B/R's 2025 College Football Top 25 Quarterbacks Rankings
Welcome to Bleacher Report's first quarterback rankings of the 2025 college football season.
The top five quarterbacks from our final 2024 rankings—Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel, Cam Ward, Kurtis Rourke and Jaxson Dart—have all moved on to the NFL, which opens the door for a new wave of top-tier quarterback talent across college football.
Past performance, physical projection, level of competition and supporting cast all played a part in determining where each player fell in our preseason rankings, but once the season starts, the focus will be on 2025 production.
If your favorite team's quarterback is not currently on the list, fear not. If he is putting up numbers, he will inevitably find his way into the rankings. That's the beauty of a weekly staple.
Let the debate begin.
25. Dylan Raiola, Nebraska
1 of 25
Stats: 13 G, 275-of-410, 2,819 yards, 13 TD, 11 INT; -65 rush yards, 0 TD
A 5-star recruit who was slotted behind only Julian Sayin (Ohio State) and DJ Lagway (Florida) in the 2024 quarterback class, Dylan Raiola jumped right into the starting job for Nebraska last season.
He threw for 1,224 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions during his first five games, but he struggled to find consistency during the second half of the season. With a year of valuable experience under his belt, he could take a significant step forward.
24. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
2 of 25
Stats: 4 G, 5-of-12, 84 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT; 24 rush yards, 0 TD
Despite limited game experience, Julian Sayin has the potential to be a top-five quarterback on this list by the time the 2025 season is over, thanks to a 5-star pedigree and a talented group of targets in the passing game.
With Jeremiah Smith (76 catches, 1,315 yards, 15 TD) and Carnell Tate (52 catches, 733 yards, 4 TD) both returning at wide receiver, and Purdue transfer Max Klare (51 catches, 685 yards, 4 TD) adding an impact option at tight end, he will have a chance to put up some big numbers.
23. CJ Bailey, NC State
3 of 25
Stats: 12 G, 196-of-302, 2,413 yards, 17 TD, 10 INT; 279 rush yards, 5 TD
CJ Bailey did not enter the college ranks with as much hype as some of the other true freshman quarterbacks who saw regular action last season, but he ended up having one of the most productive seasons of the bunch.
Expected to spend the 2024 season on the bench behind Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall, he was instead thrust into the starting job. And after finishing last year on a high note, he has the tools to be one of the biggest breakout quarterbacks of 2025.
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22. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
4 of 25
Stats: 13 G, 213-of-334, 2,616 yards, 19 TD, 5 INT; 358 rush yards, 3 TD
After sitting behind Joe Milton III as a true freshman, Nico Iamaleava was expected to be one of the biggest breakout quarterbacks of the 2024 season while piloting a Tennessee squad that ranked No. 12 in the preseason AP poll.
He threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener, but he had just eight passing touchdowns over his next nine games before closing out the year with back-to-back four-touchdown performances against UTEP and Vanderbilt. Now he has a new set of expectations to live up to following his transfer to UCLA.
21. Demond Williams Jr., Washington
5 of 25
Stats: 13 G, 82-of-105, 944 yards, 8 TD, 1 INT; 282 rush yards, 2 TD
Demond Williams Jr. posted the highest grade of any true freshman quarterback in the nation who took at least 250 snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
After spending most of the season behind Will Rogers on the depth chart, he made his first career start against Oregon in the regular-season finale, completing 17-of-20 pass attempts for 201 yards and a touchdown.
Williams then set the hype machine in motion with 374 passing yards, four passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in the Sun Bowl against Louisville.
20. Josh Hoover, TCU
6 of 25
Stats: 13 G, 313-of-471, 3,949 yards, 27 TD, 11 INT; -19 rush yards, 4 TD
In his first year as the unquestioned starter at TCU after splitting time with Chandler Morris as a freshman, Josh Hoover finished second in the Big 12 and seventh in the nation with 3,949 passing yards while leading the Horned Frogs to a 6-1 record over their final seven games.
His passing production could be boosted by a breakout season from Eric McAllister, who hauled in 39 catches for 762 yards and five touchdowns last year and earned preseason first team All-Big 12 honors.
19. Darian Mensah, Duke
7 of 25
Stats: 13 G, 189-of-287, 2,723 yards, 22 TD, 6 INT; 132 rush yards, 1 TD
Following a breakout season at Tulane, Darian Mensah received a headline-grabbing two-year, $8 million NIL deal to replace Maalik Murphy as the starting quarterback at Duke.
After leading the AAC in completion percentage (65.9), yards per attempt (9.5) and passer efficiency rating (166.7), he has the talent to make the Blue Devils a potential sleeper in the ACC.
18. Avery Johnson, Kansas State
8 of 25
Stats: 13 G, 217-of-372, 2,712 yards, 25 TD, 10 INT; 605 rush yards, 7 TD
Avery Johnson spent his true freshman season behind Will Howard on the depth chart at Kansas State, though he did see action in eight games, tallying 479 passing yards, 296 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns.
He led the Wildcats to a third straight nine-win season in his first year as starter, and his 32 total touchdowns trailed only Shedeur Sanders (41) and Rocco Becht (33) among Big 12 players.
