How many former Oklahoma QBs are still playing college football?

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How many former Oklahoma QBs are still playing college football?

The Oklahoma Sooners have become “Quarterback U” over the course of the program’s illustrious history. Some of the greatest quarterbacks in college football history have worn the OU uniform, from the triple option, running QBs of the 20th century to the spread, passing signal-callers of the 21st century.

However, it doesn’t always work out for every QB to come through the program. For every star or Heisman Trophy contender, there are plenty more cases of players who never got their shot, served as backups, or didn’t pan out into what the fanbase hoped.

With college football in the middle of its NIL/transfer portal era, many of the former passers for the Sooners that don’t pan out in Norman end up transferring out of the program and finding homes elsewhere. In recent memory, that’s happened for a number of former OU players, many of whom are still playing college football in 2026.

Today, we’ll check out each of the former Oklahoma quarterbacks that are still playing college football this season, but are doing it at another program. OU’s current QB room consists of returning starter John Mateer, returning backups Whitt Newbauer and Jett Niu, and incoming true freshman Bowe Bentley, but there are plenty of former Sooners that are playing out their careers elsewhere in college.

Chandler Morris, Virginia

Dec 27, 2025; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Chandler Morris (4) throws a pass against the Missouri Tigers during the second quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images

Perhaps the best player that fits into our category is Virginia’s Chandler Morris. His career began at Oklahoma way back in 2020, where he was a depth backup for the Sooners. After one season in Norman, Morris spent three years at TCU, where he made nine total starts. Morris then transferred to North Texas, where he had a huge season for the Mean Green in 2024.

That season led him to UVA for the 2025 season, where he helped the Cavaliers make the ACC title game and win the Gator Bowl. His future is in limbo right now, as he’s suing the NCAA for one final year of eligibility in 2026, and he currently plans on returning to the Cavs if he wins in court. However, Virginia added transfers Beau Pribula and Eli Holstein to the roster this offseason, with Morris’ status in question.

Ben Harris, Emporia State

Carl Albert's Ben Harris runs for a touchdown in front of Adam Wheeler of McGuinness during the Class 5A state championship game at Wantland Stadium in Edmond on Dec. 12, 2020.

Ben Harris spent the 2021 season with the Sooners, but he transferred to North Alabama after spring football in 2022. The Carl Albert High School product spent three years with the Lions, but transferred again ahead of the 2025 season. It ended up being a fortuitous decision.

Harris signed with Emporia State, an NCAA Division II program, where he was a star for the Hornets as a junior last season. He was among the top QBs numbers-wise in the nation at the D-II level during his first season as a starter. He’ll be back at ESU in 2026, hoping to build off of his breakout season.

Nick Evers, Missouri

Nov 1, 2024; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Huskies quarterback Nick Evers (3) warms up before the start of the game against the Georgia State Panthers at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Nick Evers was the first quarterback signing of the Brent Venables era, inking with former offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby in the 2022 recruiting class. Evers spent one season in Norman, throwing just one pass as he was buried on the depth chart for the six-win Sooners. In 2023, Evers transferred to Wisconsin, where he did not see any action.

Evers has spent the last two seasons at UConn, where he played in nine games in 2024, and three games in 2025. For this season, he’s transferred again, this time to Missouri, where he’ll see the Sooners on the field in late-November. While he’s not in line to be the starter, he’ll be a valuable mentor to QB1 Austin Simmons and backup Matt Zollers in CoMo.

Jackson Arnold, UNLV

Aug 29, 2025; Waco, Texas, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) looks to pass against the Baylor Bears during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images

You know Jackson Arnold’s story. A consensus five-star recruit in the 2023 class, he signed with Oklahoma, and was hailed as the quarterback of the future in Norman. After one year as Dillon Gabriel’s backup, Arnold was installed as the starter in 2024, as the Sooners walked into the SEC. Arnold’s time at OU didn’t go how anyone expected, and he transferred to Auburn after he and the Sooner offense vastly underachieved in ’24.

With the Tigers, Arnold was better, but not by much, as Auburn missed a bowl game, and he was benched again down the stretch of the season after Hugh Freeze was fired. For his final year in 2026, Arnold has transferred to UNLV, where he hopes Dan Mullen can help him turn his career around with the Rebels.

