College Football analysts unveil consensus Top 10 QB rankings for 2026 season: Heisman favorites and breakout stars highlighted
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A to Z Sports ranks the top 10 college football quarterbacks heading into the 2026 season. The exercise created a ton of debate.
The college football offseason has reached its slowest stretch, but A to Z Sports is filling the void with a new positional-ranking series.
Inspired by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and his NFL top-10 positional rankings, seven college football analysts across the A to Z Sports network voted on the 10 best quarterbacks heading into the 2026 season. The exercise focused on who is the best quarterback right now, with minimal projection and no NFL Draft board influence. In total, 14 quarterbacks received votes, with the top 10 earning spots on the final list.
Here is a look at five of the quarterbacks who made the cut, including the No. 1 overall selection.
1. Dante Moore (Oregon)
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 2
“After being a prized five-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class, Moore spent one season at UCLA under then-head coach Chip Kelly, showing a ton of growing pains and inconsistent play. He transferred to Oregon after that freshman year and backed up Dylan Gabriel in 2024. As a first-year starter last season, Moore showcased the upside and talent that had once made him one of the top recruits in the country. Many believed he would have been one of the top two quarterbacks selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, but he opted to return to school.
“With Oregon returning a loaded roster that includes wide receivers DK Moore and Evan Stewart, the Ducks offense is expected to once again be among the best in college football. Moore will have to do it with a new offensive coordinator after Will Stein left to become the head coach at Kentucky. The 6-3, 215-pound signal caller is one of the purest throwers in college football, and he should put up massive numbers in Oregon’s high-flying offense.” – Ryan Roberts, A to Z Sports Notre Dame
2. Arch Manning (Texas)
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 5
“Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns may have started slow last season, but he finished the year looking like a future first round pick. 19 total touchdowns were scored in his final six games of the year. Big-time throws that showed off his arm talent. Ridiculous plays with his legs. Manning looks like a slam-dunk College Football Playoff and potential Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, and it’s not just because of his last name. Now that he has his best set of offensive weapons yet (Cam Coleman & Ryan Wingo at WR, Raleek Brown & Hollywood Smothers at RB), he should shine like never before, proving any remaining doubters wrong in 2026.” – Travis May, College Football Managing Editor
3. Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss)
Highest ranking: 2 | Lowest ranking: 6
“The former Ferris State quarterback began last season as the backup to Austin Simmons at Ole Miss. With inconsistent play and durability issues plaguing Simmons, Chambliss was inserted into the starting lineup and never gave it back. At right around 6-0 and 200 pounds, Chambliss is not the biggest quarterback, but he has a little bit of magic to his game. He is a talented athlete who can move in and out of structure and contribute in the designed quarterback run game, though he was unable to fully unlock the Ole Miss offense last season.
“With Lane Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. now at LSU, the Rebels’ offense will look different. Having a talented dual-threat signal caller like Chambliss returning is a huge help to a program that continues to spend aggressively in the transfer portal and high school recruiting. There is more film on Chambliss going into next year, but with his overall athleticism and playmaking ability, the odds are favorable that he continues to put up big numbers this fall.” – Roberts
4. Julian Sayin (Ohio State)
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: 6
“Julian Sayin had a good first season with Ohio State until things got a bit shaky down the stretch when the lights got bright. Now with a year under his belt, Sayin will be expected to take a step as a second-year starter under Ryan Day. The California native is very accurate, and there isn’t a throw he can’t make. However, the Buckeyes need him to be a better quarterback maneuvering in the pocket. The expectation is for Sayin to be able to use his legs more in 2026, and it’ll be a deciding factor in what his ceiling is in Columbus. We know Sayin is a good college quarterback, but it’s going to take another step for him to be a first-round pick, and for the Buckeyes to win a second national championship in three seasons.” – Brandon Little, A to Z Sports Ohio State
5. CJ Carr (Notre Dame)
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: 6
“If you asked me to hitch my wagon to a “most improved” passer from 2025 to 2026, I’m going to go with CJ Carr from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Frankly, I thought his first year under center in South Bend was impressive, but headed into year two of starting, I expect him to take a big leap. The 1-2 punch of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price is gone as both backs left Notre Dame as first-round picks. That naturally will put more on the shoulders of Carr, but his new weapon, Mylan Graham, will help soften the pressure.
