NCAAF · 1 year ago

Projecting & Ranking Every 2024 Starting College Football Quarterback

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

134. Evan Simon - Temple Owls
The honor of being placed at the bottom of this starting quarterbacks list belongs to Temple’s Evan Simon. The Rutgers transfer was a backup for one of the country’s worst passing attacks, and he now has fewer weapons at his disposal as he takes over as the Temple quarterback. In 2022, Evan Simon averaged just 5.7 yards per attempt and still only had a completion percentage of 57.7. He had four touchdowns and threw six interceptions in just 137 pass attempts. Things likely won’t be any better for him at Temple.

Temple 2024 Win Total: 2.5
1. Carson Beck - Georgia
Georgia fell short of a three-peat, but Carson Beck performed well as a first-year starter. Beck threw for 3,941 yards with 24 touchdown passes and only six interceptions and easily would have surpassed 4,000 yards if he had been required to throw the ball late in games. Beck was briefly rumored to consider the NFL Draft before returning to Georgia for the 2024 season and is among the favorites for the Heisman Trophy (+7500).

Georgia National Title Odds: +300
2. Jaxson Dart - Ole Miss
There were significant questions about how good Jaxson Dart could be after two relatively disappointing seasons. Last season was a breakout campaign, as he threw for 3,364 yards with 23 touchdowns plus eight more scores on the ground. Ole Miss has a phenomenal group of pass-catchers surrounding Dart as he returns for 2024, and the Rebels are strong College Football Playoff contenders.

Ole Miss National Title Odds: +1500
3. Quinn Ewers - Texas
Last season showed the growth and maturity of quarterback Quinn Ewers. His evolution helped lead Texas to the Big 12 Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff Semifinals. The Longhorns signal-caller threw for 3,479 yards with 22 touchdowns. Despite missing a few games to injury, Ewers had a stellar campaign. He needs to improve his consistency and prove that he can stay healthy as he continues holding Arch Manning off on the depth chart.

Texas National Title Odds: +700
4. Dillon Gabriel - Oregon
Dillon Gabriel has been around for a long time. Next season will be his sixth season, and the Oregon Ducks will be his third team. After beginning at UCF and spending last season at Oklahoma, Gabriel entered the portal for his final season and chose to play for Dan Lanning's prolific offense in Eugene. Gabriel was terrific in 2023, completing nearly 70% of his passes and throwing for 3,660 yards. Can Gabriel match the output of former Ducks QB Bo Nix? That seems unlikely with Oregon moving to the Big Ten, but Gabriel is an excellent addition to the Ducks.

Oregon National Title Odds: +850
5. Shedeur Sanders - Colorado
No. 5 might be controversial, but Shedeur Sanders showed he could play at a high level despite the circus. Despite a weak offensive line and teams pressuring him, Sanders threw for 3,230 yards with 27 touchdowns and only three interceptions. The offensive line should be somewhat improved, and Colorado has playmakers for him to throw to. Sanders stepped up in competition and continued to produce.

Colorado National Title Odds: +30000
6. Noah Fifita - Arizona
The Arizona quarterback stays with the Wildcats and will be in Tuscon for new coach Brent Brennan (along with his top wide receiver). Noah Fifita took over after an injury to the starter and instantly elevated the Wildcats offense. He completed 72.4% of his passes for nearly 3,000 yards with 25 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Fifita is only 5'11", but he will only get stronger as he gets older, and he already has an exceptional arm. Fifita will have Arizona competing for the Big 12 Championship.

Arizona National Title Odds: +15000
7. Jalen Milroe - Alabama
Jalen Milroe is not one of the ten best passers in the country. However, there are many ways to get the job done at quarterback, and Milroe is an extremely dangerous runner. He should benefit from playing under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and head coach Kalen DeBoer, and he is one of the most dynamic athletes in the sport.

Alabama National Title Odds: +1300
8. Cam Ward - Miami
Cam Ward was terrific for the Washington State Cougars and entered the transfer portal after the 2023 season. There were rumors that he was not interested in playing college football for another season, and then he declared for the NFL Draft. However, Ward changed his mind and committed to the Miami Hurricanes. Ward is an excellent dual-threat quarterback who will improve the Hurricanes' offense and make them a threat to compete for the ACC Championship.

Miami National Title Odds: +6000
9. Nico Iamaleava - Tennessee
The much-publicized Tennessee Volunteers quarterback finally started a game as Hendon Hooker stepped aside for the Cheez-It Bowl. Nico Iamaleava picked apart the Iowa Hawkeyes, and Tennessee rolled to a 35-0 victory to put the Volunteers Hype Train in full gear for 2024. Iamaleava is inexperienced, but he might be the most talented quarterback in the country this coming season.

Tennessee National Title Odds: +3000
10. Garrett Nussmeier - LSU
Garrett Nussmeier gets bonus points for playing in an LSU offensive system that helped Jayden Daniels win the Heisman Trophy. Now, Nussmeier does not have the same electric skillset Daniels does, but he is still plenty talented. Nussmeier can sling the ball with accuracy and can dish it deep. LSU won't have quite the same skill players they had in 2023, but it will still be a good group. Nussmeier is +1800 to win the Heisman Trophy, a bit of a longshot, but his odds make it not inconceivable.

LSU National Title Odds: +1500
11. Cam Rising - Utah
It would be easy to forget about Utah quarterback Cam Rising. He sat out all of 2023, and the Utes offense sputtered for most of the campaign. Utah has moved to the Big 12, and Rising is healthy and ready to play his final collegiate season. In 2022, Rising threw for 3,034 yards with 26 touchdowns, 465 yards rushing, and six more scores as Utah won the PAC-12. His completion percentage was nearly ten points higher than anyone the Utes trotted out in 2023. He’ll make an immediate impact. Utah is one of the early favorites to win the newly constituted Big 12 and make the College Football Playoff, but that will only be possible if Rising plays as he did before his injury.

Utah National Title Odds: +7000
12. Riley Leonard - Notre Dame
Riley Leonard is not a perfectly polished passer. Still, he is a dynamic playmaker who should be fully healthy and ready to deliver in South Bend as the new quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Head coach Marcus Freeman added offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock to his staff, which should pay immediate dividends for Leonard’s progress. His completion percentage needs to improve, but there is no denying his potential as a runner and a playmaker when the pocket breaks down. Leonard’s first regular season game will be against his former coach at Duke as the Irish play Texas A&M in College Station on August 31. The remainder of the schedule is manageable by Notre Dame standards, and a trip to the College Football Playoff is the expectation.

Notre Dame National Title Odds: +2200
13. Brady Cook - Missouri
The Missouri Tigers had a historically strong 2023 season and won the Cotton Bowl with a win over the Ohio State Buckeyes. It was a balanced team, but one of the biggest surprises was the play of sophomore quarterback Brady Cook. Cook threw for 3,317 yards with 21 touchdowns plus eight touchdown runs as he completed 66.1% of his passes. The Tigers have a solid group of wide receivers led by star Luther Burden, and the passing attack should be explosive again in 2024. As running back Cody Schrader heads to the NFL Draft, Cook will likely be relied upon even further this coming season. Missouri avoids Georgia and Texas, and a clash on October 5 at Texas A&M will go a long way toward determining how the season goes for the Tigers and if they are College Football Playoff contenders.

Missouri National Title Odds: +3500
14. Drew Allar - Penn State
Penn State is perhaps the most predictable program in the country under James Franklin. They beat nearly everyone they should and lose almost all as underdogs. The Nittany Lions routinely finish with ten wins and as a top 15 team. For the Nittany Lions to break through and reach the next level as a program, they need Drew Allar to be one of the nation’s best quarterbacks. Penn State has a new offensive coordinator, and the schedule lines up nicely for Allar to improve and play to his high school ranking. PSU does not play Oregon or Michigan; they host Ohio State in early November. The non-conference is manageable as well. Allar completed only 59.9 percent of his passes last season, which must climb in 2024.

Penn State National Title Odds: +2200
15. Jalon Daniels - Kansas
Jalon Daniels is a top-end dual-threat weapon. The issue for Daniels is whether or not he can stay healthy. He missed a portion of the 2022 campaign and was sidelined for all but three games of the 2023 season with a back injury. If Daniels plays the entirety of the 2024 season, Kansas has a real chance to win the Big 12. Daniels could play his way onto Heisman Trophy lists. Daniels is a terrific runner and an accurate passer who plays in a quarterback-friendly offense under the guidance of Lance Leipold.

Kansas National Title Odds: +20000
16. Cade Klubnik - Clemson
Cade Klubnik had an up-and-down 2023 season, his first as a full-time starter. His Clemson Tigers struggled mightily in the first half of the season, but a switch flipped in the back half of the campaign to finish 9-4. The offense was inconsistent, but Klubnik could utilize his legs more often and limit his turnovers. Clemson needs help at wide receiver and hopes a pair of five-star freshmen will help fill the void and elevate Klubnik to the next level. With experience now under his belt, 2024 should be a big step up for the junior.

Clemson National Title Odds: +3000
17. Jackson Arnold - Oklahoma
Placing Oklahoma’s Jackson Arnold on a “best of” list is a bet on potential, not production. Arnold spent the 2023 season on the bench behind Dillon Gabriel. Arnold played in the Alamo Bowl as Gabriel had already announced his transfer (Oregon), and it was clear the starting job in 2024 would belong to the former five-star recruit. Arnold has a terrific arm, and the physical tools are there for him to be an elite quarterback at Oklahoma. Now, in the SEC, the Sooners have a challenging schedule in 2024, and Arnold’s ability to scan defenses and process information will be tested. Whether or not he rises to the challenge will decide how quickly the Sooners contend in their new league.

