina before transferring back to the Boilermakers and claiming the starting job. The first two games of the season, against outmanned teams, were promising, but Browne struggled once Purdue faced P4 competition. He threw three touchdowns and five interceptions over the final two months of the season, so the Boilermakers will need more from him — and everyone else.
“(He’s) a legit long speed guy, is a threat to scramble,” a Big Ten assistant coach said. “Good competitor. Will be interesting to see improvements they will make from last season.”
Tier 7
Big Ten
Returning starter
Poffenbarger is on his fifth stop. After starting his career at Old Dominion, he had two terrific years in the FCS at Albany, the second of which he led the subdivision in passing yards (3,603) and passing touchdowns (36). He’s run into tough luck since, transferring to Miami a week before Cam Ward in 2024 and arriving at North Texas to potentially start in 2025, only to lose a competition to last year’s FBS passing leader, Drew Mestemaker.
He’ll get one last shot with the Zips under coach Joe Moorhead, who hopes to realize the potential the last two staffs saw.
“He’s an elite thrower and a great athlete,” an FBS head coach said. “He’ll be very successful if he can pick up the offense.”
Novosad was a heavily pursued recruit out of high school in 2023 before landing at Oregon, where he was a reserve for three seasons, logging only 48 snaps and attempting just 15 passes. This will be his first opportunity at extended, meaningful playing time.
He has a long delivery and is not a fireballer, but he gets it there. In his limited action, he showed he can read the field well and doesn’t put the ball in harm’s way. He has the look of a traditional dropback passer and has sufficient functional athleticism. He has enough ability to lift a passing attack that produced the third-lowest yardage total in the MAC last season.
San Jose State has ranked in the top 15 nationally in passing in each of the last two seasons under offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann. With Walker Eget now at Duke, Stutzmann looked to another pass-heavy offense to find his next quarterback and wound up with Weaver, who threw for a combined 534 yards in two starts for Hawaii last season. Given what Stutzmann’s offenses have shown over the past two seasons, Weaver should be expected to put up good passing numbers this fall.
Tier 7
Mountain West
Transfer
Kohl was a top-150 prospect in the 2023 recruiting cycle but never found a role during his two years at Iowa State. He transferred to Appalachian State and didn’t win the job but passed for 1,465 yards and played a decent bit after starter AJ Swann was injured. Now Kohl is at his third school in as many years, trying to lock down a starting role at FIU.
“He’s a little bit more athletic than you would imagine,” a G6 general manager said. “He can pull the ball down to run. Dude can move. But he might get sawed in half being 6-7.”
Gagliano is poised to step into the spotlight following the departure of longtime starter Nicholas Vattiato. We caught an early glimpse of Gagliano when he started the final three games last season in place of an injured Vattiato. The early returns were promising. He passed for at least 260 yards in each game, threw seven touchdown passes and rushed for two, didn’t turn the ball over and led the Blue Raiders to two of their three wins. Coach Derek Mason is 6-18 in his first two seasons at Middle Tennessee, but Gagliano might be able to provide a spark.
Ethan Vasko is the returning starter but missed the spring because of offseason shoulder surgery. He also struggled last season (10 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions), and the Flames ranked 83rd in scoring offense (25.6 ppg). So Liberty’s coaching staff brought in two veteran transfers to compete with him — Purdie (Wake Forest) and Jaylen Henderson (West Virginia). Purdie’s physical tools and experience may give him an edge in a wide-open competition.
“Game manager at best,” an ACC personnel staffer said. “Better have a run game. (Defenses) want him to beat them throwing.”
Henicle has offered glimpses of his ability in his first two seasons at ODU. In his first game in 2024, he ran for a 65-yard touchdown against Virginia Tech. In his most recent appearance, he won Cure Bowl MVP while starting for departing transfer Colton Joseph.
Henicle has won his only two starts and offers a skill set similar to that of Joseph: an adequate passer but a slippery runner who can accelerate. Assuming he wins the job over Washington transfer Jaxon Potter, Henicle should be a natural fit for the Monarchs’ offense.
Tier 7
Sun Belt
New starter
The last time we saw Warren play, he was in a disastrous offensive setup at Michigan in 2024. While it would’ve been difficult for any quarterback to succeed for the Wolverines that year, Warren surely didn’t elevate things. He failed to pass for more than 150 yards in six of his nine starts and also threw more interceptions (nine) than touchdowns (seven).
New Stanford coach Tavita Pritchard is hitching his wagon to Warren, but there are legitimate questions about whether the Cardinal’s roster has enough talent for Warren to be successful.
Burton, a former BYU and West Virginia transfer, backed up Jalen Kitna last year and returns to UAB to take the starting job under new coach Alex Mortensen. In spot starts for an injured Kitna, Burton showed plenty of ability to make effective downfield throws but also threw the ball into harm’s way at times.
“His combination of moxie and athleticism is going to cause some problems,” an American personnel director said. “I think he’s got enough arm talent.”
Tier 7
American
New starter
Poulos, a former junior college transfer, is entering his third year in the program. He spent the last two seasons backing up Parker Navarro and has only one start and 218 snaps across 12 games. He is more of a traditional passer than the quick and shifty Navarro was, but he can move the chains when running the ball and moves well for his size.
