Get ready college football fans. The 2025 season will feature some of the best QB’s, some pure passers, others duel-threat QB’s. Here’s the BEST-OF-THE-BEST:
**ARCH MANNING, TEXAS:** Finally, it’s Manning’s chance to validate the hype surrounding this blue-chip quarterback, who comes from one of football’s most famous families. He is the preseason Heisman favorite and showcased his potential as a budding star during two spot starts last season. Now in his third season under coach Steve Sarkisian, a skilled quarterback developer, Manning is poised for a breakout year. He possesses a strong arm and impressive mobility, but he needs to improve his processing time.
**CADE KLUBNIK, CLEMSON:** In his second year as the starting quarterback, Klubnik has restored the explosiveness to the Clemson offense that had been lacking since the Tigers were competing for national championships. With even more weapons at his disposal, he should be a key player in the Heisman discussion as the team makes another title push.
**DREW ALLAR, PENN STATE:** Allar is the face of Penn State’s pursuit of its first national title in nearly 40 years. After a tough end to his junior year, which included a crucial interception in the playoff semifinal against Notre Dame, Allar enters his second season running offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s scheme, supported by an excellent offensive line and one of the nation’s top collections of skill talent, particularly in the backfield.
**LANORRIS SELLERS, SOUTH CAROLINA: ** Sellers showcased his versatility as a redshirt freshman, passing for 353 yards and five touchdowns in a win against Missouri, followed by a performance where he rushed for 166 yards and two touchdowns against Clemson. He embodies the dual-threat quarterback profile, demonstrating accuracy and impressive speed—he can reach nearly 21 mph on the field. If he can reduce his turnovers, particularly fumbles, he’ll become the complete package.
**SAM LEAVITT, ARIZONA STATE:** Leavitt made an impressive transformation from a relatively unknown transfer from Michigan State to one of the top quarterbacks in the sport, leading Arizona State to the playoffs. Although running back Cam Skattebo received much of the attention, Leavitt’s statistics—21 touchdowns to just four interceptions in the final nine games—speak volumes. With good running abilities and a knack for performing in big games, he leads an offense poised to be among the best in the Big 12.
**CARSON BECK, MIAMI:** Replacing the top overall draft pick may seem daunting, but Beck is no stranger to high expectations. He comes to Coral Gables with significant potential and some baggage; last season, his Georgia offense was inconsistent. Nevertheless, he posted solid numbers in 2024 with 3,485 passing yards, a 64.7% completion rate, and 28 touchdowns. However, many of his 12 interceptions were due to forcing plays, which he needs to overcome if the Hurricanes aim to compete for a playoff spot.
**GARRETT NUSSMEIER, LSU:** Nussmeier has a strong arm and the confidence to make any throw. You’ll understand why he’s projected as an early first-round NFL Draft pick when you see him zip a pass to the sideline. He is the only returning quarterback in the nation who threw for over 4,000 yards last season, and he’ll have a solid group of receivers around him. His next step in development will be to reduce his 12 interceptions from 2024.
**LUKE ALTMYER, ILLINOIS:** The former Mississippi transfer has found a home with the emerging Illinois team, tallying 26 touchdowns against six interceptions in a standout 2024 season. After winning 10 games last fall, Illinois is gaining attention as a contender for an at-large playoff bid, largely due to Altmyer’s reliability and leadership of the offense. Like Allar at Penn State, Altmyer is a returning starter in a Big Ten quarterback landscape filled with youth and first-year transfers.
**FERNANDO MENDOZA, INDIANA:** Mendoza takes over as the starting quarterback for the Hoosiers after last year’s starter, Kurtis Rourke, helped the team achieve a surprising playoff berth. The Cal transfer threw for over 3,000 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2024 and brings two years of starting experience into coach Curt Cignetti’s explosive offense.
**MILLER MOSS, LOUISVILLE:** Moss had a mixed experience at Southern California, throwing for 2,555 yards and 18 touchdowns. However, a three-interception game in a loss against Washington led to his demotion and eventual transfer. He is expected to fit well at Louisville, given coach Jeff Brohm’s history of developing quarterbacks, and he will have several all-league talents surrounding him in the Cardinals’ offense.
**JULIAN SAYIN, OHIO STATE:** Sayin is set to take the reins as the expected starter for the Buckeyes. After limited opportunities last season with 12 attempts as a reserve, he has the potential to be one of the Big Ten’s most efficient passers while playing alongside elite receivers like Jeremiah Smith. Unlike some other quarterbacks, Sayin has limited playing experience, which may pose a challenge as he steps into this significant role.
**BEHREN MORTON, TEXAS TECH:** Once again, Texas Tech has a gunslinger who is poised to shine. Morton enters his final season in Lubbock ready to thrive in the Red Raiders’ pass-heavy offense. What’s remarkable is that despite throwing the ball frequently, he takes care of it well, recording only eight interceptions on 466 passing attempts last season. He has all the potential to lead the nation in passing yards.