Oklahoma National Title Odds: +500
18. Garrett Greene - West Virginia
Few players nationally are as productive but underappreciated as West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene. As a junior in 2023, Greene led the FBS in big-time throw rate at 10.2% (247Sports). Despite being only 5’10” and likely weighing less than 200 pounds, Greene is a handful for defenses. He’s mobile and can make plays with his legs, and he has one of the best deep balls in college football. Greene needs to be more consistent and accurate on short and intermediate throws. This coming season, the schedule for West Virginia is manageable, and Greene should put up huge numbers as a senior.

West Virginia National Title Odds: +40000
19. Conner Weigman - Texas A&M
The time is now. If former five-star recruit Conner Weigman is going to live up to the hype and play like the elite recruit, it needs to happen in 2024. Jimbo Fisher's laborious offense perhaps shackled Weigman, and injuries have slowed him, but those reasons are now off the table. Mike Elko is in as head coach, and the Aggies are expected to run a quicker tempo attack they hope allows Weigman to flourish. Star wide receiver Evan Stewart is now in Eugene, but Texas A&M still has plenty of weapons for Weigman to work with. He must turn potential into production for Texas A&M to succeed.

Texas A&M National Title Odds: +4000
20. Grayson McCall - Coastal Carolina
After a terrific career at Coastal Carolina, Grayson McCall finally jumped to a power conference. One of the more productive players in the past few seasons, McCall took a step backward playing out of head coach Jamey Chadwell's system. He's not the biggest or most physically gifted player on this list, but McCall is accurate, and playing for Dave Doeren is an excellent fit scheme-wise. North Carolina State has plenty of weapons. KC Concepcion and the Wolfpack are a potential College Football Playoff dark horse contender if McCall can translate his production to the ACC.

North Carolina National Title Odds: +30000
21. Haynes King - Georgia Tech
Haynes King is one of the more underrated dual-threat quarterbacks in the country and enters 2024 with a chance to be one of the ACC’s best quarterbacks. The rising junior threw for 2,842 yards with 27 touchdowns and added 737 yards and ten more scores. King completed 61.6% of his passes and had several long runs, showing his quickness and willingness to get physical. His biggest issue, and for the Georgia Tech offense, is turnovers. King had 16 interceptions on the season and needs to limit those costly mistakes to help the Yellow Jackets reach their full potential.

Georgia Tech 2024 Win Total: 5.5
22. Will Rogers - Washington
It has been a wild career for former Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers. Rogers racked up huge numbers for the Bulldogs while slinging it around in Mike Leach’s Air Raid system. After Leach’s unexpected passing, new head coach Zach Arnett changed the offense and attempted to play a more physical pro-style brand of football. Predictably, that did not go well, and Rogers struggled with the rest of the team. During his time with Mississippi State, Rogers amassed the second-most passing yards in SEC history. He transferred to Washington, expecting to succeed Michael Penix Jr. and play for Kalen DeBoer. Of course, DeBoer took the Alabama head coaching job, and Washington hired Jedd Fisch as his replacement. After initially re-entering the transfer portal, Rogers elected to return to Washington. He will lead a completely rebuilt offense under Fisch. While Fisch is not DeBoer, he is still a very bright offensive mind and should be able to utilize Rogers to run a good unit.

Washington 2024 Win Total: 7.5
23. Will Howard - Ohio State
The Ohio State Buckeyes moved on from quarterback Kyle McCord, letting him go to Syracuse and hitting the transfer portal in search of a quarterback they feel can help them win a national championship. Is Will Howard that player? We are going to find out. Howard is more mobile and bigger than McCord, bringing a physicality to their offense that was previously lacking at the position. He’s not the most accurate passer and new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly must figure out how to utilize his skillset best. Howard exceeded 60% completions only once during his four seasons as a starter, and it would be fair to question his ability to throw the ball deep with accuracy. The Buckeyes will provide him with much better weapons than he had at Kansas State, which could turn a good quarterback into a great one.

Ohio State National Title Odds: +480
24. Avery Johnson - Kansas State
One of the main reasons Will Howard is not back at Kansas State is the ascension of Avery Johnson. The rising sophomore saw his role increase as the 2023 season went on and started the bowl game, throwing for 178 yards and rushing for 71 more as Kansas State beat North Carolina State and got to feast on a giant Pop-Tart as a reward. Johnson had five passing touchdowns and seven rushing touchdowns with no interceptions during his limited playing time in 2023. Even with limited exposure, it is clear how electric of a player he can become. Kansas State's 2024 offense will be built around his skillset, and Johnson will immediately become one of the best quarterbacks in the Big 12 and one of the more exciting players in college football.

Kansas State National Title Odds: +6
25. Byrum Brown - South Florida (up from 41)
Under the guidance of head coach Alex Golesh, South Florida’s Byrum Brown set single-season school records in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completion percentage. Golesh’s high-tempo offense was brought with him from Tennessee, and the USF Bulls had a fun first season under the young head coach, with Brown leading the way on offense. He accounted for at least five touchdowns in three games and ran for more than 100 yards in three games. Brown could rocket further up this list with another strong campaign.

South Florida 2024 National Championship: +100000
26. Thomas Castellanos - Boston College
Boston College’s Thomas Castellanos was a significant surprise in 2023. As a sophomore, he threw for 2,248 yards with 15 touchdowns and added 1,113 yards rushing with 13 more touchdowns. Castellanos had eight games with at least 100 yards passing and 50 yards rushing during the 2023 season and emerged as a true dual-threat quarterback capable of hurting defenses. Castellanos had 156 yards on the ground against SMU, 130 against the Miami Hurricanes, 87 in a win against Syracuse, 128 at Georgia Tech, 142 at Army, and 95 in a very close loss to Florida State. Boston College now has Bill O’Brien leading the program after Jeff Hafley left for the NFL, and it will be up to O’Brien to harness the unique skillset Castellanos brings.

Boston College 2024 Win Total: 4.5
27. DJ Uiagalelei - Florida State
Former five-star recruit DJ Uiagalelei is finishing his career at Florida State after beginning at Clemson and stopping at Oregon State for the 2023 season. Uiagalelei threw for 2,638 yards with 21 touchdowns to only seven interceptions and added six rushing touchdowns. Uiagalelei is a powerful runner but lacks the ability to burst through the defense for long gains. He averaged only 3.2 yards per carry last season for the Beavers and completed only 57.1 percent of his passes. Florida State will need him to have the best season of his career if they are to challenge for the ACC Championship. That did not occur in week zero as Uiagalelei looked tentative and unimproved since his time at Clemson.

FSU National Title Odds: +8000
28. Rocco Becht - Iowa State
As a redshirt freshman, Rocco Becht showed potential to turn into a star for the Iowa State Cyclones. He completed nearly 63% of his passes and threw for 3,120 yards with 23 touchdowns to only eight interceptions. Becht is not much of a runner but did add three scores on the ground. The Florida native averaged 8.5 yards per completion and got better throughout the campaign, leading many to tab Iowa State as a sleeper to win the realigned Big 12 in 2024.

Iowa State 2024 National Title Odds: +30000
29. Kyron Drones - Virginia Tech
The ACC has a few young and dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks that appear on this list, with Kyron Drones offering as much rushing potential as anyone. The Virginia Tech Hokies signal-caller ran for 818 yards with five touchdowns in 2023 and threw for 2,084 yards with 17 scores and only three interceptions. Drones has to improve his accuracy and consistency on deep and intermediate passes, as he only completed 58.2 percent of his attempts. A 1,000-yard rushing and 2,000-yard passing season is not out of the question for Drones.

Virginia Tech 2024 National Title Odds: +30000
30. DeQuan Finn - Baylor Bears
DeQuan Finn was the best quarterback in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in 2023 and led the Toledo Rockets to a perfect regular season in the league with 2,657 passing yards and 563 rushing yards. He had 29 total touchdowns on the season. Finn entered the transfer portal and will play for the Baylor Bears in the Big 12 as head coach Dave Aranda tries to save his job in Waco. Finn is athletic and a good passer (nearly 64% completed passes). It’s unclear how he will translate to a power conference, but the skills are there for a good season.

Baylor Bears 2024 Win Total: 5.5
31. Aidan Chiles - Michigan State
Michigan State hired head coach Jonathan Smith, and Smith brought his quarterback from Corvallis with him. Aidan Chiles is a bet on potential, as he had only 35 passing attempts last season. Still, he has the pedigree as a well-regarded recruiting prospect, and the limited sample size he displayed last season was encouraging. Chiles completed 68.6 percent of his passes for 309 yards with four touchdowns plus two scores on the ground. It will take some time for Chiles to adjust to being a starting quarterback, but there is real reason to be excited in East Lansing.

Michigan State 2024 Win Total: 5.5
32. Graham Mertz - Florida
An argument could be made for having Florida quarterback Graham Mertz much earlier on this list. There were significant doubts about how he would perform after being brought in from Wisconsin. However, Mertz was better than anyone could have expected. The Gators struggled, but Mertz threw for 2,903 yards with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions. He completed a solid 72.9% of his passes. The most significant issues for Mertz are being a statue in the pocket and his lack of mobility, which limits the Florida offense.

Florida 2024 Win Total: 5.5
33. Dylan Raiola - Nebraska
Nebraska fans have been waiting for this for a long time. Five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola flipped to Nebraska after committing to Georgia. The Cornhuskers are counting on him to step in immediately and reinvigorate a moribund offense. Raiola is an elite prospect with the tools to eventually be a top quarterback nationally. It will take some time, but he will get a chance to learn on the job and will undoubtedly be better than who Nebraska had a season ago.