Poulos is battling New Hampshire transfer Matt Vezza and freshman Levi Davis for the job, but Poulos had the leg up coming out of spring football.
Owens, a former four-star recruit, had the distinction of signing with Texas when Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning were already there. He barely saw the field, taking 28 snaps in 2024 and none since then. He’s battling with three others for the job: Vanderbilt transfers Drew Dickey and Jeremy St-Hilaire — Garrett Altman, Arkansas State’s new offensive coordinator, was the Commodores’ QB coach last year — and returnee Ethan Crawford.
Owens has the type of arm one would expect given his size and should be able to stretch the field comfortably. Running isn’t a major part of his game, and he’s not a speedster, but he can pick up yards on the ground.
“I always thought he was going to be a good player,” the Sun Belt personnel staffer said. “He probably wasn’t Texas good, but I think he’ll definitely be a good starter and I think they’ll play well with him there.”
Cowboys coach Jay Sawvel is 7-17 through two years on the job. In 2024, Wyoming ranked 123rd nationally in scoring offense (19.3 ppg). It got worse in 2025 (16.0 ppg, 131st). Now, the Cowboys turn to Hughes, a transfer from William & Mary who threw for 2,330 yards and rushed for 670, accounting for 31 total touchdowns in 2025. Wyoming will have to find a way to maximize all of Hughes’ skills to turn things around offensively.
Tier 7
Mountain West
Transfer
Miners coach Scotty Walden never found a successful formula at quarterback last year, and both players who started games, Malachi Nelson and Skyler Locklear, transferred in the offseason after combining for 20 interceptions. Walden is 5-19 through his first two seasons at UTEP, so he’s under pressure to win and will place his faith in Colson, who began his career at UCF before spending last year at Incarnate Word.
“He was damn good,” one opposing head coach said. “(But) sometimes it doesn’t matter how good of a quarterback you are if you’re in a bad situation.”
Tier 7
Mountain West
Transfer
School:
North Dakota State
The Bison, who have enjoyed a strong run of quarterback play, are handing the keys to the offense to Hayes as they move up to the FBS. His sample size is very limited. He’s thrown just 63 passes over the past two seasons, and a majority of those came in blowout victories. He did take some snaps in North Dakota State’s stunning loss to Illinois in the FCS quarterfinals but completed just 2 of 7 attempts for 19 yards in that game.
Tier 7
Mountain West
New starter
Gotkowski entered last season as the third quarterback but worked his way into the lineup and started three of the final four games with mixed results, contributing to wins over Buffalo and Ball State but having tough outings in losses to Western Michigan and Fresno State.
He is on the smaller side but is a good athlete and throws a nice deep ball. His accuracy needs a lot of work, though: His 24.4 percent off-target rate was second-worst among the 180 QBs who had at least 85 pass attempts last year. It’s by no means a given that he wins the job, as he’s in a competition with two transfers: David McComb, a 6-4, 220-pound redshirt freshman who was at Kansas, and Caleb Heavner, a fifth-year senior from Division II Fort Hays State in Kansas.
Hampton saw only 17 snaps as a backup last season at Illinois, but casual fans may remember him as the quarterback who helped guide Northern Illinois to its 2024 upset of Notre Dame. He started 10 games that season and didn’t have terrific production (his 198 passing yards against the Fighting Irish were his highest against an FBS opponent), but he led the Huskies to bowl eligibility.
Hampton doesn’t display elite physical traits but has good size and is a tough, smart player who can throw and run. He’s battling returnee Landry Lyddy for the starting job.
Locklear emerged as UTEP’s starter midway through last season. The offense slightly improved when he took over, but it was still a slog, and Locklear struggled to protect the football. That was a bad offensive environment, and now Locklear is getting a new start with the Bears and first-year coach Casey Woods. Locklear followed offensive coordinator Mark Cala from UTEP to Missouri State, which could give him an edge over Duke transfer Henry Belin IV.
“He’s scrappy … but I was shocked they took him from UTEP,” one Conference USA head coach said.
There’s a tight connection between Locke and Bearkats coach Phil Longo. Locke was committed to Wisconsin when Longo was the Badgers’ offensive coordinator but signed with Sam Houston after Longo was hired. Longo and Locke, who started three games in 2025, have to improve the offense after it ranked 127th in scoring (17.8 ppg) during a 2-10 season.
“He’s good, but I don’t know how good he’ll look because of the lack of talent around him,” a G6 general manager said. “He’s a Power 4-caliber quarterback, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up in the P4 next year.”
The Owls lost 2025 starter Amari Odom to Syracuse, but ended up with Collins, who started a handful of games for the Orange last season. It was the first real extended playing time for Collins, and he struggled mightily. He accounted for more turnovers than touchdowns and wasn’t an accurate passer, and he eventually lost the starting role. Whether he’s more comfortable or not at the G6 level will play a part in Kennesaw State’s repeat bid for a conference title.
“Turns the ball over a lot. But he’s talented enough for what Kennesaw does,” a G6 general manager said.
