play0:19End Zone! Bear Bachmeier scores 16-yard rushing touchdownBear Bachmeier crosses goal line for 16-yard rushing touchdown
play0:16Dante Moore connects with Malik Benson for another Ducks TDDante Moore throws 45-yard touchdown pass vs. James Madison
play0:26Byrum Brown airs it out for 60-yard touchdown passByrum Brown airs it out for 60-yard touchdown pass
Highlight: Arch Manning shows out in No. 17 Texas’ win over Arkansas (0:35)DeAndre Moore Jr. records three TDs on three catches as Manning throws for 389 yards and four passing TDs and grabs a receiving TD in the Longhorns’ 52-37 win vs. the Razorbacks. (0:35)
End Zone! Bear Bachmeier scores 16-yard rushing touchdownBear Bachmeier crosses goal line for 16-yard rushing touchdown
Dante Moore connects with Malik Benson for another Ducks TDDante Moore throws 45-yard touchdown pass vs. James Madison
Byrum Brown airs it out for 60-yard touchdown passByrum Brown airs it out for 60-yard touchdown pass
Eli Lederman, Max Olson and Adam RittenbergJan 21, 2026, 06:43 AM ET
2026 starter: Mason McKenzie, redshirt junior, Saginaw Valley State transfer
The college football season just ended and five College Football Playoff teams need to replace their quarterbacks. That includes Indiana (Fernando Mendoza) and Miami (Carson Beck), who just met for the national title.
Both teams turned to the transfer portal, which closed on Jan. 16, to bring in experienced, high-profile replacements. Indiana is bringing in Josh Hoover from TCU, and the Canes are linked to Duke’s Darian Mensah, who jumped into the portal at nearly the last moment. Transfers will have a big place in the 2026 season, but there are legitimate battles at places like Alabama, Florida State, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Nebraska and Tennessee.
Eli Lederman, Max Olson and Adam Rittenberg examined every Power 4 quarterback situation and the candidates, and they are ready to predict the 2026 starters. Predictions are based on who will enter the season as QB1, not necessarily who will finish with the same designation.
Competition: The quarterback room has turned over with Lonergan and backup Shaker Reisig both transferring out and Grayson James out of eligibility. In addition to McKenzie, BC added Arkansas transfer Grayson Wilson, a three-star recruit who did not play for the Razorbacks. The team also brings in two three-star recruits, including Femi Babalola, a Tennessee product who is the second-highest-rated prospect in Boston College’s 2026 class.
Competition: The Bears lost former Ohio State transfer Devin Brown, who went back in the portal and moved on to FCS Weber State, but were able to bring in Colorado State transfer Jackson Brousseau and convinced EJ Caminong to withdraw from the portal and return. Brousseau started seven games for the Rams in 2025 and threw for 1,354 yards on 64% passing with 10 total TDs and three interceptions. Cal is also adding three-star recruit Nainoa Lopes from Hawaii.
Competition: Redshirt freshman Chris Denson is back after completing all four of his pass attempts, one for a touchdown, in 2025 after arriving as a three-star recruit from Florida. Clemson also added two 2026 quarterbacks, four-star Tait Reynolds from Arizona and three-star Brock Bradley from Alabama. The Tigers appear to be all-in on Vizzina, even though a transfer with some experience could seemingly help.
Competition: Backup Henry Belin IV moved on as a grad transfer this offseason after playing in 14 games over his four years in the program and committed to Missouri State. Duke went to the portal for a veteran arm to replace him in Ari Patu, a sixth-year senior who previously played at North Alabama and Stanford. The Blue Devils also add incoming three-star signee Terry Walker III.
Competition: Mendoza will be pushed by redshirt sophomore Graham Knowles, a 6-foot-7 passer from Texas powerhouse Southlake Carroll. Knowles threw just one pass in 2025, a screen against FCS Gardner-Webb that receiver Dean Patterson turned into an 84-yard touchdown. Redshirt freshman Grady Adamson should compete for the job as well, and the Yellow Jackets also have three-star signee Cole Bergeron coming in from Louisiana.
Competition: The Hurricanes going to the transfer portal for their starter for a third consecutive year resulted in top backup Emory Williams moving on via the portal. They have young reserves in their QB room in Luke Nickel and Judd Anderson and are adding true freshman Dereon Coleman, the No. 5 dual-threat passer and No. 160 player in the SC Next 300 out of Orlando.
Competition: Along with Edwards, UNC added Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill, a three-star recruit in 2024 who had 20 pass attempts with two touchdowns and two interceptions in two seasons with the Aggies. A strong offseason for O’Neill and possibly another setback for Edwards could shake up the depth chart. Au’Tori Newkirk returns for his second year in the program after six pass attempts in 2025. North Carolina also brings in Travis Burgess, an SC Next 300 dual-threat recruit from Georgia.