Nebraska 2024 Win Total: 7.5
34. Miller Moss - USC
USC was rumored to be a top destination for transfer quarterbacks like Cam Ward and Will Howard. There were even rumors that Howard was already verbally committed to Lincoln Riley and the Trojans. Then USC played the Holiday Bowl against Louisville, and Miller Moss changed the equation. The young quarterback was 23 for 33 for 372 yards with six touchdowns in USC’s torching of Louisville. That was not the first time he had seen the field, and he was also impressive in those instances, particularly against Nevada early in the year. Moss is not Caleb Williams, but he has shown the ability to be very accurate. USC felt good enough about his immediate future to cease the pursuit of acquiring a starting quarterback from the portal.

USC 2024 Win Total: 7.5
35. KJ Jefferson - UCF
Arkansas had a rotten season, so KJ Jefferson sought greener pastures. The athletic veteran will be playing the 2024 season at Central Florida and appears to be a good fit for Gus Malzahn’s offense. Jefferson completed 64.2 percent of his passes last season with 19 touchdowns to eight interceptions, but his mobility is the real weapon Malzahn will be utilizing. Jefferson can regularly break tackles and get first downs with his legs, and will be a lot of fun to watch in Orlando.

UCF 2024 Win Total: 7.5
36. Kurtis Rourke - Indiana
The 2022 MAC Player of the Year must be healthy, but the former Ohio Bobcat, Kurtis Rourke, is ready for a chance in the Big Ten as an Indiana Hoosier. New head coach Curt Cignetti turned to Rourke, a quarterback with a big arm and a lot of experience, to lead his offense in Bloomington. He’s not the most mobile quarterback in the league, but he can pick up first downs and extend plays with his legs. Rourke needs to improve his consistency on intermediate passes but should be in line for a strong year in a system that regularly produces good QB seasons.

Indiana 2024 Win Total: 5.5
37. Taylen Green - Arkansas
Taylen Green is an excellent runner with a long way to go as a thrower. The former Boise State Bronco is now the starting quarterback for Sam Pittman’s Arkansas Razorbacks. He completed only 57.1% of his passes after taking over the starting job for Boise State and threw nine interceptions to only 11 touchdowns. The reason for optimism is his 436 yards on the ground with nine rushing touchdowns. Green came on late in the season and made a huge difference when he was on the field. It will be fascinating to see how it translates to the SEC.

Arkansas 2024 Win Total: 5.5
38. LaNorris Sellers - South Carolina
South Carolina is again dealing with an extensive roster turnover in the transfer portal as Shane Beamer tries to find traction and stay off the hot seat. Spencer Rattler is in the NFL Draft, and the new quarterback is a different type of player. LaNorris Sellers played sparingly in 2023, completing four passes and rushing the ball five times with one touchdown. Sellers, a native of Florence, SC, is a big quarterback (6’3”/245 pounds), and the offense will feature a lot of the quarterback run game and power draws up the middle. How quickly Sellers can expand his game from just being a power runner will go a long way toward determining the Gamecocks’ success in 2024.

South Carolina 2024 Win Total: 5.5
39. Ethan Garbers - UCLA
Ethan Garbers split time with five-star freshman Dante Moore for the UCLA Bruins, and the offense ran smoother under Garbers' guidance. The senior from Newport Beach completed 98 of his 146 passes (67.1%) for 11 touchdowns with three interceptions and added 127 yards on the ground. Garbers will not wow any Big Ten defenses with his physical talent, but he clearly had command of the offense and could be trusted to execute a game plan. The Bruins need to find some weapons to surround him this coming season, and the change from Chip Kelly to DeShaun Foster will be worth monitoring.

UCLA 2024 Win Total: 5.5
40. Brock Vandagriff - Kentucky
Anywhere that new Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff is placed on a list of top quarterbacks is a pure guess with very little information. The former Georgia Bulldog transferred to Lexington after it became clear Carson Beck was returning to Athens for another run at a national title under Kirby Smart. Vandagriff was a highly-touted prospect from Bogart, Georgia, and he played a backup role last season, completing 12 of his 18 pass attempts for 165 yards with two touchdowns. He’s not particularly mobile but was known as an accurate passer out of high school. The most prominent question marks are how he transitions to being the starter and how good the weapons Kentucky has around him end up being.

Kentucky 2024 Win Total: 6.5
41. Blake Shapen - Mississippi State
It could be a long season in Starkville. Jeff Lebby is the first-year head coach for the Bulldogs and has transfer quarterback Blake Shapen leading his offense. Shapen was fine in Waco as the quarterback for the Baylor Bears but was not someone anyone would consider a star. He completed 61.7% of his passes for 2,188 yards with 13 touchdowns to only three interceptions as Baylor struggled, leaving Dave Aranda on the hot seat heading into 2024. Shapen will now be asked to lead a new offense in a more difficult conference under a first-year head coach.

Mississippi State 2024 Win Total: 4.5
42. Seth Henigan - Memphis
Seth Hanigan is considered by many to be the top “Group of Five” quarterback in the country. Memphis routinely has potent offenses, and Hanigan has been the starting quarterback for three seasons now, with 10,776 passing yards. He was second in the American Athletic Conference in passing yards per game in 2023 and completed 67% of his passes for the Memphis Tigers as they went 10-3 on the season. Hanigan does not offer much on the ground, and it would be fair to consider him a bit of a “system quarterback,” but the numbers don’t lie, and Hanigan is in line for a big senior season.

Memphis 2024 National Championship: +50000
43. Joey Aguilar - Appalachian State
Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year Joey Aguilar returns to Appalachian State for his senior season after a very successful 2023. Aguilar completed 63.7% of his passes for 3,757 yards with 33 touchdowns and ten interceptions. Aguilar averaged 268 passing yards per game and had four games of more than 300 yards passing. He is not much of a runner, and the lack of mobility drops him lower than his passing numbers suggest.

Appalachian State National Championship: +100000
44. Preston Stone - SMU
SMU’s Preston Stone could be considered a “sleeper” for ACC Newcomer of the Year as the Southern Methodist Mustangs move from the American Athletic Conference to the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 2024 campaign. Stone threw for 3,197 yards with 28 touchdowns and only six interceptions. His accuracy was inconsistent as he only completed 59.9% of his passes, but part of that could be attributed to an offense that asked him to throw the ball downfield often. Stone added four rushing touchdowns but is not a mobile threat.

SMU 2024 Win Total: 7.5
45. Alex Orji - Michigan
What do you do with a player like Alex Orji? The man likely to be the new starting quarterback for defending champions Michigan is a mystery, but there is a real chance that placing him so low on this list will look silly in November. The redshirt sophomore has one career pass attempt, a five-yard completion in 2022. He was used as a running option in 2023 but was never trusted to throw the ball. There are questions about what the offense would look like without Jim Harbaugh leading the program, but it resembles what was seen in 2023 when Sherrone Moore took over as head coach. If Orji is not quite ready, the Wolverines may go with dual quarterbacks and give Jayden Denegal some snaps.

Michigan 2024 Win Total: 9.5
46. Kyle McCord - Syracuse Orange
Kyle McCord was capable as Ohio State’s starting quarterback in 2023. He threw for 3,170 yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions and completed 65.8% of his passes. Ohio State was in contention for the Big Ten Championship under his guidance before falling again to the Michigan Wolverines and then losing to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl Classic. McCord was surrounded by a good offensive line, a fantastic group of wide receivers, and a few excellent running backs and performed just about as expected. Ultimately, McCord was not deemed good enough to get Ohio State where it wanted to go. How he does with a less skilled supporting cast with the Syracuse Orange will be fascinating.

Syracuse 2024 Win Total: 7.5
47. Tyler Van Dyke - Wisconsin Badgers
What to think of Tyler Van Dyke? The former Miami Hurricanes quarterback would have been a top-ten quarterback on a list made after his freshman season in 2021. He threw for 25 touchdowns with six interceptions and nearly 3,000 yards. However, Van Dyke took a massive step backward in 2022 and was on shaky ground for much of the 2023 campaign. He threw for 2,703 yards with 19 touchdowns but had 12 interceptions and some costly turnovers. He split time with Emory Williams and Jacurri Brown and transferred to Wisconsin. Van Dyke will lead an offense that wants to be very passer-friendly but do the Badgers have the personnel to execute it? Van Dyke has to cut down on the critical mistakes he has made in the past couple of seasons if he wants to lead Wisconsin to a successful season.

Wisconsin 2024 Win Total: 6.5
48. Luke Altmyer - Illinois Fighting Illini
The Illinois Fighting Illini limped to a 5-7 season in 2023 and finished just 3-6 in the Big Ten. Part of the problem was the play of quarterback Luke Altmyer. It’s fair to point out that he battled injuries and that Illinois typically does not play the most quarterback-friendly system under Bret Bielema. However, Altmyer struggled with turnovers, limiting how highly he can be ranked on a list of the best quarterbacks. Altmyer threw ten interceptions on only 270 pass attempts and completed less than 65% of his passes for only 1,883 yards. His mobility is an asset, and he ran for 282 yards with three touchdowns last season. Illinois needs to rebuild at wide receiver to help Altmyer in 2024.

