Projecting the Top QBs for the 2026 CFB Season

The road to a national title always has unique turns and detours, but having a steady quarterback is nothing short of mandatory.

Last season, Indiana boasted Fernando Mendoza—the Heisman Trophy winner. And while Carson Beck wasn't that level of player, he avoided back-breaking mistakes on Miami's path to that championship stage.

It's simple, really: The nation's best programs tend to have the best QBs.

These players will not necessarily be the most statistically impressive players in the country. Rather, the focus is their overall impact—a more subjective idea, although it still includes production—during the 2026 season.

Offseason Projection Series

Secondaries
Wide Receivers

Gunner Stockton, Georgia

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Gunner Stockton rode the line between good and great as a first-year starter.

While completing 69.7 percent of his passes, he threw for 2,984 yards and 24 touchdowns to five interceptions. Stockton added 462 yards and 10 scores on the ground as Georgia, the SEC champion, made the College Football Playoff.

In the toughest games, Stockton was fine—not always great, but rarely a net-negative. That experience, in theory, will serve him well in 2026.

Stockton likely will not dazzle as a downfield passer. However, he's efficient when distributing the ball quickly and provides a spark with his mobility, not in the least because of his willingness to grind for extra yardage.

Georgia needs to develop its receiving corps in a hurry, but Stockton is a championship-level QB at his best.

Josh Hoover, Indiana

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On the other hand, Josh Hoover is probably going to launch deep passes with regularity at his new Indiana home.

In Curt Cignetti we trust!

Hoover, the former TCU starter, has a stacked group of wide receivers led by Charlie Becker and Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh. An experienced group of linemen should be reliable in pass protection, as well.

Cutting down on interceptions is essential for Hoover, who tossed a Big 12-worst 13 picks last season. But, as Cignetti noted this offseason, a great defense and rushing attack should alleviate some of the pressure Hoover dealt with at TCU.

Hoover, in this ideal situation with IU, can make a serious run at shattering his personal-best total of 29 touchdown passes.

Darian Mensah, Miami

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Another top transfer, Darian Mensah made a well-documented switch to Miami at the portal buzzer. The timing of that decision, especially after announcing he would return to Duke, led to strong reactions around the country.

But I can assure you Mario Cristobal doesn't care about your feelings.

Mensah just guided Duke to a surprise ACC title, throwing for 3,973 yards and 34 touchdowns to six interceptions along the way. He picked apart defenses in the intermediate levels and showed excellent touch on deep passes.

Now with the 'Canes, Mensah's upside is incredibly high. Malachi Toney and Cooper Barkate are easily one of the nation's top receiving duos, and Miami coordinator Shannon Dawson did a brilliant job adjusting the offense from Cam Ward to Carson Beck. There's no reason to expect he can't do that again.

As long as Miami successfully rebuilds its offensive line, Mensah will keep the Hurricanes squarely in ACC and national title conversations.

CJ Carr, Notre Dame

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You might want to circle Nov. 7 on your calendar. That's when Mensah and Miami travel north to take on Notre Dame in a showdown with national stakes—and a little revenge for ND, considering how last season ended.

No matter what happens in that matchup, though, the Fighting Irish will be confident in their chances to win because of CJ Carr.

As a first-year starter, he passed for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns to only six interceptions. Carr impressed on downfield throws and overall just didn't commit major mistakes, allowing an elite rushing attack and sensational (for two months) defense to carry Notre Dame.

Since the Irish lost Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price in the backfield, the pressure on Carr to produce will increase in 2026. That much is clear.

But after such a strong showing last year, Carr is worthy of the hype.

Julian Sayin, Ohio State

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When you're throwing to a superstar wideout like Jeremiah Smith, it's easy to look really good. Fair point, for sure.

That's also not entirely fair to Julian Sayin's ability.

Even dating back to high school, he's consistently been lauded for elite accuracy. Sayin completed an FBS-leading 77 percent of his passes—the third-highest rate in the history of the sport—last season.

Yes, the Buckeyes leaned on quick-hitting throws, but why overcomplicate things? Sayin was stellar at the intermediate and deep levels in small samples, as well.

Ohio State has been a CFP regular for a decade, and a healthy Sayin undoubtedly takes the Buckeyes back to the Playoff stage.

Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

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Best QB? Debatable. Most exciting? Now we're talking.

One of the sport's best stories last season, Trinidad Chambliss went from a lower-division championship QB at Ferris State to a backup at Ole Miss to the driving force of the Rebels' run to the CFP semifinals.

Chambliss threw for 3,937 yards with 22 touchdowns to three interceptions, and he scampered for 527 yards and eight scores.

True, his situation has changed. Lane Kiffin is no longer at the helm in Oxford, and he took play-caller Charlie Weis Jr. along to LSU. New coordinator John David Baker oversaw a pair of top-25 offenses at East Carolina in the last two years, though, so expectations remain high for Chambliss.

New-look Ole Miss hitting its ceiling of CFP contention will be tough, but Chambliss is an electric talent.

Dante Moore, Oregon

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Rather than entering the 2026 NFL draft pick as a likely top selection, Dante Moore elected to stay at Oregon for another year.

The result is that classic trope: Championship or bust.

Although the program will survive if that doesn't happen, the point is Oregon returned a ton of veterans—led by the QB—with a lofty, singular goal. Moore watched Ohio State torch the Ducks in the 2024 CFP quarterfinals and struggled in the embarrassing loss to Indiana during the 2025 semifinals.

Lessons learned, right?

That's the hope, at least, especially since Oregon has assembled an exciting group of pass-catchers around Moore. He has little excuse not to thrive in 2026.

Arch Manning, Texas

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"We're doing this again?" Hear me out.

If I guaranteed your favorite team's QB would eclipse 3,000 passing yards, rush for nearly 400 more and account for 37 touchdowns in 13 games, would you take it? Yeah, probably so!

Context matters, of course. Arch Manning stumbled out of the gate in September—notably the season-opening loss at Ohio State—and looked unimpressive in several wins. Texas had dreams of winning SEC and national titles but, in reality, never looked like a championship-caliber team.

The short version: Manning has plenty to prove, yet he was far from a bust.

He returns in 2026 with a full season of starting experience, two awesome receivers in Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman, a solid offensive line and more versatility in the backfield thanks to a couple of transfers.

The hype may simply have been a year early on Manning.