COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S TOP QB TRANSFERS

College football programs are increasingly turning to transfer quarterbacks as a strategic means of enhancing their chances for postseason success. In the second year of the 12-team College Football Playoff format, all four starting quarterbacks in the national championship game have been transfers from other institutions. Furthermore, the last three recipients of the Heisman Trophy achieved this prestigious award after changing schools.

The extent of player movement has become a prevalent phenomenon in the current era of unrestricted transfers, which Congress is actively seeking to regulate. Notably, quarterbacks such as Fernando Mendoza, Carson Beck, Will Howard, Riley Leonard, Jayden Daniels, and Caleb Williams commenced their collegiate careers at power conference institutions. Additionally, the trend of quarterbacks transferring from Group of 6 conferences to Power 4 programs is advantageous for well-resourced institutions that are in pursuit of immediate and effective solutions at the quarterback position.

Recent examples of quarterbacks who have made significant transfers include Cam Ward (from Washington State to Miami), Diego Pavia (from New Mexico to Vanderbilt), Joey Aguilar (from Appalachian State to UCLA and subsequently to Tennessee), and Kurtis Rourke (from Ohio to Indiana). Additionally, several current quarterbacks have undertaken similar transitions, including Darian Mensah (from Tulane to Duke and now to Miami), Jayden Maiava (from UNLV to USC), and John Mateer (from Washington State to Oklahoma).

As we look ahead to 2026, it is pertinent to identify those who are likely to follow in their footsteps. The following individuals represent the Group of 6-to-Power 4 transfer quarterbacks to monitor this season.

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BYRUM BROWN (SOUTH FLORIDA TO AUBURN)

Byrum Brown exemplifies the growing trend of coach-quarterback collaborations in collegiate football. He transitioned from the University of South Florida (USF) to Auburn, following head coach Alex Golesh, after a historic season that also saw several of the Bulls’ top offensive players make the same move. Brown has already demonstrated success against Southeastern Conference (SEC) opponents.

Over three seasons as the starting quarterback for South Florida, Brown established more than a dozen program records. Notably, he led the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) with 42 total touchdowns during the regular season in 2025, achieving at least one passing and one rushing touchdown in each of his final eight games. Among the five quarterbacks who rushed for over 1,000 yards during the previous season, Brown was the only one to exceed 3,000 passing yards.

Brown’s distinctive combination of size and speed presents a formidable challenge for opposing defenses. He posed significant difficulties for Alabama in 2023 and 2024, accumulating 200 rushing yards across those two contests. Additionally, last fall, Brown guided the Bulls to their inaugural victory over Florida.

Golesh possesses a profound understanding of how to optimize Brown’s abilities. His arrival in Tampa directly coincided with Brown’s breakout performance in 2023. They are expected to achieve comparable success together in Auburn, often referred to as the Loveliest Village on the Plains.

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KATIN HOUSER (EAST CAROLINA TO ILLINOIS)

Katin Houser has made his return to the Big Ten Conference. During his initial tenure at Michigan State, he encountered challenges; however, following two consecutive successful seasons at East Carolina, he has returned for his final year of eligibility at the University of Illinois. At East Carolina, Houser evolved into a prolific passer and showcased significant dual-threat capability, leading the team in rushing touchdowns in the previous season.

Houser is recognized as one of the most seasoned quarterbacks in the nation, having made 26 career starts. His efficiency has progressively enhanced with each season, culminating in record-setting statistics in 2025. Notably, he halved his turnover rate, augmented his completion percentage, and established himself as a formidable rushing threat in the red zone

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ANTHONY COLANDREA (UNLV TO NEBRASKA)

The departure of Dylan Raiola represents a significant setback for the University of Nebraska’s football program. Raiola was the highest-rated recruit ever signed by the Cornhuskers, leading the team to achieve their first consecutive winning seasons in a decade. Following Raiola’s transfer to Oregon, where he is expected to serve as a backup to Dante Moore, Coach Matt Rhule has shifted his focus to dual-threat quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who is available via the transfer portal.

While Colandrea may not possess the same level of talent as Raiola, he does bring considerable starting experience, including at the power conference level. Colandrea was a two-year starter at the University of Virginia, where he experienced both challenges and successes before having a breakout season in 2025 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). During that season, he was awarded the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year, amassing over 4,000 total yards and 33 touchdowns in Dan Mullen’s offensive scheme.

Colandrea will benefit from a competent wide receiver corps and a strong offensive line. However, this transition marks a substantial change for the Cornhuskers’ offensive strategy, especially following the departure of All-America running back Emmett Johnson to the NFL and the replacement of a pocket passer with a more mobile quarterback. Nebraska’s schedule offers Colandrea some opportunity to acclimate to the Big Ten, although the latter part of the season is expected to be particularly challenging.

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DREW MESTEMAKER (NORTH TEXAS TO OKLAHOMA STATE)

Drew Mestemaker emerged as one of the most esteemed athletes to enter the transfer portal, with little uncertainty regarding his next destination. Following the appointment of Eric Morris as head coach at Oklahoma State, it became apparent that Mestemaker would accompany him to Stillwater. To further this transition, a significant portion of the Mean Green offensive strategy was integrated into the program, enabling both to confront the challenges of the Big 12 Conference together.

The narrative of Mestemaker’s journey from a walk-on participant to a candidate for the Heisman Trophy is compelling and noteworthy. He received his initial opportunity to assume a starting position during North Texas’ bowl game at the conclusion of the 2024 season. Within a year, he achieved a remarkable feat by passing for 608 yards in a single game, thereby setting a new school record. During his inaugural season as a starting quarterback, Mestemaker led the nation in passing with a total of 4,379 yards. Consequently, the Mean Green attained the top ranking nationally in both points and yards per game.

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COLTON JOSEPH (OLD DOMINION TO WISCONSIN)

Old Dominion performed more favorably against Indiana last season in comparison to Wisconsin. Colton Joseph significantly contributed to this outcome, as he executed a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play of the season against the eventual national champions. Joseph concluded the game with 179 rushing yards, despite the Monarchs ultimately losing 27-14. In contrast, the Badgers faced a defeat of 31-7 against the Hoosiers later in the season, managing only 168 yards in total.

Wisconsin’s interest in acquiring the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year from the transfer portal is not solely based on the performance against Indiana. Joseph has been a prolific playmaker for Old Dominion over the past two years. His development as both a passer and runner in 2025 resulted in an increase in wins for the Monarchs.

Although Joseph exhibits potential for further growth in his passing ability—with a career completion rate below 60%—his mobility provides a foundational level of production that has been sorely lacking in the Badgers’ offense, which ranked as one of the lowest-scoring units in the nation last season. Notably, Joseph achieved more passing and rushing touchdowns individually than Wisconsin managed as a team.

Even if Joseph encounters challenges transitioning from the Sun Belt to the Big Ten, this represents a justified investment in potential for Head Coach Luke Fickell.

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