Illinois 2024 Win Total: 5.5
49. Jordan McCloud - Texas State Bobcats
Jordan McCloud worked under the effective tutelage of Curt Cignetti, and quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri at James Madison and was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. McCloud threw for 3,657 yards with 35 touchdowns and ten interceptions. He added eight touchdowns on the ground, which helped the Dukes to a terrific season. Cignetti took the Indiana job, and it is perhaps telling that IU chose to grab Kurtis Rourke from the portal and did not pursue McCloud. That could be partly because of his smaller stature and a concern that he could not handle the size of the Big Ten. McCloud transferred instead to Texas State, and he’ll be a good fit for GJ Kinne’s uptempo Bobcats attack.
50. Hudson Card - Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue’s Hudson Card transferred to West Lafayette from the University of Texas and had mixed results in his first year as a Boilermaker. Card threw for 2,387 yards and ran for another 203 with 20 total touchdowns. Those are the positives. He only completed 58.9% of his passes, a poor number for an offense that did not try to stretch the field all that often. Card also threw eight interceptions and was sacked quite a bit as Purdue stumbled to a 4-8 record. Purdue lost its best wide receiver to the transfer portal, and there are concerns about the offensive line and a more difficult schedule in 2024.

Purdue 2024 Win Total: 4.5
51. DeQuan Finn - Baylor Bears
Baylor head coach Dave Aranda needs a big season in 2024 and landed transfer quarterback DeQuan Finn from Toledo to steer the Bears’ offense. Finn was the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Player of the Year last season. He led the Rockets to an unbeaten regular season, completing 63.4% of his passes and throwing for 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Finn added 563 yards on the ground with seven more touchdowns. The question is how his game translates to the Big 12 and if he can elevate an offense and the skill players around him. Finn’s Toledo teams were more talented than their conference rivals each time out; that won’t be the case in Waco.

Baylor 2024 Win Total: 5.5
52. Alan Bowman - Oklahoma State Cowboys
Mike Gundy has told the media that “experience matters.” That would go a long way towards explaining why he likes Alan Bowman so very much. Bowman committed to Texas Tech in June 2017 and began his career in 2018. He played for the Red Raiders before transferring to Michigan in 2021 and then to Oklahoma State in January 2023. Bowman played last season, emerging as the starter later in the season, received an extra year of eligibility, and can now play the 2024 campaign. Bowman might receive a rocking chair or an AARP card from his teammates, but he can lead a successful offense. He threw for 3,460 yards last season and completed north of 60% of his passes. The weakness is a lack of mobility and the 14 interceptions.

Oklahoma State 2024 Win Total: 7.5
53. Anthony Colandrea - Virginia Cavaliers
Tony Muskett entered the season as the starter, but freshman Anthony Colandrea quickly proved to be the better and more exciting option for the Virginia Cavaliers. Colandrea completed 62.6% of his passes and threw for nearly 2,000 yards with 13 touchdowns. The young player from Florida had several long passes and showed a big arm eager to chuck it deep. There were many issues: he took too many sacks, threw too many interceptions, and was careless with the ball. Overall, Colandrea has a bright future, which is why UVA fans are excited.
54. Maalik Murphy - Duke Blue Devils
If Maalik Murphy had never started a game for Texas (in relief of the injured Quinn Ewers), Murphy would be much higher on this list. We can’t change history, and Murphy started for the Longhorns with middling results. Despite having an incredibly talented offense and taking the reins for a team that was humming, Murphy completed only 40 of his 71 pass attempts (56.3%) with a 6.7 yards per completion average. That’s a full 2.1 yards per throw less than Ewers. He had three interceptions in 71 attempts, while Ewers had six in 394. Murphy is not a real threat with his legs, so he needs to be good at throwing the ball. His limited exposure did not show a player ready to lead a high-major offense. He was a highly-touted recruit, and the sample size was small, so there is hope for the Blue Devils.

Duke Blue Devils 2024 Win Total: 6.5
55. Jacob Zeno - UAB Blazers
Jacob Zeno was a former well-regarded prospect who went to the Baylor Bears before transferring to UAB to play for Trent Dilfer. The schedule was a bit weak, and UAB only went 4-8, but Zeno threw for 3,126 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The biggest positive was a 73.6 completion percentage and an 8.2 yards per completion average. Zeno was sacked 28 times and is not much of a threat on the ground, but he’s one of the country's better Group of Five quarterbacks.
56. Kaidon Salter - Liberty Flames
One season after leading the Liberty Flames to an unbeaten regular season and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl, Kaidon Salter is back as the top quarterback in Conference USA. There is an argument for Salter to be ranked higher, but his competition was weak, and he is playing in a system with a knack for producing terrific quarterback numbers. Still, Salter threw for 32 touchdowns with only six interceptions and averaged 9.9 yards per attempt. His top weapons have departed, but Jamey Chadwell remains the head coach, meaning another strong season is ahead for Liberty.
57. Mikey Keene - Fresno State Bulldogs
Fresno State’s Mikey Keene is the best quarterback in the Mountain West ahead of the 2024 season. Although only 5’10” and maybe weighing 200 pounds, Keene is a fierce competitor who gets the most out of his physical ability. Keene completed 67% of his passes in 2023 for 2,976 yards with 24 touchdowns. His ten interceptions are a bit high, but the volume of attempts (422) was also high. Keene is nimble in the pocket but is not a threat to use his legs at all, which limits the ceiling of the Fresno State offense.
58. Tyler Shough - Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals rode strong play and a favorable schedule to a surprise trip to the ACC Championship Game under the tutelage of Jeff Brohm in his first season back at his alma mater. After Jack Plummer exhausted his eligibility, the Cardinals had to find a new quarterback, so they turned to a similar veteran signal-caller to execute Brohm’s offense: Tyler Shough. Shough was replaced at Texas Tech by Behren Morton and was quickly outshined. He has a capable arm but lacks mobility and was too careless with the ball. Over the past two seasons, he has not exceeded 60.4% completions and has thrown a combined eight interceptions in limited work. Shough can execute Brohm’s offense and will likely significantly improve under Brohm, but he must take better care of the ball.

Louisville 2024 Win Total: 8.5
59. Conner Harrell - North Carolina Tar Heels
After having Sam Howell and Drake Maye, Mack Brown’s UNC Tar Heels will have a much different caliber of quarterback taking snaps in 2024. Transfer Max Johnson and returning player Conner Harrell are battling for the starting position with early indications that the Tar Heels may lean towards the younger player with the higher ceiling: Harrell. Harrell played against Campbell and then started the bowl game loss against West Virginia to end the 2023 campaign. He is more mobile than Johnson and showed an exciting ability to keep plays alive with his legs against the Mountaineers. Improving his accuracy as a passer is vital for Harrell this offseason.
60. Josh Hoover - TCU Horned Frogs
TCU had a disappointing 2023 season, but things improved when they turned to quarterback Josh Hoover instead of Chandler Morris. Hoover completed 62% of his passes for 2,206 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions on 298 pass attempts. He added a pair of touchdowns on the ground. Morris has transferred to North Texas, and the job is clearly Hoover’s heading into the 2024 season. TCU has a pretty strong group of wide receivers for Hoover to distribute to, and Sonny Dykes has proven to be capable of producing good offenses.

TCU 2024 Win Total: 7.5
61. Cade McNamara - Iowa Hawkeyes
There is cautious optimism in Iowa City as Kirk Ferentz finally brought in a new offensive coordinator to direct the Iowa attack. Tim Lester’s offenses have operated primarily out of the shotgun, which would be a new sight for Iowa fans. He also incorporates a lot of RPO action and figures to try and utilize wide receivers more than Iowa has recently. Cade McNamara is a good quarterback but falls on this list due to injuries. McNamara is still limited, recovering from his season-ending knee injury, and the Hawkeyes desperately need him healthy to have a chance at competing.

Iowa 2024 Win Total: 7.5
62. MJ Morris - Maryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins begin life with Taulia Tagovailoa this coming season. The returning Billy Edwards is a threat with his legs but has never shown much as a passer. He is competing with North Carolina State transfer MJ Morris. The current projection is that Morris will win the job, with Edwards getting used in some packages to use his legs. Morris was leading a solid season for the North Carolina State Wolfpack when he chose to sit out the remainder of the season to save his eligibility. While he only completed 55.8% of his passes last season, Morris has talent and enough mobility to make things happen with his legs. This will be a downgrade from what the Terrapins had with Tagovailoa, but they still have some talent at quarterback.

Maryland 2024 Win Total: 7.5
63. Sam Leavitt - Arizona State Sun Devils
Kenny Dillingham is one of the bright young offensive minds in college football after his highly successful stint as an offensive coordinator at Oregon. He is entering his second season as the head coach for the Arizona State Sun Devils and most expected blue-chip quarterback Jaden Rashada to be his signal-caller in 2024. However, Rashada has entered the transfer portal and, by most accounts, was well behind transfer quarterback Sam Leavitt. Leavitt has thoroughly impressed as a passer and decision-maker, and Dillingham believes he gives the team the best chance to win as they head to the Big 12. The Michigan State transfer had limited experience in East Lansing, but Dillingham thinks he has a high ceiling.

Arizona State 2024 Win Total: 4.5
64. Brayden Schager - Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
Hawai’i has not done much winning on the gridiron but can score points. Under head coach Timmy Chang, Hawai’i has returned to the wide-open style they popularized under June Jones. Brayden Schager returns after throwing for more than 3500 yards with 26 touchdowns, and his top two weapons at wide receiver are also back for the 2024 campaign. Schager threw 14 interceptions, but with a whopping 525 passing attempts, it's a respectable number. The Rainbow Warriors won’t contend for the Mountain West title, but they could be a tricky opponent, given their offensive firepower.
65. Payton Thorne - Auburn Tigers
Quarterback play for the Auburn Tigers has been an issue for a while, and Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne did not solve things in 2023. Thorne was pedestrian, with a 61.1% completion percentage on only 6.6 yards per attempt and just 1,755 yards. That is only 135 yards per game, and unless you have a completely dominant rushing attack, it is nowhere near good enough to win consistently. There have been positive developments for Thorne. Auburn has added a star-studded class at wide receiver, with Cam Coleman headlining the incoming freshmen, plus KeAndre Lambert-Smith joins from Penn State. Auburn’s passing attack should be better in 2024, but there is a ceiling there because of Thorne.