“Carr was the resounding winner from the recently held Manning Passing Academy, with contacts at the event going as far as to say that he was the most natural-looking passer out there with precise mechanics and effortless throws. Carr may not be a traits-dominant quarterback that resembles a top-10 pick in any given draft, but he’s a prototypical college quarterback, and one who can exceed the lofty expectations placed year over year on the Fighting Irish.” – Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Alabama
6. Darian Mensah (Miami)
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 10
“I know I’m alone on a hill when it comes to Mensah out of my colleagues, but there’s so much to like. Mensah, had he come out in the portal earlier, would have been right at the top of QBs courted by numerous marquee programs. His decision-making is sound, and his touch is pure. He has arguably the best WR duo in the nation at his disposal in Malachi Toney and Cooper Barkate. The schedule is soft and set up for him to put up ridiculous numbers, perhaps akin to what Cam Ward did in 2024 – or better. And with the success that OC Shannon Dawson has had getting the most out of his offenses with Ward and Carson Beck, you have to think he’ll get the best out of Mensah as well.
“I’m all in on him in 2026.” – Craig Smith, A to Z Sports Tennessee
7. Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State)
Highest ranking: 4 | Lowest ranking: 9
“The clarification about this list is really important. So many of these lists are about NFL Draft prospects, but we are looking solely at how they will play in college.
“I am not sure how Drew Mestemaker will be in the NFL, but he’s been dynamite with Eric Morris calling plays. After not being a starting quarterback at the high school level, Mestemaker won the job at North Texas and was fantastic as a redshirt freshman, completing 68.9% of his passes for a whopping 4,379 yards, 34 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Now, he did that at the G6 level, but his process, along with the continuity with Morris, has me very bullish that it will continue in the Big 12 next season.” – Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports Florida
8. Jayden Maiava (USC)
Highest ranking: 6 | Lowest ranking: 10
“As long as Lincoln Riley is the head coach at USC, the Trojans’ offense will put up numbers. Maiava, the former UNLV signal caller, has steadily blossomed into one of the better quarterbacks in college football during his two years with the program. The improvement from 2024 to 2025 was significant, showing a real mastery of the offensive system. The 6-4, 220-pound quarterback has developed a strong feel for the modern pocket but is also a creative player when extending plays. He is enough of a runner to keep defenses honest, but he wants to throw the football. While USC says goodbye to Makai Lemon and Jacoby Lane, the Trojans will always reload at wide receiver, and Maiava’s continued evolution in a proven system positions him for another strong season in Southern California.” – Roberts
9. LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina)
Highest ranking: 7 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
“When Sellers is on, he is arguably the hardest quarterback in college football to deal with. His massive frame at 6-3 and 245 pounds, combined with legitimate athleticism, makes him an absolute headache for defenses in the designed run game and as a scrambler. There was improvement as a passer last season, though the production did not match that growth. South Carolina struggled on the offensive line and dealt with a high volume of drops from its wide receivers. The hope is that the receiver room takes a natural step forward, led by former five-star recruit Nicholas Harbour. The offensive line remains the bigger question, and while South Carolina spent heavily in the portal, talented left tackle Jacarius Peek is uncertain to be available due to a preseason injury. If the line improves, the odds are very favorable that Sellers shows a significant bump. If he can recapture the confidence he played with in 2024, he has a chance to be a superstar this fall.” – Roberts
10. John Mateer (Oklahoma)
Highest ranking: 8 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
“After the first couple of games of the 2025 season, most expected Mateer to emerge as one of the more productive signal callers in college football and a potential high draft pick. An elbow injury and significant inconsistency down the stretch forced him to return to school. The former Washington State quarterback is a densely built player at a little over 6-1 and 220 pounds with legitimate athleticism and a very live arm, despite a quirky throwing motion. If Oklahoma shows improvement on the offensive line and the wide receivers continue to develop, there is no doubt Mateer could be a much better player for the Sooners in 2026. The highs were very high last season, but the lows bordered on unplayable. It is going to be about consistency for Mateer, and becoming a much more reliable player rather than a full-on roller coaster.” – Roberts
Honorable Mention
Four other quarterbacks received at least one vote as a top ten quarterback. Here are those “honorable mention” signal callers.
When Hoover was good at TCU, he was tremendous. Head coach Curt Cignetti will need to help him become a much more consistent version of himself. This is the latest reclamation project.
There’s nothing flashy about Stockton, but he is just a rock-solid college quarterback. He’s in a great situation and doesn’t have to do anything crazy to win games. His impact will always be validated by how many games Georgia wins.
Brown is one of the best running threats in all of college football. After combining for 4,166 yards and 42 total touchdowns for USF a year ago, he has a chance to prove himself against SEC competition. He could be the biggest potential riser of this group.
Lindsey is a big quarterback at 6-5 and 235 pounds, and throws a tremendous ball. In the Minnesota offense, they’re never going to ask a quarterback to throw the football a ton. He will need to be incredibly efficient and have some big games against top opponents to vault up this list.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: College Football analysts unveil consensus Top 10 QB rankings for 2026 season: Heisman favorites and breakout stars highlighted
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