17. Blake Horvath, Navy
9 of 25
Stats: 12 G, 80-of-139, 1,353 yards, 13 TD, 4 INT; 1,246 rush yards, 17 TD
One of the most effective passing quarterbacks in Navy football history, Horvath tied the school's single-season record with 13 passing touchdowns last year while also ranking third among FBS quarterbacks with 1,246 rushing yards.
He had four games with at least 100 passing yards and 100 rushing yards, and he turned in one of the most dynamic single game performances of the year in a 56-44 win over Memphis, logging 211 rushing yards, 192 passing yards, 13 receiving yards and six total touchdowns.
16. Luke Altmyer, Illinois
10 of 25
Stats: 13 G, 211-of-347, 2,717 yards, 22 TD, 6 INT; 217 rush yards, 4 TD
Luke Altmyer put together one of the most prolific passing seasons in University of Illinois history last year, with only Kurt Kittner (27 in 2001, 24 in 1999) throwing more touchdown passes in a single season.
The Ole Miss transfer had 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his first season with the Fighting Illini in 2023 before taking a significant step forward last year, and now he will be piloting a team with legitimate expectations as they rank No. 12 in the preseason AP poll.
15. Haynes King, Georgia Tech
11 of 25
Stats: 11 G, 196-of-269, 2,114 yards, 14 TD, 2 INT; 587 rush yards, 11 TD
Despite battling a shoulder injury last season, Haynes King still led the ACC and finished fourth in the nation with a 72.9 percent completion rate while leading Georgia Tech to a second straight bowl game on the heels of four straight losing seasons.
He was one of only nine quarterbacks in the nation last year with 10 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns, and he has a chance to lead the Yellow Jackets to national relevance in his sixth collegiate season.
14. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
12 of 25
Stats: 13 G, 177-of-298, 2,293 yards, 20 TD, 4 INT; 801 rush yards, 8 TD
After starting his college career in the JUCO ranks and then turning in two standout seasons at New Mexico State as one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation, Diego Pavia made the jump to SEC competition and led Vanderbilt to its best season in years.
The 24-year-old upset Alabama at home and also beat Auburn and Kentucky on the road while leading the Commodores to their first winning season and first appearance in the AP poll since 2013.
13. Rocco Becht, Iowa State
13 of 25
Stats: 14 G, 271-of-456, 3,505 yards, 25 TD, 9 INT; 318 rush yards, 8 TD
Here is a list of every 3,000-yard, 20-touchdown passing season in Iowa State football history:
Brock Purdy (2019): 3,982 yards, 27 TD
Rocco Becht (2023): 3,120 yards, 23 TD
Rocco Becht (2024): 3,505 yards, 25 TD
Becht piloted the Cyclones offense to a school record 11 wins and a trip to the Big 12 championship game, and he brings a wealth of experience into his third season as the starter under center.
12. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
14 of 25
Stats: 11 G, 265-of-386, 3,004 yards, 16 TD, 6 INT; 105 rush yards, 2 TD
The Hoosiers struck gold when they added Kurtis Rourke in the transfer portal a year ago, and now they are hoping for the same out of University of California transfer Fernando Mendoza.
After throwing for 1,708 yards and 14 touchdowns as a freshman, Mendoza took a major step forward last year when he finished second in the ACC and 10th in the nation with a 68.7 percent completion rate.
He threw multiple touchdown passes six times, and finished the year with a 299-yard, three-touchdown performance against Stanford.
11. Carson Beck, Miami
15 of 25
Stats: 13 G, 290-of-448, 3,485 yards, 28 TD, 12 INT; 71 rush yards, 1 TD
After throwing for 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns while leading Georgia to a 13-1 finish in his first year as starter in 2023, Carson Beck entered last season as one of the Heisman Trophy favorites.
He got off to a hot start, but he threw three interceptions in a loss to Alabama on Sept. 28 that kicked off a five-game stretch in which he tallied 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
A torn UCL in his right elbow knocked him out of the SEC championship game and required surgery, and now Beck gets a fresh start replacing Cam Ward at the University of Miami.
10. Kevin Jennings, SMU
16 of 25
Stats: 14 G, 247-of-380, 3,245 yards, 23 TD, 11 INT; 354 rush yards, 5 TD
After attempting 127 passes in his first two seasons at SMU, Kevin Jennings pushed Preston Stone to the bench last year after the two split time over the first three games, and he went on to lead the Mustangs to an 11-win season and a trip to the College Football Playoff.
He completed 68.7 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions while going 9-0 in his nine regular-season starts, and he threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns in a three-point loss to Clemson in the ACC championship game.
9. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
17 of 25
Stats: 13 G, 216-of-350, 2,885 yards, 24 TD, 6 INT; 443 rush yards, 5 TD
Sam Leavitt spent his true freshman season behind Katin Houser and Noah Kim on the depth chart at Michigan State, attempting just 23 passes for the Spartans before entering the transfer portal.