Auburn Tigers 2024 Win Total: 7.5
66. Behren Morton - Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Texas Tech Red Raiders used Tyler Shough (now with Louisville) and Behren Morton as quarterbacks in 2023 en route to a mildly disappointing season. Morton averaged 0.7 yards per attempt and an average quarterback rating seven points fewer than Shough’s. However, Morton was battling a shoulder injury that limited him, and he spent much of spring practice still recovering. The job is now Morton’s, and he’ll need to improve his ability to stretch the field. Tahj Brooks is terrific, and if Morton can offer more of a threat to opposing defenses, Texas Tech could be a sleeper in the Big 12.

Texas Tech 2024 Win Total: 7.5
67. Ashton Daniels - Stanford Cardinals
This is a bit of a gamble, but Stanford will eventually settle on one quarterback, and if Ashton Daniels is the pick, there is an upside for the Cardinal offense. Justin Lamson is essentially a running back that they line up at quarterback, while redshirt freshman Myles Jackson and true freshman Elijah Brown could factor into a competition. A four-star recruit, Brown, could push for time, but Stanford needs to pick Daniels and give him a chance to show what he can do. Daniels completed only 58.8 percent of his attempts but averaged 6.9 yards per attempt and threw for 2,247 yards in the tough PAC-12. With another year of experience and another year in the offensive system, Daniels could be a good option for Stanford in the ACC.

Stanford 2024 Win Total: 3.5
68. Chandler Rogers - Cal Golden Bears
At this point in the list, we are choosing teams with uncertainty at the position. Nonetheless, some players are available who can lead a successful offense if things go well. The Cal Golden Bears have two options at quarterback: Chandler Rogers (a transfer from Louisiana Monroe and North Texas) and Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza played in nine games in 2023 and emerged as the primary quarterback option as Cal made a surprising bowl game. His numbers were decent, but the offense has a ceiling due to limited arm strength. Rogers arrives from North Texas after a successful 2023 campaign with Mean Green. He completed 62.2 percent of his passes with 29 touchdowns and five interceptions and threw for 3,382 yards. Rogers is limited physically, and he does not offer much as a runner, but the guess is that he wins the starting job and slightly elevates the quarterback play for the Golden Bears. The question for Cal will be whether or not they have anyone beyond running back Jaydn Ott to pressure an opposing defense.

Cal 2024 Win Total: 6.5
69. Max Brosmer - Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota’s quarterback room has done a complete 180 since the end of the 2023 season. Yet again, the Golden Gophers will have another new starting quarterback. This time, they have turned to the FCS ranks and are bringing in New Hampshire transfer Max Brosmer to lead the offense. This is a considerable risk, but it could pay off. Brosmer completed only 62% of his passes at the FCS level, but in 36 career games, he had 8,713 yards with 70 touchdowns plus ten rushing touchdowns. The jump from the FCS at New Hampshire (not an FCS power) to the Big Ten is massive, and Minnesota does not have a solid supporting cast to help him transition.

Minnesota 2024 Win Total: 4.5
70. Donovan Smith - Houston Cougars
The Houston Cougars jettisoned Dana Holgorsen and hired Willie Fritz from Tulane to lead the program as they try to make a dent in the new Big 12. Fritz believes in establishing a strong running game and they have several running backs that could break out in 2024.

Quarterback Donovan Smith is a good candidate to lead the attack as a dual-threat option. Smith chose to stay with Houston after completing 64.5 percent of his passes for 2,801 yards with 22 touchdowns, along with 428 rushing yards and six extra touchdowns on the ground. The biggest issue for Smith in his junior season was turnovers, as he had 13 interceptions. If Fritz and his staff can get Smith to be more consistent and limit the costly turnovers, Houston could be in line for a bounce-back season.

Houston 2024 Win Total: 4.5
71. Matthew Sluka - UNLV Rebels
Jayden Maiava left UNLV for USC, and that’s a significant blow, but the Rebels hope the 2023 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year can help salve that wound. Matthew Sluka put up unbelievable numbers at Holy Cross over the past three seasons as a starter: 5,916 passing yards, 3,583 rushing yards, and 97 total touchdowns. He is not the biggest guy, and there are major questions about how his game will translate to the Mountain West Conference. That said, UNLV has a great offensive system and a terrific receiver in Ricky White, so Sluka is set up for success.
72. Brett Gabbert - Miami of Ohio RedHawks
This must be prefaced by a disclaimer of “if he is healthy,” but if Brett Gabbert is indeed healthy, he is the best quarterback in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The younger brother of former NFL quarterback Blaine Gabbert, Brett is entering his sixth season at Miami of Ohio. Following the departure of Dequan Finn and Kurtis Rourke, Gabbert is the best and most experienced player remaining in the league. He can push it down the field with a good deep ball, and he’s consistent and accurate. Gabbert is not the most mobile threat, but he’s a quality player leading a very stable program.
73. Gerry Bohanon - BYU Cougars
The BYU Cougars desperately need a good season of quarterback play to become a factor in the hyper-competitive Big 12. The competition is a two-man battle between Jake Retzlaff and USF transfer Gerry Bohanon. Retzlaff finished the season for the Cougars in 2023, and BYU went 0-4 in the games he started. Fair or not, that does give Bohanon a leg up entering the 2024 season, and he played in the Cougars’ offensive system in 2021 under then-OC Jeff Grimes. The only downside for Grimes is that he is a senior with no years remaining past the 2024 season, and he will need to clearly show that he gives BYU the best chance to win. If Bohanon is healthy after shoulder issues derailed him at South Florida, he will do just that.

BYU 2024 Win Total: 4.5
74. Athan Kaliakmanis - Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Athan Kaliakmanis transferred from Minnesota and beat out Gavin Wimsatt to be named the starting quarterback for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Kaliakmanis struggled mightily at Minnesota in 2023, completing only 53.1 percent of his passes on 6.3 yards per attempt for 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

He is not a major runner, which Wimsatt sort of offered, but he should be a better passer than what he showed for Minnesota. Rutgers has an elite running back and will lean heavily on the rushing attack so they really just need Kaliakmanis to provide a bit of balance with consistency.
75. Mike Wright - Northwestern Wildcats
Mike Wright played at Vanderbilt and Mississippi State before transferring to Northwestern for the 2024 season. He has four years of SEC experience and is expected to beat out Ryan Hilinski for the starting job for the Wildcats. Wright is not a great passer and has only completed 55.5 percent of his attempts during his collegiate career, but he offers an immediate boost on the ground as a legitimate threat with his legs. He has gained 1,2559 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground during his fouryear career. Northwestern will need him to improve on his accuracy to replicate the success they had in 2023.

Northwestern 2025 Win Total: 5.5
76. Nate Johnson - Vanderbilt Commodores
After a very disappointing 2023 season, Clark Lea’s Vanderbilt Commodores are starting over at quarterback. They brought in Nate Johnson from Utah and Diego Pavia from New Mexico State and those two will compete with redshirt freshman Blaze Berlowitz. Berlowitz has the best measurables at 6’3” and more than 200 pounds while Pavia is barely 6’0” and could really struggle in the SEC. Johnson has the best athletic tools and he is the favorite to land the job but he’ll need to dramatically improve as a passer over what was seen at Utah. As a freshman, he was only 39 for 72 on 6.9 yards per attempt as he was beaten out by Bryson Barnes. Johnson is a good rusher that needs to gain experience and confidence as a passer.

Vanderbilt 2025 Win Totals: 2.5
77. Brendan Sorsby - Cincinnati Bearcats
Brendan Sorsby transferred to Cincinnati after splitting time as a starter at Indiana University. While IU’s offense left a lot to be desired, Sorsby managed to throw for 15 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He is a decent athlete that is capable of picking up first downs with his legs when he scrambles. Sorsby has to improve on his downfield and mid-level accuracy to help the Bearcats adjust to life in the new Big 12. With Texas and Oklahoma moving to the SEC, there is an opportunity for new powers to emerge but several other programs are in better shape unless Sorsby can make a major leap.

