In football, everything starts with the quarterback. And that\u2019s never more apparent than in college football, where the quarterback is by far the single-most significant position on the field on every team.<\/p>\n
And with the 2026 college football season expected to feature one of the most loaded quarterback classes in recent memory, CBS Sports\u2018 David Cobb decided to break down all 68 Power Four QBs into tiers, and then rank each of them within their designated tiers ahead of upcoming season.<\/p>\n
[ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ]<\/a><\/p>\n Of course, any list of 2026 college football QBs begins with high-profile signal-callers such as Texas<\/a>\u2018 Arch Manning<\/a> and Oregon<\/a>\u2018s Dante Moore<\/a>, both of whom are already locked in a stiff competition to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft after bypassing April\u2019s draft to return to college. But there are plenty of other talented QBs vying to establish themselves among college football\u2019s elite this season.<\/p>\n With that in mind, let\u2019s get into CBS Sports\u2019 ranking of all 68 Power Four quarterback separated by tiers<\/a>:<\/p>\n Heisman Candidates<\/p>\n 1. Dante Moore<\/a>, Oregon<\/a> Cobb\u2019s top tier features only the best of the best among this year\u2019s QB class, including eight legit contenders to win the 2026 Heisman Trophy. But he begins with a slight surprise at No. 1, where Cobb goes with Moore over Manning due to Oregon\u2019s elite returning talent in 2026. Of course, Manning isn\u2019t without his own talent, especially after landing star WR Cam Coleman out of the transfer portal.<\/p>\n Beyond the top two, Cobb turns to two of the most exciting dual-threat QBs from last season in Chambliss and Mensah, the latter of whom transferred to Miami from Duke in late January. They are followed by a trio of second-year starters in Sayin, Carr and Maiava, each of whom are expected to be the centerpieces of three College Football Playoff contenders. Last but hardly least is Hoover, a former TCU transfer set to take over in Bloomington for the defending national champion Hoosiers.<\/p>\n All-Conference Veterans<\/p>\n 1. Gunner Stockton<\/a>, Georgia<\/a> Cobb\u2019s second tier features a list of eight QBs that have already established themselves as stars in their respective conferences and now look to become national championship contenders. Leading that charge is Stockton, who led the Bulldogs to back-to-back SEC titles but hasn\u2019t done much in the Playoffs.<\/p>\n Reed is a dual-threat talent that is on the cusp of a true breakout season in College Station, while Sorsby looks to put his NCAA troubles behind him after this week\u2019s injunction and become this year\u2019s Fernando Mendoza. Bailey, Fifita, Jennings, Williams and Weigman are all experienced, multi-year starters who have the potential to turn heads across the sport and lead their respective teams to the Playoffs in 2026.<\/p>\n Proven and Predictable<\/p>\n 1. Devon Dampier<\/a>, Utah<\/a> This tier is full of talented QBs that have already proven themselves as reliable playmakers on their respective teams but aren\u2019t entering the 2026 season with extremely lofty expectations. Leading this list is Dampier, who established himself as an elite dual-threat talent in 2025 but will be working within a new offensive system after the Utes\u2019 offseason coaching overhaul.<\/p>\n Iamaleava received a much-needed fresh start in 2025 after transferring from Tennessee, but has work to do to live up to his former 5-star status. Lindsey, Johnson and Browne also struggled through down years in 2025 but have more than enough talent to take that next step, while Pribula enters 2026 with his third team in as many seasons and is still seeking to establish himself as a truly elite quarterback.<\/p>\n 1. Chris Vizzina<\/a>, Clemson<\/a> Every QB in this tier is finally taking the reins as QB1 after several years of waiting in the wings, beginning with Clemson\u2019s Vizzina, who takes over for longtime starter Cade Klubnik. Jackson saw limited action as a redshirt freshman in 2025 and gets the nod under new Razorbacks head coach Ryan Silverfield.