Early Predictions for CFB's Most Intriguing 2026 Quarterback Battles
Thanks to returning talent and transfers, a strong majority of college football teams know exactly who will be leading their offenses in 2026.
In the spring, however, a few quarterback battles will take center stage.
The most notable is Alabama, given its recent success in addition to making the College Football Playoff last season. But there are plenty of other power-conference programs looking for their next signal-caller.
While the stakes may not feel particularly high in February or March, the right answer at QB can catapult a team to major success in the fall.
Alabama Crimson Tide
1 of 7
Before the proud SEC program finds out whether Ty Simpson will be a first-round pick in the NFL draft, Alabama has to start a QB battle.
Austin Mack served as Simpson's backup in 2025, and he's especially familiar with Kalen DeBoer's system after following him to Bama from Washington. Mack will be a fourth-year junior next season.
But the youngster, Keelon Russell, is serious competition.
Rated the second-best prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle, Russell has a dynamic skill set. He lacks experience at the college level, yet Mack has only attempted 35 passes, too. There's no major edge in that department.
No matter the choice, expect no resolution until fall camp. Mack's knowledge is a real factor, but I'll lean toward Russell because of his upside.
Clemson Tigers
2 of 7
Gone is three-year starter Cade Klubnik, creating a long-awaited opportunity for Christopher Vizzina to secure the QB1 label.
He is the favorite, but winning the job is no sure thing.
This spring, Vizzina is aiming to separate from Chris Denson and a few younger players. Denson didn't play much while redshirting in 2025, but he flashed his dual-threat ability in a blowout of lower-division Furman.
Given how important this season is for Dabo Swinney—patience is thinning, even if not close to exhausted—making the right call at QB is imperative.
The choice will likely be Vizzina. Don't expect a rushed decision, though.
Duke Blue Devils
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In case you hadn't heard, Duke saw star quarterback Darian Mensah enter the transfer portal at the last second and bolt for Miami.
The disappointing exit required the Blue Devils to quickly pivot, and they landed on Walker Eget. He started two years at San Jose State, finishing the 2025 campaign with 3,051 yards and 17 touchdowns to nine interceptions.
Eget, like Vizzina at Clemson, is the initial front-runner. Still, the reins won't simply be handed to him as Duke prepares to defend its ACC crown.
North Alabama transfer Ari Patu, who began his college career at Stanford, and Dan Mahan will provide competition in the spring.
But this is clearly Eget's job to lose.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Florida Gators
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During the first season of the Jon Sumrall era, Florida is set to have a competition at the most important position in the spring.
That might be the extent of the battle, though.
Sumrall hired offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner from Georgia Tech, where he coached Aaron Philo for two years. Philo served as Haynes King's backup but played meaningful snaps in 2024 and continued to learn the system in 2025.
Philo's top competition is Tramell Jones Jr., the returning second-stringer who is thin on experience but full of dual-threat potential.
The reality is Florida wouldn't have made Philo a priority if the staff wasn't convinced he is ready to start. If the season goes sideways for the Gators again, however, the calls for Jones will be constant and loud.
Iowa Hawkeyes
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Iowa is a next-level passing attack from being a nationally important team.
Mark Gronowski did a fine job in 2025, bracing the offense with his mobility and leading the Hawkeyes to a 9-4 record. But in those four losses, Iowa totaled just 497 passing yards at a meager 5.8 per attempt.
Reversing that trend is the challenge facing Iowa's QB candidates in 2026.
Hank Brown, a transfer from Auburn, opened last season as the backup ahead of Wake Forest transfer Jeremy Hecklinski. By the end of the campaign, Hecklinski had appeared in two games before Brown.
Brown has an opportunity to reascend the depth chart in the offseason, but the trend is favoring Hecklinski to oversee Iowa's offense.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
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Optimism isn't hard to find about TJ Lateef, who opened the final four games of the 2025 season after a leg injury sidelined Dylan Raiola.
Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorson told reporters that top receivers Nyziah Hunter and Jacory Barney Jr. "were looking at TJ and was like, 'man, quarterback of the future, no problem.'"
Realistically, that future is more likely 2027 than 2026.
Raiola left for Oregon, but Nebraska still prioritized a QB in the portal. The staff landed on UNLV transfer Anthony Colandrea. He threw for 3,459 yards, rushed for 649 and totaled 33 touchdowns en route to earning Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors for 10-win UNLV.
Lateef's time is coming, and he's a genuine threat to push Colandrea. The signs, though, are understandably pointing to the veteran.
Tennessee Volunteers
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After a judge officially ruled in favor of the NCAA—a rare moment, these days—Tennessee knows Joey Aguilar will not return in 2026.
The result is, in my mind, the most interesting QB battle in college.
Jake Merklinger's transfer to UConn locked in George MacIntyre as UT's top returning player, and the Vols signed 5-star Faizon Brandon in the 2026 cycle. Colorado transfer Ryan Staub is hanging around the competition, although he's more likely a depth option than a big contender.
MacIntyre is the front-runner, but nine passes and a year in the system is not a monstrous edge—even if that ultimately is the difference, as I suspect.
Brandon, no matter if he's QB1 right away, would remain a threat to start if MacIntyre were to struggle against a tough 2026 schedule.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