Cincinnati 2025 Win Total: 5.5
78. Jaylen Raynor - Arkansas State Red Wolves
As a true freshman, Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor gave the Red Wolves reason for hope. He was thrust into the lineup and completed 58.2 percent of his passes on 8.9 yards per attempt with 17 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Raynor also added 373 rushing yards with five touchdowns on the ground. He’s a bit slight of frame but perfectly big enough to be a difference-maker in the Sun Belt and Arkansas State can build around him in 2024 and beyond.
79. Dylan Morris - James Madison Dukes
It has been a journey for Dylan Morris. He was a member of the 2019 recruiting class and was a four-star prospect. He played in four games as a true freshman in 2020 and then was honorable mention All PAC-12 as the full-time starter for the Washington Huskies in 2021. That UW team was a disaster but it resulted in the hiring of Kalen DeBoer and with him, the arrival of Michael Penix Jr. Penix took over the starting job and Morris served as his backup for two seasons. Morris is a great unknown and he is transferring to a program that had to replace a lot of the roster as Curt Cignetti left for Indiana and took nearly his whole staff. JMU hired Holy Cross’s Bob Chesney and he needs Morris to quickly find his footing as a full-time starter once again.
80. Caden Veltkamp - Western Kentucky
The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers have a proven system that churns out successful and prolific quarterbacks every season. Austin Reed threw for more than 3300 yards during his senior season. Caden Veltkamp stepped in as a freshman and threw for 383 yards with five touchdowns in a very entertaining Famous Toastery Bowl victory over Old Dominion. Now the full-time starter for the Hilltoppers, expect Veldkamp to throw for a bunch of yards as WKU competes for a spot behind Liberty in Conference USA.
81. Bert Emanuel Jr. - Central Michigan
Central Michigan’s Bert Emanuel Jr. is barely a quarterback. He has thrown a total of 45 passes and is almost exclusively used as a running threat after a shoulder injury limited him in 2023. The ceiling is very high for the CMU starter. Emanuel ran for 293 yards with three touchdowns against Buffalo in 2022. During that season, he totaled 496 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. It may take a while to get him the experience necessary to read defenses successfully, but Emanuel has a chance to put up huge numbers on the ground in the MAC.
82. Kai Horton - Tulane
Young quarterback Kai Horton has his work cut out as he steps in to replace the departed Michael Pratt. His numbers in limited action last season were not great. Still, he was thrust into a difficult spot against Ole Miss in September and played the bowl game in a downpour against Virginia Tech. Things should be a bit easier against defenses in the American Athletic Conference. Tulane has a terrific set of running backs, a strong group of wide receivers, and a solid offensive line, so Horton has a supporting cast capable of helping him as he eases into his new role.

Tulane 2024 Win Total: 7.5
83. Logan Smothers - Jacksonville State
Logan Smothers takes over as the Jacksonville State starting quarterback and will lead an offense designed by head coach Rich Rodriguez that helped the Gamecocks succeed in 2023. Zion Webb is gone, but Smothers played well when required to step in last season. He is a decent passer and adequate runner who has a pair of good running backs to hand off to. The wide receiver is a bit of a question mark, but Rodriguez always finds ways to scheme guys open, which is the expectation for the 2024 season. Jacksonville State appears to be the most realistic threat to Liberty in Conference USA.
84. Maddux Madsen - Boise State Broncos (Malachi Nelson was 59)
Malachi Nelson was surprisingly beaten out by the returning Maddux Madsen. Madsen was a former three-star recruit that was ranked 1657 in his class but he beat out the former five-star prospect. Madsen has a bit more experience after appearing in nine games last season and throwing for nearly 1200 yards with nine touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. There is a feeling Nelson could still see the field later in the season but this decision speaks to a lack of confidence in Nelson’s ability to lead right now and that ultimately lowers the ceiling for a Boise State team hoping to compete for a playoff spot.

Boise State 2024 Win Total: 9.5
85. Hank Bachmeier - Wake Forest
Hank Bachmeier is a quarterback looking for redemption and improvement. Dave Clawson is a head coach searching for a return to the explosive offenses he had earlier at Wake Forest as the Demon Deacons flounder in the NIL and portal era. The two have found each other and hope to make things work in 2024. Bachmeier was a highly-touted recruit who was expected to help take Boise State to the next level but never really took off. He transferred to Louisiana Tech and was decent statistically but struggled to impact winning behind a lacking squad. Bachmeier will finish his collegiate career at Wake Forest, and the goal is to get them out of the offensive basement in the ACC.

Wake Forest 2024 Win Total: 4.5
86. Nate Yarnell - Pitt Panthers
The Pitt Panthers have already affirmed Nate Yarnell as their starting quarterback heading into the 2024 season. He was the best of a group of uninspiring options after the offense fell off a cliff during the 2023 season. Yarnell played in four games last season, completing 41 of his 62 attempts for 595 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. On the plus side, he averaged 9.6 yards per attempt and generally cared for the ball. On the negative side, Yarnell has not shown the ability to impact the game with his legs, and the Pitt offensive line is not a strength.

Pitt 2024 Win Total: 5.5
87. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi - Colorado State Rams
Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi exhibited a powerful arm and the inexperience of a starting freshman. He was erratic and made too many mistakes with the ball, but he has talent. Colorado State could have a very good offense if he can rein it in. He completed 62 percent of his passes for 3,460 yards but had 16 interceptions and several others that could have been picked off. The tools are there to outplay this ranking significantly.

Colorado State 2024 Win Total: 6.5
88. John Mateer - Washington State Cougars
The Washington State Cougars are in an unknown transition period as the PAC-12 has ceased to exist, and they are in limbo with a scheduling agreement with the Mountain West. Cam Ward is gone, and the Cougars will turn to John Mateer. He went 16 for 20 in the spring game and appeared to have the inside track on the job. Mateer appeared in 11 games last season and will be a sophomore after completing 13 of 17 passes last season.
89. Devon Dampier - New Mexico Lobos
Devon Dampier is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who now has Bronco Mendenhall leading his program at New Mexico. Dampier was a freshman last season and took over for Dylan Hopkins during the season. At this point, he is more of a runner than a passer and completed only 40 of his 64 attempts. He did have six touchdowns and no interceptions. His legs are his best asset, as he averaged 5.56 yards per rush and scored four rushing touchdowns. Dampier and the Lobos will try to crack into the postseason under the excellent Mendenhall.

New Mexico 2024 Win Total: 1.5
90. Gevani McCoy - Oregon State Beavers
Much like Washington State, the Oregon State Beavers must figure out how to navigate a great unknown in the post-PAC-12 world. They lost both of their top two quarterbacks, their top running back and head coach Jonathan Smith, and will have to rely on Idaho transfer Gevani McCoy. McCoy is an excellent runner and has had some terrific games against FBS competition by utilizing his mobility. The trick will be whether or not he can consistently throw the ball and whether or not a rebuilt Oregon State offensive line can block for him and give him time to do anything but scramble.
91. Tate Rodemaker - Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles
Southern Mississippi head coach Will Hall brought back last year’s starter, Billy Wiles, but he was not content with that situation. He added former Florida State backup Tate Rodemaker. Rodemaker only played sparingly for the Seminoles but was a well-regarded prospect out of high school and has some talent with a good mix of arm talent and the ability to move in the pocket. He is somewhat slight of frame and will not be able to withstand the punishment of a power conference slate, but he should be able to have a solid senior season in Hattiesburg for the Golden Eagles.

USM 2024 Win Total: 4.5
92. Ethan Vasko - Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Coastal Carolina will dearly miss quarterback Grayson McCall. He was, quite possibly, the best player in school history, and he is playing in his final season with the NC State Wolfpack. However, his injuries in 2023 allowed Ethan Vasko to see time in eight games. The sophomore threw for 779 yards with seven touchdowns and only one interception, and he was the Most Valuable Player in Coastal Carolina’s Hawaii Bowl victory over San Jose State. Vasko will not replicate McCall's performance, but he showed enough to give Coastal hope to continue as a top-half Sun Belt team.

Coastal Carolina 2024 Win Total: 6.5
93. Cole Snyder - Eastern Michigan Eagles
Looking at the game log for Cole Snyder confirms the eye test and experience of having Snyder quarterbacking your team. As the quarterback of the Buffalo Bulls, Snyder started well with five touchdowns and no interceptions, plus games of 63.4% completions (against Wisconsin) and 80%. He threw for 276 with four touchdowns against Liberty but was quite bad against Lafayette and awful against Bowling Green (5-15 for 30 yards with two interceptions). Snyder finished the season with only one touchdown in his final four games and failed to throw for more than 200 yards in any game after October 7. He’s up and down and is now leading the offense for Eastern Michigan.

Eastern Michigan 2024 Win Total: 4.5
94. Cooper Legas - Utah State Aggies
The Utah State Aggies have a very crowded quarterback room. Head coach Blake Anderson will have a difficult choice as he needs to consider transfers Bryson Barnes (Utah), Spencer Petras (Iowa), and returning players McCae Hillstead and Cooper Legas. Options are good, but if none are the least exciting, feeling good about the situation is challenging. Legas was the best of Utah State’s options in 2023 but struggled to stay healthy. Legas threw for 19 touchdowns and only eight interceptions while completing nearly 65 percent of his passes on 8.5 yards per attempt. That’s better than anything Petras or Barnes have ever done at the college level.

Utah State 2024 Win Total: 5.5
95. Connor Bazelak - Bowling Green Falcons
Yes, Connor Bazelak is still in college. He is now on his third team after playing at Missouri and Indiana, and this will be his second season with the Bowling Green Falcons. Bazelak has a big arm, but he’s inconsistent with his accuracy, and he’s essentially a statue in the pocket. He was awful at the beginning of the 2023 season but rebounded nicely to end the campaign. He also helped Bowling Green reach a bowl game against Minnesota. Camden Orth will still feature in the Falcons offense as a running option at quarterback, and the Falcons will play them both. This limits Bazelak’s effectiveness but also serves as a reminder of his limitations, even at the MAC level.

Bowling Green 2024 Win Total: 6.5
96. Jay Butterfield - San Jose State Spartans
Jay Butterfield likely felt a lot better about his chances of success in Brent Brennan’s system than with Ken Niumatalolo at the helm. Alas, Brennan is now the head coach at Arizona, and the former Navy head coach is now leading the Spartans. San Jose State also took Washington State walk-on Emmett Brown, and he might be better suited to run the triple option as Niumatololo is accustomed to. Still, former Oregon Ducks quarterback Butterfield is the more talented player. Butterfield does not have much meaningful experience but was a well-regarded prospect who should be able to succeed to at least some degree at the Mountain West level.