<\/p>\n Miliovojevic closed out last season as the Spartans\u2019 starter and returns under new offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, who spent the past two seasons at Alabama. Meanwhile, Ballard and Hecklinski are still competing to be the guy at Kansas and Iowa, respectively, but both have multiple years within the system and are widely expected to open the season as QB1.<\/p>\n Sophomore Stars<\/p>\n 1. Bear Bachmeier<\/a>, BYU<\/a> The 2025 true freshman class featured several talented QBs that were thrown to the wolves and more than rose to the challenge in Year 1 with their respective programs. But none more than Bachmeier, a former 3-star prospect that led the Cougars to 12 wins following an offseason shakeup at the position. <\/p>\n Wins were a lot more difficult to come by for the rest of the rookie QBs on this list, but Keawe-Sagapolutele shined brightest among the field after combining for nearly 3,500 yards passing in 2025. Meanwhile, Underwood, the No. QB in the 2025, Washington and Heitschel are looking to build upon last season\u2019s success after each flashed elite potential as true freshman. <\/p>\n Reunited Transfers<\/p>\n 1. Drew Mestemaker<\/a>, Oklahoma State<\/a> (via North Texas<\/a>) As is the case in the portal era, the 2026 offseason saw massive coach and player movement, with multiple signal-callers following their former head coaches to new opportunities at bigger schools. Of course, Mestemaker shines brightest after bringing his FBS-leading 4,379 passing yards with him to Oklahoma State where he reunites with former North Texas coach Eric Morris. <\/p>\n Brown does the same at Auburn after combining on nearly 4,200 total yards and 42 touchdowns in Alex Golesh\u2019s system last season at USF, while Becht brings experience and plenty of Iowa State talent to Penn State along with new coach Matt Campbell. Philo, Lopez and Hawkins are each trying to revive their careers in new locals with familiar playcallers.<\/p>\n Returning from Injury<\/p>\n 1. Sam Leavitt<\/a>, LSU<\/a> This foursome is full of talent and potential, but each is coming off season-ending injuries that have derailed their once-promising careers. Leavitt (foot) leads the group by default after signing with LSU and new head coach Lane Kiffin as the No. 1 overall transfer in the portal in January.<\/p>\n Angeli, a former transfer himself, returns after an Achilles injury ended his 2025 season after opening the year on a 3-1 start for the Orange. Edwards and Warren are both looking to bounce back in a new spot after missing all of 2025 recovering from knee injuries.<\/p>\n High Ceiling, Low Floor<\/p>\n 1. John Mateer<\/a>, Oklahoma<\/a> Every quarterback in this particular tier has the talent to be elite game-changers, and several have even proven that on the national stage at various times throughout their careers. But for one reason or another it hasn\u2019t quite worked out for them yet, but maybe 2026 is their year to shine.<\/p>\n Mateer was earning Heisman Trophy buzz in early 2025 before a thumb injury in September derailed those aspirations, though he did manage to do enough to get Oklahoma into the CFP. Sellers is another potential Heisman contender but hasn\u2019t been able to take that next step in his development. Colandrea and Lagway are both special prospects that needed a change of scenery, while Lewis is entering Year 2 under Colorado coach Deion Sanders still looking to live up to the recruiting hype.<\/p>\n Tantalizing Potential<\/p>\n 1. Austin Simmons<\/a>, Missouri<\/a> Every quarterback in this tier is brimming with serious untapped potential as highly-ranked prospects that haven\u2019t yet had a chance to shine but are in systems that are known to produce elite QBs. Simmons leads the way after joining forces with Mizzou\u2019s Eli Drinkwitz following a disappointing 2025 where injuries allowed Chambliss to overtake him as Ole Miss\u2019 starter.<\/p>\n Kienholz gets a new opportunity under Louisville\u2019s Jeff Brohm after being beaten out at Ohio State by Sayin last season. Russell is still competing with Austin Mack to be the Crimson Tide\u2019s starter but presents special talent as the No. 2 QB in the 2025 class, while the four-star Taylor officially takes the reins after playing a bit role as a freshman in 2025. Curtis and Brandon are five-star 2026 signees vying to be this year\u2019s freshmen sensations with SEC rivals Vanderbilt and Tennessee, respectively. <\/p>\n New Power Four Additions<\/p>\n 1. Katin Houser<\/a>, Illinois<\/a> (via East Carolina<\/a>) All eight of the quarterbacks in this particular tier are making the jump to the Power Four ranks after starring at lower levels, be it the Group of Six, FCS or Division II. Houser is back in the Big Ten after a one-year stint in the American Conference following two years at Michigan State.