Naming the Likely Starting QBs for Top 25 CFB Teams in 2026 Season
The most pressing topic of the offseason for every college football team is always centered on the quarterback position.
Fortunately for most teams in 2026, it's an easy conversation.
There are exceptions, sure. Alabama, Iowa and Tennessee, for example, are still working through QB battles to determine their next starter.
Practically every Top 25 program has an answer in place, though. Plenty of teams have returning starters, and many others that must replace their signal-caller quickly pivoted and found a new QB1 in the transfer portal.
The ranking is based on B/R's most recent Top 25.
25-21. Louisville, Tennessee, Iowa, Houston, Missouri
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25. Louisville Cardinals: Lincoln Kienholz
For the fourth straight year, Louisville has turned to the portal for an impact quarterback. Lincoln Kienholz would have continued to sit behind Julian Sayin at Ohio State, so he instead took two seasons of remaining eligibility to Louisville. He's attempted just 36 passes in his college career.
24. Tennessee Volunteers: George MacIntyre
No sense in burying the asterisk, given the uncertainty in Knoxville. Whoever wins UT's job initially might not finish the campaign as the QB1. George MacIntyre, the third-stringer last season, is the "safer" projection—essentially due to not being a true freshman. By the end of 2026, though, it's reasonable to expect Faizon Brandon will have had an opportunity to play significant reps.
23. Iowa: Jeremy Hecklinski
Similar story at Iowa, where Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski are locked in a battle. While it's very possible both QBs get a chance in the nonconference slate, the Hawkeyes open Big Ten action with Michigan, Ohio State and Washington. Brown's risk-averse distribution is more typical to Iowa, but keeping up with the conference's best should make Hecklinski's dynamic upside more appealing.
22. Houston: Conner Weigman
Houston is excited about the future of 5-star signee Keisean Henderson, who ended the 2026 cycle as the nation's No. 1 recruit. For a final season, however, this is Conner Weigman's show. He threw for 2,705 yards, rushed for 700 more and totaled 36 touchdowns while guiding the Cougars to a 10-3 record in 2025.
21. Missouri: Austin Simmons
Widely expected to break out in 2025, Austin Simmons dealt with an ankle injury early last year—and then watched Trinidad Chambliss steal the spotlight for Ole Miss. Simmons understandably jumped into the portal and found a new opportunity at Missouri. He's still unproven with a modest 117 college pass attempts, but Simmons brings an intriguing dual-threat skill set to Mizzou.
20-16. Washington, Penn State, SMU, USC, BYU
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20. Washington Huskies: Demond Williams Jr.
January's transfer drama—first he's staying, then he's leaving, finally he's staying—is theoretically in the past. Well, as long as Demond Williams Jr. plays like he did in 2025, it'll remain there. Williams passed for 3,065 yards and 25 touchdowns, adding 611 yards and six scores on the ground for a 9-4 team.
19. Penn State Nittany Lions: Rocco Becht
The longtime Iowa State QB1, Rocco Becht followed coach Matt Campbell to Penn State and will become a rare four-year college starter. Becht has accounted for 24-plus touchdowns in all three previous seasons and helped ISU finish 11-3 in 2025.
18. SMU Mustangs: Kevin Jennings
Kevin Jennings, meanwhile, is ready for a third year as SMU's signal-caller. After leading the Mustangs to a surprise College Football Playoff bid in 2024, he oversaw a 9-4 record last season. Jennings surpassed 3,500 total yards with at least 28 touchdowns in both of those campaigns.
17. USC: Jayden Maiava
Another experienced QB, Jayden Maiava started for UNLV in 2023, assumed control at USC late in 2024 and opened all of 2025 for the Trojans. Maiava threw for 3,711 yards and 24 touchdowns last season, chipping in 157 yards and six trips to the end zone as a runner. USC went 9-4 but stumbled in its toughest games, so Maiava's challenge in 2026 is elevating the Trojans to true national contention.
16. BYU: Bear Bachmeier
Bear Bachmeier put together an admirable year as a true freshman who wasn't expected to start. While passing for 3,033 yards and 15 scores, Bachmeier made a valuable impact with 527 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Even as BYU's passing game may lack explosiveness, he's a steady hand at the controls.
15-11. Utah, Michigan, LSU, Texas Tech, Ole Miss
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15. Utah Utes: Devon Dampier
The former New Mexico QB impressed in his power-conference transition, leading the Utes to an 11-2 mark last season. Devon Dampier threw for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns to five interceptions and rushed for 835 yards with 10 scores. Playing behind a rebuilt offensive line and having a new coordinator has altered his outlook, but Dampier is a highly respected playmaker.
14. Michigan Wolverines: Bryce Underwood
Michigan would love to have Bryce Underwood become a Dampier-like player. As a true freshman, he passed for 2,428 yards with 11 touchdowns to nine interceptions and chipped in 392 yards and six scores as a runner. The hope is an upgraded supporting cast and a new play-caller—Jason Beck, who worked with Dampier at UNM and Utah—can support an ascent for Underwood.
13. LSU Tigers: Sam Leavitt
Following a terrific 2024 campaign in which he helped Arizona State reach the CFP, Sam Leavitt missed half of last season due to a foot injury. LSU coach Lane Kiffin is aiming to unlock the previous version of Leavitt, who at his best is an efficient passer with a real threat of mobility.