SJSU 2024 Win Total: 4.5
97. Chandler Fields - Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Zeon Chriss transferring to Houston was a big blow for the Ragin’ Cajuns but Chandler Fields showed enough ability in relief duty in 2023 that there is reason for optimism in Louisiana. Fields appeared in seven games and completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,069 yards, along with seven touchdowns. He is not nearly the running threat Chriss was, but he added two touchdowns on the ground. Fields has a solid arm and exhibited good decision-making in his 2023 snaps. As the full-time starter and the unquestioned QB1 heading into the season, it’s reasonable to expect a jump in play from Fields, which gives Louisiana a chance to climb in the Sun Belt.

Louisiana 2024 Win Total: 7.5
98. Braylon Braxton - Marshall Thundering Herd
As a sophomore at Tulsa, Braylon Braxton appeared in six games as head coach Kevin Wilson used four different quarterbacks in search of something that would work. He ultimately completed only 44 percent of his passes and threw six interceptions to just two touchdowns. Braxton is a good athlete who can use his legs to hurt opponents, but he’ll have to improve as a passer to help Marshall. The Thundering Herd also brought in former Wake Forest quarterback Mitch Griffis, but he struggled mightily during his time as a starter in college. Neither option does much to inspire confidence in a bounce-back season for Marshall.

Marshall 2024 Win Total: 6.5
99. Kadin Semonza - Ball State Cardinals
The reigns at Ball State officially belong to talented redshirt freshman Kadin Semonza. Kiael Kelly entered the transfer portal, and it was presumed Semonza had beaten him out for the starting role in Muncie. Semonza appeared in four games as a true freshman and completed 50 of his 82 attempts for 48 yards with three touchdowns. The big concern is that he also threw five interceptions in just 82 passes, but inexperience likely had much to do with that. As he increases reps, the hope is that he also can cut down on those mistakes. Semonza is originally from Mission Viejo and chose Ball State over offers from Colorado State, San Jose State, and others.

Ball State 2024 Win Total: 4.5
100. Dexter Williams - Georgia Southern Eagles
Dexter Williams is originally from Georgia but began his collegiate career at Indiana University. He had a brief time in the spotlight in 2022, helping lead the Hoosiers to a win over Michigan State and starting the Old Oaken Bucket Game against rival Purdue. Williams injured his knee early in that game. He did not appear again for the Hoosiers, redshirting the 2023 season, entering the transfer portal, and landing close to home at Georgia Southern. The fit is curious, as Georgia Southern was pass-happy in 2023, and quarterback Davis Brin led the Sun Belt in passing yards before exhausting eligibility. Williams is more of a runner and will need to progress as a passer to be successful.

Georgia Southern 2024 Win Total: 5.5
101. Keyone Jenkins - Florida International
Florida International has struggled to gain traction in the past few seasons. Despite a prime location and a large student body that should provide some resources, the Panthers have been unable to gain momentum, and head coach Mike MacIntyre desperately needs a bounce-back campaign after a disappointing 4-8 record. The Panthers return 11 starters, but the biggest reason for optimism is the potential of now-sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins. Jenkins had 2,414 passing yards with 11 touchdowns as a true freshman. Jenkins completed 58.4% of his passes, and while that is not superb, he was playing behind a leaky offensive line that constantly put him under pressure. Jenkins added six rushing touchdowns and will likely try to expand that part of his game in 2024.

FIU 2024 Win Total: 4.5
102. Nicholas Vattiato - Middle Tennessee
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders return only seven starters and welcome former Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason to the fold as the program's new leader. This is a significant change after Rick Stockstill's long tenure. Holding on to Conference USA’s 2023 leader in total offense per game was a big boon for Mason and the Blue Raiders. Nicholas Vattiato averaged 290.8 yards per game as he completed 66.8% of his passes for 3,092 yards with 23 touchdowns and added 397 yards on the ground for a pair of scores. Vattiato did throw 13 interceptions, a concerning number for a team that lives in the margins each game. He’ll need to cut down on turnovers to get Middle Tennessee to a bowl game.

Middle Tennessee 2024 Win Total: 4.5
103. AJ Duffy - San Diego State
San Diego State is starting over. After middling results under Brady Hoke, the Aztecs are turning to offensive whiz Sean Lewis to lead the program as they try to compete again in the Mountain West. True freshman Danny O’Neill is expected to compete for the starting quarterback job, but the bet is that Florida State transfer AJ Duffy will be the starter. Duffy is a former backup for the Seminoles and has minimal on-field experience. Lewis knows how to produce good offenses. He did it as the head coach at Kent State and in his short time as the offensive coordinator for Colorado before Deion Sanders unceremoniously dumped him. Duffy will have every opportunity to produce for the Aztecs in a quarterback-friendly system.

San Diego State 2024 Win Total: 5.5
104. Hayden Wolff - Western Michigan
Hayden Wolff is the only returning contributor at quarterback for the Western Michigan Broncos and is expected to be the full-time starter for WMU in 2024. Wolff played at Old Dominion before transferring to Western Michigan. He completed 56.7 percent of his passes for nearly 3,000 yards with 18 touchdowns to only six interceptions in 2022 and then upped his completion rate to 65.5 at Western Michigan in 2023. Wolff is a statue in the pocket and offers no mobility. Plus, his yards per attempt were only 6.7, the lowest number in the MAC. He’ll need to stretch the field more in 2024 for WMU to be successful.

Western Michigan 2024 Win Total: 6.5
105. Will Crowder - Troy Trojans
Will Crowder replaces the highly-successful Gunnar Watson as a new era for the Troy Trojans begins. Troy had to replace the long-time quarterback, and their head coach, Jon Sumrall, left for Tulane. Crowder is an unknown commodity. He threw six passes in mop-up duty for West Virginia in 2022. A freshman at the time, Crowder was 6-6 for 57 yards with a touchdown during his brief time on the field. Will “Goose” Crowder transferred to Troy before the 2023 season and was 9-13 for 94 yards with one touchdown. The job is now wholly his, and he’ll deal with a primarily rebuilt roster that appears to be well below the standard we’ve expected from Troy.

Troy 2024 Win Total: 6.5
106. Chandler Morris - North Texas Mean Green
The North Texas Mean Green will turn to former TCU quarterback Chandler Morris to replace Chandler Rogers. As a sophomore in 2023 for the Horned Frogs, Morris completed 65.5 percent of his 203 pass attempts for 1,532 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. He was eventually edged out by the younger Josh Hoover and left Fort Worth for Denton. Morris is an adequate runner, and he’ll again be in a quarterback-friendly offensive system with North Texas. That should allow him to succeed, but the Mean Green has to replace a lot of offensive weapons, and the offensive line will be weaker than what he played behind with TCU.

North Texas 2024 Win Total: 5.5
107. Owen McCown - UTSA Roadrunners
Replacing program-legend Frank Harris is going to be a very tall task. The UTSA Roadrunners hope that last year’s backup, Owen McCown, is up to the challenge. As a freshman, McCown (the son of former NFL QB Luke McCown) threw for 442 yards on only 58 pass attempts and completed 74 percent of his passes. The biggest concerns are the interceptions (three of them in limited work) and a lack of top-end mobility. Jeff Traylor has a strong program, and UTSA brings back a good core group of wide receivers and running backs, which should ease the transition for McCown. There is a lot of pressure on the young QB. If he can handle it, UTSA will have a chance in the AAC again.

UTSA 2024 Win Total: 8.5
108. Evan Svoboda - Wyoming Cowboys
6’4” sophomore Evan Svoboda has the inside track to take over for Andrew Peasley after being his backup in 2023. Svoboda is a lot like other recent Wyoming quarterbacks. He has a big arm, is athletic, and is relatively tall. However, he has little experience and is essentially a mystery heading into the 2024 campaign. Svoboda threw 38 passes and had 200 yards while adding 80 yards of rushing with two touchdowns on the ground. How quickly Svoboda can establish himself as a true dual-threat will decide just how well things go for new head coach Jay Sawvel after the retirement of Craig Bohl.

Wyoming 2024 Win Total: 6.5
109. Jack Turner - Louisiana Tech
Things have gone very poorly for Sonny Cumbie in Ruston. The hire was hailed at the time, but he is only 6-18 in his two seasons in charge, and he is firmly on the hot seat as Louisiana Tech needs to find its footing in Conference USA. The Bulldogs have a new offensive coordinator, and his primary responsibility will be to develop Jack Turner. Turner is now a junior after playing in eight games behind Hank Bachmeier. He completed only 56.8% of his passes with five touchdowns and five interceptions. Turner is not a statue in the pocket, as he ran the ball 29 times for 63 yards. His decision-making and accuracy must improve if Louisiana Tech is to see any progress on the offensive side of the ball.

Louisiana Tech 2024 Win Total: 4.5
110. John Busha - Air Force Falcons
Air Force appeared to be headed for a special season in 2023, but injuries derailed things, and they sputtered down the stretch. Zac Larrier and Jensen Jones are gone, and the only quarterback with any experience at all running the offense is last year’s third-string option, John Busha. Busha threw 19 passes and only completed 9 of them for 152 yards, and he was not at all successful in his limited rushing attempts. Still, he’s the only option Troy Calhoun and the Falcons have unless they want to turn to a two-star incoming freshman recruit. Air Force is a strong program, and they’ll be competent as a result, but the ceiling is relatively low with such a perceived weakness at quarterback.