**BLAKE HORVATH, NAVY:** In his first season as a starter, Horvath led the Midshipmen to 10 wins, including a victory over Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl. He primarily excels on the ground, typical of Navy quarterbacks, accumulating 1,353 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns last season. However, he also showcased his passing ability with 13 touchdown passes. Expect even better production in 2025 as Navy aims to contend in the American Athletic Conference again.
**ROCCO BECHT, IOWA STATE:** Becht is one of the most underrated quarterbacks on this list. He guided Iowa State to its first 11-win season in program history in 2024, throwing for 3,505 yards. With 27 career starts, he is among the most experienced quarterbacks, demonstrating a high on-field IQ that consistently frustrates defenses. He has a notable streak of 18 consecutive games with a touchdown pass.
**HAYNES KING, GEORGIA TECH:** Despite battling injuries for significant portions of the season, King finished 2024 with 2,701 total offensive yards and accounted for 25 touchdowns. His tough running style likely contributed to these injuries. The current challenge for the Yellow Jackets’ coaching staff is determining whether they have assembled enough support around King to fully utilize his considerable talent. If they have, an increase in their win total is likely.
**AVERY JOHNSON, KANSAS STATE:** After losing Will Howard, Kansas State has placed its confidence in Johnson, who has shown tremendous potential as their new starting quarterback. He had several standout moments in 2024, especially with his ability to orchestrate fourth-quarter comebacks. His confidence grew throughout the season, and with a full year of starting experience, Johnson is expected to mature into a more polished player, keeping Kansas State competitive.
**KEVIN JENNINGS, SMU:** The Mustangs surprised everyone by reaching the ACC Championship game in their inaugural season in the conference, and Jennings played a significant role in that success. He finished the season with 3,245 passing yards and 23 touchdown passes, along with 354 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, despite a disappointing playoff end against Penn State.
**DARAIN MENSAH, DUKE:** After a solid 2,723-yard season with 22 touchdown passes at Tulane, Mensah aims to elevate Duke’s status in the ACC. His reportedly high NIL valuation suggests that the program’s supporters are serious about transforming Duke into more than just a basketball powerhouse. Now, he must deliver on that investment to propel the Blue Devils into title contention.
**DANTE MOORE, OREGON:** Following an inconsistent freshman year at UCLA in 2023, Moore spent last season acclimating to Oregon’s offense while backing up Dillon Gabriel. Having Power Five starting experience and a familiarity with the offensive scheme provide him significant advantages. Watch for Moore to seize this opportunity and emerge as the Ducks’ latest high-productive starter.
**JOSH HOOVER, TCU:** TCU seems to have found its quarterback in Hoover, who had an impressive 2024 season, setting the school record with 3,949 passing yards. With a completion percentage of 66.5%, he leads returning Big 12 quarterbacks. Hoover possesses excellent pocket presence and pinpoint accuracy even when on the run. The Horned Frogs have the potential to become an offensive powerhouse, driven by Hoover’s strong arm, which led to 61 completions of at least 20 yards last season.
**DYLAN RAIOLA, NEBRASKA:** The former five-star recruit is set to take a significant step in his sophomore year after gaining valuable experience last season, benefiting from a much-improved receiving corps and a full offseason in coordinator Dana Holgorsen’s system. Raiola has the talent to fulfill the high expectations surrounding his recruitment and is expected to capitalize on that potential this coming September.
**NICO IAMALEAVA, UCLA:** Iamaleava is expected to gain national attention after his dramatic exit from Tennessee. He will face tougher challenges at UCLA, which has made strides under coach DeShaun Foster, but the team may not have the same level of talent he enjoyed at the Volunteers. Nevertheless, Iamaleava has led an SEC team to the playoffs and could be the missing piece the Bruins need to succeed.
**SAWYER ROBERTSON, BAYLOR:** Coach Dave Aranda can thank Robertson for securing his job after the quarterback delivered an impressive second half to the season. Taking over in the third game, he led the Bears to a 6-0 finish in the regular season, throwing for a total of 1,581 passing yards and 17 touchdowns during that stretch. His efficiency rating stood at 153.1.
**JOHN MATEER, OKLAHOMA:** Oklahoma struggled last season to address its quarterback vacancy after Dillon Gabriel transferred to Oregon. Mateer, who transferred from Washington State, fills that need. His playing style shares similarities with Gabriel’s; he is a hard-nosed dual threat who excels as both a passer and a runner. Mateer can complete passes from various arm angles, showcasing his versatility. He now faces the challenge of proving himself against a higher caliber of defense than he encountered on the West Coast.
**DJ LANGWAY, FLORIDA:** The Gators experienced a surge in performance after Langway was named the starter midway through his true freshman season, and we likely haven’t seen his full potential yet. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury limited his dual-threat capabilities in 2024, and durability is a concern for Langway. He has spent the offseason recovering from a throwing shoulder injury. However, when healthy, he has the potential for big plays. He demonstrates an impressive ability to connect on deep passes, completing over 52% of throws that travel more than 20 yards.