12. Texas Tech Red Raiders: Will Hammond
Now that Brendan Sorsby is headed to the NFL's supplemental draft, Texas Tech is shifting to its backup plan. Once his recovery from a torn ACL is complete, Will Hammond will start. He opened a few games in 2025 as Behren Morton's injury replacement prior to that setback. Lloyd Jones III or Tulsa transfer Kirk Francis will be the placeholder, if needed, until Hammond is fully cleared.
11. Ole Miss Rebels: Trinidad Chambliss
Thanks to one of the best offseason wins for any team, Ole Miss is set to return Trinidad Chambliss. A state court granted a preliminary injunction that effectively gave him a sixth year of eligibility for 2026 after the NCAA twice denied his waiver, and the Mississippi Supreme Court later rejected the NCAA's appeal. Chambliss, a former national champion at D-II Ferris State, racked up 4,464 offensive yards and totaled 30 touchdowns to just three interceptions while propelling the Rebels to a 13-2 record, including a trip to the CFP semifinals.
10-6. Alabama, Oklahoma, Miami, Texas A&M, Oregon
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10. Alabama Crimson Tide: Keelon Russell
Gone is Ty Simpson, a first-round pick in the NFL draft. His successor will either be Austin Mack—the backup for Alabama in 2025—or redshirt freshman Keelon Russell. Mack boasts three-plus years of experience in Kalen DeBoer's system, and that matters. But with 35 college pass attempts, Mack doesn't hold an overwhelming edge in experience. Russell, a 5-star in 2025, can swipe this job.
9. Oklahoma Sooners: John Mateer
Early in 2025, John Mateer emerged as the Heisman Trophy favorite. Between a finger injury and elevated competition, though, he was unimpressive down the stretch. An elite defense pushed OU to the Playoff anyway, but Mateer has plenty to prove in 2026. Good thing he's a very talented dual-threat QB!
8. Miami Hurricanes: Darian Mensah
Because of his last-second defection from Duke to Miami, Darian Mensah will likely be met with a fair number of jeers this year. Also, he's a seasoned passer who propelled Tulane and Duke to 9-5 marks in 2024 and 2025, respectively, with a surprise ACC title at Duke. Expectations are incredibly high for Mensah, particularly because the 'Canes have 1,000-yard wideouts Malachi Toney and Cooper Barkate.
7. Texas A&M Aggies: Marcel Reed
Marcel Reed popped onto the national radar in 2024 when he propelled Texas A&M to a win at Florida. Last year, he topped 3,000 passing yards, nearly had 500 rushing, totaled 31 touchdowns and helped the Aggies earn a CFP trip. Although two ugly losses to close 2025 haunt A&M's memory, Reed is a productive dual-threat who showed major progress in his first season as the starter.
6. Oregon Ducks: Dante Moore
Rather than entering the 2026 NFL draft as a likely top-five selection, Dante Moore decided to chase a national championship for Oregon. He put up good numbers last season—totaling 3,721 yards and 32 touchdowns—but twice struggled to summit the Indiana mountain. Moore is an excellent college QB with a deep supporting cast. Will he make the difficult jump to elite in 2026?
5-1. Notre Dame, Texas, Indiana, Georgia, Ohio State
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5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: CJ Carr
Opposite of A&M—and partly because of A&M—two early losses in 2025 have stuck with Notre Dame. On this revenge tour in 2026, however, the Irish are set to flaunt a more experienced CJ Carr. He made so few mistakes as ND ripped off 10 straight victories to close last season, throwing for 2,741 yards and 24 scores to six interceptions. The receiving corps is a question mark again, but Carr is not.
4. Texas Longhorns: Arch Manning
Arch Manning did not come close to the individual and team expectations placed on him and Texas last year. He also totaled 3,562 yards and accounted for 37 touchdowns to seven picks as UT defeated three Top 10 teams and posted a 10-3 record. Nuance is important. Manning, like Oregon's Moore, needs to prove he belongs in the highest tier of QBs.
3. Indiana Hoosiers: Josh Hoover
The pressure to replace Fernando Mendoza, a Heisman- and championship-winning QB, rests on a transfer from TCU. Josh Hoover brings three years of starting experience with nearly 10,000 career passing yards to Indiana. TCU finished 9-4 in both of the last two seasons with Hoover running the offense.
2. Georgia Bulldogs: Gunner Stockton
One of the more physical and relentless QBs in the nation, Gunner Stockton had a quality first year as a starter. He passed for 2,894 yards, rushed for 462, totaled 34 touchdowns and tossed five interceptions. The significant void in UGA's passing attack, though, was downfield danger—only four completions of 40-plus yards. Stockton is a tough, productive player. Now, the Dawgs could use explosiveness.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes: Julian Sayin
Julian Sayin has the great fortune of throwing to Jeremiah Smith—the best wideout in college football—at a program known for being a receiver pipeline. He also deserves a ton of individual praise for a 77.0 completion rate, a top-three mark in history, while collecting 3,610 yards and 32 touchdowns as a new starter. Ohio State remains a top contender, not in the least due to Sayin's reliability.
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