Competition: Bailey’s return gives NC State time to figure out its post-2026 plans. The team had success with Will Wilson as a short-yardage runner, as the 228-pound freshman finished with 10 rushing touchdowns on 43 carries. NC State will want Wilson to develop more as a passer after just five attempts — all in one game — last fall. The team also brings in Jacob Smith, a three-star prospect from within the state.
Competition: After losing the top job, Holstein not surprisingly entered the portal, along with reserves David Lynch, who started Pitt’s bowl game in 2024, and former Western Carolina transfer Cole Gonzales. Pitt’s quarterback room will look dramatically different in 2026, as the team brings in Texas State transfer Holden Geriner and Corey Dailey, a three-star recruit from Texas.
Competition: Jennings accounted for all but five of SMU’s pass attempts in 2025, and those opportunities might once again be scarce. The team does have Ty Hawkins, an SC Next 300 dual-threat quarterback from Florida, entering his second season in the program. Hawkins could see a bigger role in certain spots. Veteran reserve Charlie Fiser is also back.
Competition: Virginia Tech is largely unproven at quarterback following the departure of three-year starter Kyron Drones. Franklin has already brought two more passers into the program in North Carolina freshman transfer Bryce Baker, an SC Next 300 recruit a year ago, and top-200 recruit Troy Huhn out of California. A.J. Brand and Kelden Ryan are both returning as redshirt freshmen, although neither saw game action in 2025.
Competition: After an impressive 9-4 season in Dickert’s debut, the Demon Deacons lost both primary quarterbacks in Robby Ashford (out of eligibility) and Deshawn Purdie (transferred to Liberty). Redshirt freshman Steele Pizzella could push Lopez a bit, and Wake Forest added two three-star quarterback recruits in Grant Lawless and Gannon Jones.
Competition: Backup Braedyn Locke transferring to Tarleton State should mean a wide-open competition for the No. 2 spot this offseason between a trio of scholarship QBs in redshirt freshmen Sawyer Anderson and Luke Haugo plus incoming recruit Oscar Rios, the No. 218 overall player in the 2026 SC Next 300.
End Zone! Bear Bachmeier scores 16-yard rushing touchdown
Bear Bachmeier crosses goal line for 16-yard rushing touchdown
Competition: Backup quarterback McCae Hillstead entered the portal, but BYU will bring back Treyson Bourguet, who played two seasons at Central Michigan and had 1,314 passing yards and 219 rush yards. Bourguet had just eight pass attempts this fall for the Cougars. BYU signed Ryder Lyons, the No. 4 pocket passer and No. 35 overall player in the 2026 class, but the decorated recruit is headed for a two-year LDS mission.
Competition: The Bears return top backup Nate Bennett, who’s entering his third year in the program. Bennett has seen limited action in five career games and has thrown for 53 yards on 6-of-9 passing. They’ll have two young reserves behind Bennett in redshirt freshman Edward Griffin and three-star signee Quinn Murphy.
Why he’ll start: The Bearcats knew it would be tough to get Brendan Sorsby back for his senior year given his pro and portal options. They’ve brought in a two-year starter from the Sun Belt in French to take over. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior was the second-leading passer in the conference since 2024 with 5,760 passing yards on 65% passing, 554 rushing yards, 45 total touchdowns and 19 interceptions over 26 starts while guiding the Eagles to back-to-back winning seasons.
Competition: There’s zero question Lewis will be QB1. Kaidon Salter graduating and Ryan Staub entering the portal leave the Buffs with next to no experience behind him. Reserves Dominiq Ponder and Colton Allen made brief appearances in 2025, and Colorado made a late addition in the 2026 class with incoming freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne.
Why he’ll start: After an up-and-down run at Texas A&M, Weigman turned his career around in his first season with the Cougars. The former top-100 recruit threw for 2,711 yards, rushed for 700 yards and scored 36 total TDs with nine interceptions while guiding the program on a 10-3 run that far exceeded all preseason expectations. Weigman earned MVP honors in the bowl win over LSU after throwing for 236 yards and four TDs and has re-signed to run it back with the Cougars in 2026.
Competition: Along with Becht, former Iowa State coach Matt Campbell brought 2025 quarterback signee Alex Manske and 2026 signee Kase Evans with him to Penn State. Oklahoma State transfer Zane Flores, who started eight games for the Cowboys last fall, projects as Raynor’s primary competition next fall. Ex-Washington State signee Hudson Kurland, three-star recruit, and third-year passer Connor Moberly fill out the rest of the Cyclones’ quarterback depth.
Why he’ll start: The Jayhawks appear to be committed to an offseason quarterback competition between returning backups Ballard and Isaiah Marshall, but also brought in a late portal pickup. Ballard has played in 15 games during his career and has produced 445 passing yards, 209 rushing yards and 3 scores with 4 interceptions. The son of Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard has earned his coaches’ trust during his three years as Jalon Daniels’ backup and knows how to operate Kansas’ offense.