2026 QB rankings: Elite class ready to take over college football
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A legacy coming into his own at Texas. A new transfer set to take the reins at Indiana. Two surprising returnees at Oregon and Mississippi. A set-to-explode second-year starter at Notre Dame.
An elite quarterback class is poised to dominate and define the 2026 college football season. In the Longhorns’ Arch Manning, the Ducks’ Dante Moore, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and more, these quarterbacks resemble on paper one of the best groups in recent Bowl Subdivision history.
POST-SPRING POWER RANKINGS: Big Ten | SEC | Big 12 | ACC
Unsurprisingly, the list of this year’s top passers features some of the best teams in the FBS, including four of the top five and seven of the top nine teams in USA TODAY Sports’ too-early Top 25.
After the Hoosiers’ Fernando Mendoza took home the honors last year, another Big Ten starter leads the preseason Heisman Trophy debate and tops our post-spring list of college football’s top quarterbacks:
1. Julian Sayin, Ohio State
Sayin isn’t viewed on the quite same level as an NFL prospect as Manning and Moore; while those two are expected to top next year’s draft, Sayin is projected to be taken No. 22 overall in USA TODAY Sports’ early look at the 2027 class. But he has the inside track for the Heisman because of his supporting cast, which includes superstar receiver Jeremiah Smith and running back Bo Jackson. Last season, Sayin threw for 3,610 yards while hitting on an FBS-best 77% of his attempts.
2. Dante Moore, Oregon
Moore might have been taken among the first few picks of last month’s draft but did himself a huge favor by returning for another year. After a tumultuous close to last season that saw the Ducks bombarded by the Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff, Moore should solidify his place among the top players in the country thanks to increased familiarity with a scheme that shouldn’t change too much under new coordinator Drew Mehringer.
3. Arch Manning, Texas
A stumbling start to 2025 gave way to a terrific close to Manning’s debut season as the starter, including a run of 19 combined touchdowns in the Longhorns’ final six games. Overall, Manning had 36 total touchdowns while leading Texas to wins against Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M and Michigan. He’ll enter this season with more help at the skill positions thanks to another very strong transfer haul.
4. CJ Carr, Notre Dame
Carr could easily jump to the head of line among FBS quarterbacks should he build on a terrific redshirt freshman season and the Fighting Irish deliver on their promise as one of the top teams in the nation. He’ll have to carry a heavier load as the offense moves ahead without first-round running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Carr was exceptional on clear passing downs as a first-year starter and has the tools to shine even as the Irish aim to rebuild their running game.
5. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
Chambliss was granted a waiver for one final year of eligibility and will help the Rebels ease into the permanent Pete Golding era. A revelation in 2025 after starting the year in a backup role, the senior quickly became one of the most efficient players in the Power Four, with a combined 4,464 yards of total offense and 30 touchdowns against only three interceptions in 445 attempts.
6. Sam Leavitt, LSU
Leavitt takes the controls of Lane Kiffin’s offense at LSU after a lost 2025 season. The former Michigan State transfer played in just seven games due to injury in his final year at Arizona State, though his production with the Sun Devils paints the junior as a strong fit for Kiffin’s scheme. Like Chambliss, Leavitt brings another dimension as a runner after going for 749 yards and 10 touchdowns across the past two years.
7. Josh Hoover, Indiana
Hoover seems likely to put up video-game numbers in the Hoosiers’ quarterback-friendly system. Helping ease his transition are fellow transfers such as former Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh. Hoover was wildly productive at TCU, including 3,472 yards and 29 scores last season, but will need to limit his turnovers after tossing 33 interceptions over his two-plus years as the starter.
8. Darian Mensah, Miami
Mensah ditched Duke just as the transfer portal was closing and becomes the third high-profile quarterback addition in a row for Miami, joining Cam Ward and Carson Beck. He’s possibly an even more proven product after two often spectacular seasons with Tulane and the Blue Devils. Mensah averaged 9.5 yards per attempt with 22 touchdowns as a freshman with the Green Wave and then threw for 3,973 yards and 34 scores in leading Duke to the ACC championship game. He’s the centerpiece of a Miami offense that has plenty of surrounding skill talent but will be reloading up front.
9. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
Increased consistency will make Reed a genuine Heisman threat and would keep the Aggies near the top of the SEC. His sophomore year came to a thudding halt with no touchdowns and four interceptions in losses to Texas and Miami, overshadowing what had been a pretty stellar first full season in the lineup. But Reed will have a strong receiver group led by rising star Mario Craver and could flourish in the more pass-happy system being installed this offseason by new coordinator Holmon Wiggins.
10. Bear Bachmeier, BYU
Bachmeier is a bruising runner who went for 527 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground as a true freshman while still developing his abilities as a passer. He finished 2025 with 15 scores through the air while averaging 7.8 yards per attempt and really struggled in the Cougars’ two losses to Texas Tech. Look for his impact in the passing game to increase thanks to an uptick in experience while remaining a huge part of the ground game for one of the top teams in the Big 12.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From Arch Manning to Julian Sayin: QB rankings 2026 college football
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