Michael Hawkins Jr., West Virginia

Sep 13, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr (3) rushes against the Temple Owls in the second half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Michael Hawkins Jr. arrived at OU in 2024, and was quickly thrust into the spotlight as a true freshman when Arnold was benched. He performed admirably in the program’s first-ever SEC win over Auburn, but struggled in blowout losses against Texas and South Carolina. Arnold was put back on the field and finished out the regular season, but Hawkins did start the bowl loss to Navy after Arnold’s transfer.

In 2025, Hawkins was the QB2 again, this time backing up Mateer. He started one game, a win over Kent State, but he redshirted during his second and final season with the Sooners. With Mateer returning to Norman, Hawkins chose to enter the transfer portal, and he quickly signed with West Virginia. He’ll compete with Scotty Fox Jr. to be the starter for the Mountaineers, but he should be a perfect fit in Rich Rodriguez’s offensive scheme.

Brendan Zurburgg, Walsh

Alliance quarterback Brendan Zurbrugg looks down field for a receiver against Salem at Kehres Stadium, Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.

Brendan Zurbrugg also signed with the Sooners in the 2024 class, but he did not see the field during his one season at OU. Zurbrugg transferred to Utah for the 2025 season, where he also did not see any action. He’ll now take his talents to the NCAA Division II level, where he’ll play for Walsh University.

With the Cavaliers, Zurburgg will be back in his home state of Ohio to get the on-field portion of his college career started. He brings a season of experience learning the ropes in both the SEC and the Big 12 with him to North Canton.

Cole Gonzales, Charlotte

Aug 29, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Western Carolina Catamounts quarterback Cole Gonzales (9) prepares to throw the football during the first half of the game against North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

Cole Gonzales played the first three seasons of his college career at Western Carolina, where he became a star for the Catamounts at the FCS level, and drew the attention of Oklahoma. He signed with the Sooners out of the transfer portal, and spent last spring in Norman.

However, Gonzales wouldn’t stay with OU, as he transferred again during the spring portal window, winding up at Pittsburgh. He played sparingly in 2025, and he hopped in the portal again ahead of the 2026 season, transferring to Charlotte. He’ll look to return to star form this year with the 49ers.

Honorable Mentions

  • Malachi Nelson was a consensus five-star recruit in the 2023 class who was committed to Oklahoma. However, when Lincoln Riley left to go to USC, Nelson flipped and signed with the Trojans. After a year at Southern Cal, he transferred to Boise State, where he was a backup. He spent 2025 at UTEP after another transfer, and he has since transferred again, this time to Syracuse for the 2026 season.
  • Kevin Sperry was a longtime OU commit, who looked sure to sign with the Sooners. However, when Seth Littrell was fired from his post as offensive coordinator and eventually replaced by Ben Arbuckle, Sperry flipped to Florida State. He enters his second season with the Seminoles in 2026.
  • Gavin Frakes began his college career in 2022 at New Mexico State, and he transferred to Virginia for the 2024 season. After Gonzales’ transfer, Arbuckle and the Sooners looked to replace him with Frakes, and even got a commitment from the Norman North product. However, Frakes never signed with Oklahoma, and instead flipped to Northwestern. He spent the 2025 season with the Wildcats, and he will be back at NU this year.
  • Dereon Coleman was a one-time target for the Sooners in the 2026 recruiting class, and he looked like he might be OU’s quarterback signee during that cycle. Instead, Oklahoma moved on, and so did Coleman. He signed with Miami instead, and he’ll learn behind starter Darian Mensah as a true freshman.
  • Jaden O’Neal was the QB that the Sooners moved on to, and he was pledged to Oklahoma for a few days shy of a year. However, as OU made the transition from Littrell to Arbuckle, the new OC of the Sooners had a different ’26 quarterback in his sights. Arbuckle’s pursuit of Bentley paid off, but it cost Oklahoma O’Neal. He decommitted and signed with Florida State, where he’ll join Sperry with the Seminoles as a true freshman this season.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Who are the former OU quarterbacks that are still playing in college?

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