College Football Quarterbacks with the Most to Prove in 2026 Season

For quarterbacks all over college football, pressure is relative.

In some situations, expectations are built around simple competitiveness. Can this signal-caller lead his team to bowl eligibility—maybe something the program hasn't attained in a few years—or even just avoid a really bad season?

That is still pressure. But looking through a national lens, the greatest strain is felt by QBs who are leading championship hopefuls.

Throw in the NFL draft conversation, and stress only continues to rise.

While these selections are subjective, the choices are a blend of a player's recruiting billing, noteworthy past events and his team's projected ceiling in 2026.

Alabama's New Starter

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Keelon Russell (L) and Austin Mack (R)

The answer is a solid TBD. No matter whether it's Keelon Russell or Austin Mack calling the shots, though—well, good luck.

More than anything, the challenge is living up to the Alabama standard. There isn't a more spoiled fan base in the country—all thanks to Nick Saban—and winning a national title is the only acceptable outcome in Tuscaloosa.

Fair? No. But that's reality.

Russell, should he start, also carries the weight of being a 5-star prospect. He ended the 2025 cycle as the No. 2 overall recruit. Mack, meanwhile, would be the hand-picked veteran who followed Kalen DeBoer from Washington to Bama.

This competition will be settled in fall camp, and the winner will immediately need to embrace the pressure of leading an annual power.

Sam Leavitt, LSU

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Two years ago, Sam Leavitt helped Arizona State to an unanticipated Big 12 title and trip to the College Football Playoff. The dual-threat QB generated more than 3,300 offensive yards and totaled 29 touchdowns along the way.

Last season, however, a foot injury limited him to seven games—and then he entered the transfer portal, landing a big-money deal at LSU.

His new coach, of course, is Lane Kiffin.

One of the buzziest coaches in the business, Kiffin is a bona fide offensive wizard. The issue is recent Ole Miss teams fell tantalizingly short of peak competitiveness—and he bolted just as the Rebels were finally breaking through.

Combine that context with Leavitt being a coveted, well-paid transfer, and he faces a serious bounce-back obligation in 2026.

Bryce Underwood, Michigan

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While true freshman Bryce Underwood adjusted to college last season, Michigan posted a 9-4 record. The defense-driven Wolverines capitalized on a soft schedule, beating lesser teams yet struggling to score against top competition.

Essentially, that was the expectation anyway. But in Year 2, Underwood will be tasked with elevating a revamped offense.

Given he was 2025's top recruit, that's a fair progression.

Underwood is learning a new system, and the schedule looks far tougher with six likely preseason Top 25 foes on the docket. The offensive line is experienced, though, and U-M bolstered the receiving corps through the portal.

Though the hiring of Kyle Whittingham led to an improved roster and much better overall situation for Underwood, the road to success is difficult, too.

Julian Sayin, Ohio State

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Julian Sayin settled at fourth in Heisman Trophy voting last season.

As we approach a critical-ish paragraph, let's remember to keep things in perspective. By no means was Sayin a disappointment for Ohio State in 2025, his first season as a starter in college.

Nevertheless, when it mattered most, he had a pair of quiet performances. The offense struggled to finish scoring chances in a 13-10 loss to Indiana at the Big Ten Championship Game. Miami then made him look uncomfortable throughout the Hurricanes' upset win in the CFP quarterfinals.

For top QBs like Sayin, you're not judged on October box scores. Ohio State should make the Playoff again, and Sayin must be more effective.

Dante Moore, Oregon

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You could almost copy and paste that Sayin section for Dante Moore.

Oregon ended with a 13-2 record, winning two postseason games before exiting in the CFP semifinals. The problem is Oregon dropped those two contests to the same program—Indiana—and looked utterly awful in the Playoff clash.

While the entirety of that blame should not be pinned on Moore, he tossed a pick-six on the first snap and lost two fumbles that led to quick IU touchdowns.

Especially for a top-tier draft prospect, it was a nightmarish day.

Moore, as a result, pressed pause on the NFL dream and returned to Oregon with a clear, singular purpose: Win a national title.

He wouldn't have passed up many, many millions of dollars as a likely top-five pick for anything else. Moore has welcomed the burden of this pressure.

Arch Manning, Texas

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The moment you read "Arch Manning" or saw this picture, you probably had a reaction. In fact, I would venture to say it was probably the most emotional reaction to any player on the list.

You might be sick of reading about him.

You might be tired of hearing hot takes that disregard any nuance.

You might fall somewhere in between, and you're just ready to see analysis based on Manning's actual performance again.

Regardless of where you land, Manning is the most recognizable player in the nation. He faltered in his debut year as a full-time starter, yet he still surpassed 3,500 yards on a 10-win Texas team. He's not viewed as a locked-in top NFL draft pick, but he also remains a strong candidate in that conversation.

There won't be a brighter spotlight on anyone else.

Jayden Maiava, USC

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One unfair piece of pressure is that a coach's shortcomings can trickle down to expectations being placed on the QB's shoulders.

Such is life for Jayden Maiava.

Lincoln Riley closed his first season (2022) at USC with an 11-3 record, falling a single win short of a Pac-12 title and CFP trip. Disappointing, sure, but it appeared to show why USC ponied up $100-plus million to swipe him from Oklahoma.

In the last three campaigns? Regular-season records of 7-5, 6-6 and 9-3, concluding with trips to Holiday, Las Vegas and Alamo Bowls.

Maiava, if you're looking for a bright spot, oversaw that three-win ascent last year. He totaled 3,868 yards and accounted for 30 touchdowns, keeping the Trojans at least on the periphery of the Big Ten conversation until late November.

He's a quality, proven QB, and USC returns a veteran offensive line in front of him. There is genuine hope for success, even with a rebuilt receiving corps.

The reality is, fair or not, that Maiava's performance will have a loud impact on the narrative around the program in 2026—and what it looks like beyond this year.