<\/p>\n Craig and Barnett join the Big 12 after shining in the Ivy and Sun Belt, respectively, where they helped reset their former team\u2019s record books. Jospeh, Eget, Raynor and French each got called up to the big leagues as replacements after their team\u2019s former starters hit the portal this offseason. Meanwhile, Boston College is hoping its found the next Chambliss in McKenzie, a former D-II Player of the Year.<\/p>\n Opportunity Beckons<\/p>\n 1. Cutter Boley<\/a>, Arizona State<\/a> This final tier is full of talented transfers that have either been limited by opportunity or troubling track records at previous stops. Boley leads the way as the most proven of the bunch after joining a potent Sun Devils offense following a rollercoaster 2025 within Kentucky\u2019s struggling offense last season.<\/p>\n Minchey steps in as Boley\u2019s replacement in Lexington under new Wildcats head coach Will Stein, the former Oregon offensive coordinator, after backing up Carr at Notre Dame last season. Mendoza, the younger brother of 2025 Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, takes over at a reloading Georgia Tech, while Chiles gets another shot in the Big Ten after a difficult experience with the Spartans. Daniels and Lonergan are well-traveled former prospects on their last shots at success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In football, everything starts with the quarterback. 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2. Arch Manning<\/a>, Texas<\/a>
3. Trinidad Chambliss<\/a>, Ole Miss<\/a>
4. Darien Mensah<\/a>, Miami<\/a>
5. Julian Sayin<\/a>, Ohio State<\/a>
6. C.J. Carr<\/a>, Notre Dame<\/a>
7. Jayden Maiava<\/a>, USC<\/a>
8. Josh Hoover<\/a>, Indiana<\/a><\/p>\n
2. Marcel Reed<\/a>, Texas A&M<\/a>
3. Brendan Sorsby<\/a>, Texas Tech<\/a>
4. CJ Bailey<\/a>, NC State<\/a>
5. Noah Fifita<\/a>, Arizona<\/a>
6. Kevin Jennings<\/a>, SMU<\/a>
7. Demond Williams<\/a>, Washington<\/a>
8. Conner Weigman<\/a>, Houston<\/a><\/p>\n
2. Nico Iamaleava<\/a>, UCLA<\/a>
3. Drake Lindsey<\/a>, Minnesota<\/a>
4. Avery Johnson<\/a>, Kansas State<\/a>
5. Beau Pribula<\/a>, Virginia<\/a>
6. Ryan Browne<\/a>, Purdue<\/a><\/p>\n
2. KJ Jackson<\/a>, Arkansas<\/a>
3. Alessio Milivojevic<\/a>, Michigan State<\/a>
4. Cole Ballard<\/a>, Kansas<\/a>
5. Jeremy Hecklinski<\/a>, Iowa<\/a><\/p>\n
2. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele<\/a>, Cal<\/a>
3. Bryce Underwood<\/a>, Michigan<\/a>
4. Malik Washington<\/a>, Maryland<\/a>
5. Mason Heintschel<\/a>, Pitt<\/a><\/p>\n
2. Byrum Brown<\/a>, Auburn<\/a> (via USF<\/a>)
3. Rocco Becht<\/a>, Penn State<\/a> (via Iowa State<\/a>)
4. Ethan Grunkemeyer<\/a>, Virginia Tech<\/a> (via Penn State<\/a>)
5. Aaron Philo<\/a>, Florida<\/a> (via Georgia Tech<\/a>)
6. Gio Lopez<\/a>, Wake Forest<\/a> (via North Carolina<\/a>)
7. Michael Hawkins Jr.<\/a>, West Virginia<\/a> (via Oklahoma<\/a>)<\/p>\n
2. Steve Angeli<\/a>, Syracuse<\/a>
3. Billy Edwards<\/a>, North Carolina<\/a>
4. Davis Warren<\/a>, Stanford<\/a><\/p>\n
2. LaNorris Sellers<\/a>, South Carolina<\/a>
3. Anthony Colandrea<\/a>, Nebraska<\/a>
4. DJ Lagway<\/a>, Baylor<\/a>
5. Julian Lewis<\/a>, Colorado<\/a><\/p>\n
2. Lincoln Kienholz<\/a>, Louisville<\/a>
3. Keelon Russell<\/a>, Alabama<\/a>
4. Kamario Taylor<\/a>, Mississippi State<\/a>
5. Jared Curtis<\/a>, Vanderbilt<\/a>
6. Faizon Brandon<\/a>, Tennessee<\/a><\/p>\n
2. Jaden Craig<\/a>, TCU<\/a> (via Harvard<\/a>)
3. Alonza Barnett III<\/a>, UCF<\/a> (via James Madison<\/a>)
4. Colton Joseph<\/a>, Wisconsin<\/a> (via Old Dominion<\/a>)
5. Walker Eget<\/a>, Duke<\/a> (via San Jose State<\/a>)
6. Jaylen Raynor<\/a>, Iowa State<\/a> (via Arkansas State<\/a>)
7. JC French<\/a>, Cincinnati<\/a> (via Georgia Southern<\/a>)
8. Mason McKenzie<\/a>, Boston College<\/a> (via Saginaw Valley State)<\/p>\n
2. Kenny Minchey<\/a>, Kentucky<\/a>
3. Alberto Mendoza<\/a>, Georgia Tech<\/a>
4. Aidan Chiles<\/a>, Northwestern<\/a>
5. Ashton Daniels<\/a>, Florida State<\/a>
6. Dylan Lonergan<\/a>, Rutgers<\/a><\/p>\n