Kukuk actually won a tight competition for the starting job out of camp last year but in Week 3 gave way to Blake Baker, who started the next seven games before tearing his ACL. With Baker recovering, Kukuk has worked with the first team this offseason and figures to be the starter again.
Kukuk was underwhelming early, but found his footing late in the year, rushing for a combined 319 yards in wins over Liberty, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina. A Group of 6 personnel director said Kukuk was effective as a runner, but if he’s asked to beat a team as a passer, “I don’t see it happening.”
Tier 7
Sun Belt
New starter
Conklin isn’t a typical transfer, as this is his second stint with Sac State. He was a Jerry Rice Award finalist — which goes to the top freshman in the FCS — in 2024 as the Hornets’ starter, but he transferred to Fresno State after last year’s coach, Brennan Marion, brought in Cardell Williams and Jaden Rashada.
Conklin backed up E.J. Warner at Fresno but started three games and flashed a bit of gunslinger mentality, rarely hesitating to let it rip. He showed good velocity and a quick release but failed to hit a 50 percent completion rate in each of his starts and returned to the bench. Could being back in familiar surroundings help him return to his 2024 form?
Harrell started Charlotte’s first four games before a knee injury ended his 2025 season. He’s back for 2026, but not without competition: Pitt transfer Cole Gonzales has arrived, and Grayson Loftis, who started seven games while Harrell was out, returns. Gonzales, who starred at Western Carolina before going to Pitt, has a real shot here.
Before the injury, Harrell had a career-best performance in Charlotte’s only win, against FCS Monmouth. The upside remains the same: He’s a big, athletic option who needs to improve as a passer, and he was underwhelming against FBS foes.
“I know he got hurt last year, but the film was not good before the injury,” an American personnel director said.
Tier 7
American
Returning starter
Hillstead actually began his career with the Aggies and played a good bit as a true freshman in 2023 (1,062 passing yards and 11 TDs). He transferred to BYU after that season and was in the mix to start last year after Jake Retzlaff’s sudden departure created an opening. But Hillstead lost the competition to Bear Bachmeier and threw just five passes in 2025. Aggies coach Bronco Mendenhall named Hillstead the starter in April.
The Cardinals have a competition between Luster (formerly of SMU and Texas State) and Tyler Mizzell, a Division II transfer from Concord (W.Va.) University who started his career at Wake Forest. Luster’s thick frame is unique, but he has plenty of arm talent, which originally attracted SMU to him out of high school in 2023.
He isn’t a dynamic athlete but is functional on the move. The hurdle is his lack of reps: He’s had only 15 career dropbacks and 67 career snaps. Mizzell was an all-conference pick last year and started 10 games after seeing just two snaps in two seasons at Wake Forest.
Martin spent the past two seasons at Maryland, but his playing time was mostly limited to late snaps in blowouts. The highlight of his career was winning MVP of the Terrapins’ spring game last year. It’s not difficult to see why there’s intrigue. He is physically impressive and moves around for his size. Martin needs more reps, which the Bulldogs can provide, and Fresno State hopes it has a quarterback who can take care of the ball after its QBs threw 13 interceptions last fall.
Smolik, a former Elite 11 Finalist, spent the last three years as a reserve at Penn State and endured some tough injury luck. He battled Ethan Grunkemeyer for the backup job behind Drew Allar and became QB2 after Allar’s injury.
He has yet to attempt a collegiate pass and was used as a rusher in package plays last season — one of which led to a season-ending wrist injury. Smolik is battling Washington State transfer Ajani Sheppard for the starting job, but he is the favorite to win it.
Smolik’s combination of legitimate arm talent and underrated athleticism should fit Temple’s offense well.
The Aggies have ranked 110th or worse in scoring offense in each of coach Tony Sanchez’s two seasons at the helm. Sanchez hasn’t been able to find stable QB play either. New Mexico State will now place its hopes in Hedden, who passed for 2,967 yards at FCS Furman last season, but had a major turnover problem (13 interceptions and three lost fumbles).
“Sometimes he gets a little loose with the ball. He’s still a little young,” a Conference USA head coach said. “But (OC David) Yost has done a pretty good job of getting those guys right in his career.”
Notes: Snap counts, dropbacks, off-target percentages and pressure rates are from Pro Football Focus. Explosive play rates are from TruMedia. Because of the changing nature of NCAA eligibility rules, quarterbacks are listed by what year they’re in (first, second, third, fourth, etc.) rather than classification (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior).
Quarterbacks are sortable by conference and by their status: returning starter, transfer or new starter. Returning starters are those who generally started at least half of their current team’s 2025 games, with exceptions for QBs who were opening-day starters but lost extended time to injury. Transfers include only those who transferred to their current team in the 2026 offseason. New starters are mostly first-time starters and generally include QBs who haven’t started at least half a season before, but could also be former transfers who have been in their programs for multiple seasons and are now getting the chance to start.
For teams that haven’t officially named a starter because they’re still engaged in a quarterback battle, we ranked who we project to start based on information gathered to this point. For quarterbacks making their second appearance on this list, we included their 2025 College QB Tiers ranking.