He won a wide-open quarterback competition last fall and led the Sun Devils to an 11-win season, beating four ranked teams along the way and reaching the College Football Playoff.
Leavitt no longer has All-American running back Cam Skattebo, but he is capable of taking another major step forward as a passer.
8. Sawyer Robertson, Baylor
18 of 25
Stats: 12 G, 229-of-368, 3,071 yards, 28 TD, 8 INT; 230 rush yards, 4 TD
Slotted behind Toledo transfer Dequan Finn on the depth chart when the season began, Sawyer Robertson finished the season on an absolute roll, going 6-0 while throwing for 1,581 yards with 17 touchdowns and four interceptions over his final six regular-season games.
He had a season-high 445 yards against LSU in the Texas Bowl, and he will look to pick up where he left off in 2025. The return of star running back Bryson Washington (1,028 rushing yards, 12 TD) should also help open things up in the passing game.
7. DJ Lagway, Florida
19 of 25
Stats: 12 G, 115-of-192, 1,915 yards, 12 TD, 9 INT; 101 rush yards, 0 TD
Among quarterbacks with at least 100 pass attempts last season, DJ Lagway ranked second in the nation with 10.0 yards per attempt, behind only Ole Miss star Jaxson Dart (10.8), and that speaks to the level of explosiveness the true freshman brought to the Florida offense.
He started seven games for the Gators last year and went 6-1, including wins over LSU, Ole Miss, Florida State and Tulane to close out the year.
All of the pieces are there for him to be a star, and he will be at the helm of a Florida team searching for its first 10-win season since 2019.
6. John Mateer, Oklahoma
20 of 25
Stats: 12 G, 224-of-347, 3,139 yards, 29 TD, 7 INT; 826 rush yards, 15 TD
After two seasons sharing a quarterback room with Cam Ward and attempting just 19 passes, John Mateer took over as the starter at Washington State last season and showcased his dual-threat skills while tying with this year's No. 1 overall NFL draft pick for the FBS lead with 44 total touchdowns.
One of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal this offseason, he landed at Oklahoma where he will be tasked with turning things around for a team that stumbled to a 6-7 record last year in its SEC debut.
5. Arch Manning, Texas
21 of 25
Stats: 10 G, 61-of-90, 939 yards, 9 TD, 2 INT; 108 rush yards, 4 TD
Calling Arch Manning a top-five quarterback requires a lot of projection, but he certainly looked the part in limited action last year while filling in for Quinn Ewers. And he checks all the boxes to be a Heisman Trophy candidate and top draft prospect.
He threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-13 victory over Mississippi State, also flashing his plus athleticism with 33 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Manning will be tested right out of the gates in his first year as starter with a matchup against Ohio State in Week 1.
4. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
22 of 25
Stats: 13 G, 337-of-525, 4,052 yards, 29 TD, 12 INT; -38 rush yards, 3 TD
After one year behind Max Johnson and two years behind Jayden Daniels, the LSU starting job finally belonged to Garrett Nussmeier last season, and he was asked to do a lot with 525 pass attempts.
There were highs and lows in a 9-4 season for the Tigers and for Nussmeier, who struggled during a three-game losing streak to Texas A&M, Alabama and Florida.
However, the physical tools and offensive scheme are there for him to put up some gaudy numbers as he looks to cement his status as one of the top quarterbacks in the 2026 draft.
3. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
23 of 25
Stats: 12 G, 196-of-299, 2,534 yards, 18 TD, 7 INT; 674 rush yards, 7 TD
During South Carolina's six-game winning streak last year, LaNorris Sellers was front and center as one of college football's biggest rising stars.
He threw for 1,481 yards with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions, and he added 436 rushing yards and four more scores in wins over Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Wofford and Clemson.
It was the Gamecocks' best finish since 2017 and the potential start of something special in Columbia, as they are ranked in the preseason AP poll for the first time since 2014. And Sellers is a big reason why optimism is peaking.
2. Drew Allar, Penn State
24 of 25
Stats: 16 G, 262-of-394, 3,327 yards, 24 TD, 8 INT; 302 rush yards, 6 TD
Drew Allar spent the 2023 season as a high-profile game manager, throwing for 2,631 yards and 25 touchdowns while averaging a modest 6.8 yards per attempt, leaning heavily on a dynamic rushing game and a stout defense.
The former 5-star recruit opened things up in the passing game last year and averaged 8.4 yards per attempt while leading the Nittany Lions to a 13-3 record and a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Can Allar take another step forward in his development this fall?
1. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
25 of 25
Stats: 14 G, 308-of-486, 3,639 yards, 36 TD, 6 INT; 463 rush yards, 7 TD
Cade Klubnik was the top quarterback prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, and after spending his freshman season behind D.J. Uiagalelei on the depth chart, he threw for a modest 2,844 yards and 19 touchdowns while going 9-4 in his first year in the starting role.
Entrusted to take a step forward in an era when teams are quick to look for the next big thing at quarterback, Klubnik had a terrific 2024 season, and he threw at least three touchdown passes in nine of his 14 games.
The preseason first team AP All-American quarterback has the talent and the supporting cast to lead Clemson to a national championship.
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