Air Force 2024 Win Total: 6.5
111. Tucker Gleason - Toledo Rockets
Dequan Finn transferred to Baylor after a terrific career with the Toledo Rockets. The Rockets are still among the most talented teams in the MAC, and the Toledo quarterback will be in an excellent position regardless of the season. Last year’s backup was 6’3” Tucker Gleason, who threw for 1,267 yards with 12 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Gleason is not as dangerous as Finn was with his legs, but he has a strong pocket presence that can move well enough to keep defenses honest. Gleason will have a chance to show what he can do with a strong group of receivers and running backs around him.

Toledo 2024 Win Total: 8.5
112. Max Brown - Charlotte 49ers
The Charlotte 49ers had a rocky first year under head coach Biff Poggi. Poggi is a character, but he is generally well-regarded in the coaching community and brought in 24 transfers before the season. He has followed that up with 27 more this offseason. Among those transfers is quarterback Max Brown, a transfer from Florida. Brown is a former highly-regarded recruit who can put up good numbers in the American Athletic Conference. Charlotte is returning all their key wide receivers, so Brown should have a decent group of weapons to work with. Brown was 19 for 28 for 192 yards during his freshman season in Gainesville and has the legs to make some plays if defenses allow him to.

Charlotte 2024 Win Totals: 3.5
113. Zach Gibson - Georgia State Panthers
Zach Gibson is the favorite to step in for Darren Grainger with the Georgia State Panthers. Gibson has played in 23 career games for Akron and Georgia Tech, most recently as the backup for the Yellow Jackets. He has thrown for 3,060 yards with 16 touchdowns and ten interceptions. Gibson saw his most action in 2022 in relief of Jeff Sims and completed only 54.8 percent of his 104 pass attempts. The biggest limitation will be his general lack of mobility, something Georgia State will need to figure out under a new coaching staff after Shawn Elliott bolted for an assistant job at South Carolina.

Georgia State 2024 Win Total: 4.5
114. Parker Navarro - Ohio Bobcats
Kurtis Rourke has transferred to Indiana, and backup CJ Harris left for Cal. The Ohio Bobcats need a new quarterback to step into his shoes. They'll turn to Parker Navarro. Navarro is a senior who has waited for his turn and will finally get it. He started the Myrtle Beach Bowl in 2023 and went 18-26 for 185 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Ohio was decimated by the portal, losing nearly every returning wide receiver, so Navarro has a tall order to return the Bobcats to the postseason.

Ohio 2024 Win Total: 6.5
115. Grant Wilson - Old Dominion Monarchs
Ricky Rahne has competently built Old Dominion into a stable Sun Belt program that can compete for bowl games consistently. He has his work cut out for him again in 2024 after a 6-7 season ended in a defeat to Western Kentucky. He does return Fordham transfer Grant Wilson, who started 11 games for ODU a season ago and threw for 2,149 yards with 17 touchdowns. Wilson has to cut down on his turnovers, as he threw 18 interceptions in 2023. He is somewhat mobile, and his size makes him challenging to bring down. The receivers are okay, but they lost their top deep threat. The schedule is daunting, and Old Dominion will need an improved Wilson to shine in the Sun Belt.

ODU 2024 Win Total: 4.5
116. Bryson Daily - Army
Army head coach Jeff Monken attempted to transition to a more shotgun-based passing attack in 2023. Somewhat predictably, the results were poor, and that plan was abandoned towards the back end of the season. Army went back to the triple-option, won the final four games of the season, and was again one of the leaders nationally in time of possession. The Black Knights return senior quarterback Bryson Daily, who looked more comfortable in the option offense than he did as a more traditional quarterback in the pocket. Daily led Army with 901 rushing yards plus seven touchdowns and also managed to throw seven touchdown passes. It will never be particularly pretty in the air, but Daily is effective and gives the Army a chance to win within their system.

Army 2024 Win Total: 5.5
117. Cooper Legas - Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
Former IU head coach Kevin Wilson leads the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Wilson has had offensive success at every stop in his coaching career (including being an assistant at Oklahoma under Bob Stoops and Ohio State under Ryan Day). Still, the Tulsa attack was erratic during the 2023 campaign. Offensive coordinator Steve Spurrier Jr. attempted to run the ball more than expected, probably due to the inconsistent quarterbacks on the roster. Tulsa gave three players 50 or more pass attempts and never settled on anyone. Former Utah State starter Cooper Legas is the one they hope will be the solution to that issue. Legas completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 1,815 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2023. He’s a veteran that should at least raise the floor for the Golden Hurricanes on offense.

Tulsa 2024 Win Total: 4.5
118. Jase Bauer - Sam Houston Bearkats
Sam Houston dominated at the FCS level before moving to the FBS in 2023. Head coach KC Keeler was 85-27 heading into the 2023 campaign, so the 0-8 start and the 3-9 record were a big surprise for the Bearkats. The program is well-positioned to bounce back in 2024, but they must find better play from the quarterback position. They are turning to Central Michigan transfer Jase Bauer to provide some consistency. Bauer threw for 1881 yards as a sophomore last season, but he only completed 56.8 percent of his passes on just 6.6 yards per attempt. Those numbers must increase to help Sam Houston reach a bowl game.

Sam Houston 2024 Win Total: 4.5
119. Deuce Hogan - New Mexico State Aggies
The transfer portal gutted the New Mexico State Aggies this offseason after Jerry Kill retired. Tony Sanchez was promoted to run the program and try to sustain the momentum found in 2023, but he’ll have to do it without many of the players who triggered the success. NMSU lost their top three quarterbacks, and they’ll turn to Kentucky transfer Deuce Hogan in 2024. Hogan completed six of his seven passes for the Wildcats in 2022 and did not see any game action in 2023. He has a tall task in front of him, but he had enough talent as a prospect to land in the SEC, so there is at least a hope he can excel with the Aggies.

New Mexico State 2024 Win Total: 4.5
120. Blake Horvath - Navy Midshipmen
The Navy Midshipmen football program was humming under Ken Niumatalolo, churning out bowl season after bowl season with 14 winning campaigns in 15 seasons. They are now riding four straight losing seasons, but things looked promising under first-year head coach Brian Newberry in 2023. The option attack limits the need for a quality passer, and it seems like returning option quarterback Blake Horvath is the starter heading into the 2024 season. Braxton Woodson will probably get some time, but Horvath will get the first crack to orchestrate the option offense and try to get Navy back to the postseason.

Navy 2024 Win Total: 5.5
121. Nick Evers - UConn Huskies
Nick Evers was a blue-chip prospect who committed to Oklahoma and enrolled with the Sooners to play for offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby. Evers did not like his chances once he got to Norman and transferred after one season. He spent the 2023 campaign with the Wisconsin Badgers and never saw the field in Madison, either. Wisconsin went out and got Tyler Van Dyke, clearly believing Evers was not the answer, and he hit the exit ramp again, this time landing in Storrs to play for Jim Mora Jr. and the UConn Huskies. Evers showed a lot of talent to evaluators in high school, but bouncing around to three schools in three seasons is a blinking red warning light, and he’ll be tasked with elevating an offense that has not had much success recently. UConn has a manageable schedule; if Evers has the goods, this could be a bowl team.

UConn 2024 Win Total: 4.5
122. E.J. Warner - Rice Owls
The Rice Owls were among the few Group of Five that arguably improved through the transfer portal instead of getting their roster gutted. Head coach Mike Bloomgren and his staff deserve credit for keeping things intact, and the Owls addressed a weakness with the addition of former Temple quarterback E.J. Warner. Warner must like Owls as he left Temple for Rice after throwing for 3,076 yards with 23 touchdowns. He also had 12 interceptions, which must be reduced in 2024. With his legs, Warner offers very little threat, and defenses will not need to worry about the QB run game. Kurt Warner’s son has to find a way to produce without top target Luke McCaffrey, but some decent weapons are at his disposal.

Rice 2024 Win Total: 6.5
123. Cam Fancher - Florida Atlantic Owls
Tom Herman was an exciting hire for the Florida Atlantic Owls, but things have been more difficult than expected thus far in Boca Raton. He has to replace starting quarterback Daniel Richardson and dipped into the portal to grab Marshall’s Cam Fancher. There are some positives to Fancher’s game: he adds some mobility to the attack, something Herman will like as he prefers to have a strong ground attack. Fancher is capable of stretching the field with occasionally successful vertical passes. He completed 65.4 percent of his passes with the Thundering Herd in 2023. There are negatives as well: Fancher threw just as many interceptions as he did touchdowns, he only averaged seven yards per pass attempt, so the completion percentage looks a bit less impressive with context, and he was losing playing time to a freshman at Marshall. FAU has an entirely new offensive line and a mostly new group of backs and receivers. It will be up to Fancher to get everyone to gel and form a bowl team.

Florida Atlantic 2024 Win Total: 6.5
124. Tahj Bullock - Akron Zips
The Akron Zips have won just four games against FBS competition in the past five seasons. Head coach Joe Moorhead, generally considered a very bright offensive mind and strong football coach, has been unable to gain any traction with the Zips, and his back is to the wall heading into the 2024 campaign. Akron was improved in 2023, losing some close games instead of consistently getting blown out, but the bottom line was still depressing. Akron still has a quarterback battle as North Carolina State transfer Ben Finley offers more of a passing threat, while the returning Tahj Bullock is much more of a mobile threat. Bullock ran for 165 yards with four rushing touchdowns last season but completed only 48.5 percent of his limited passing attempts. The Zips would be in business if they could combine Finley and Bullock. As is, they will likely play both, but Bullock offers the higher-upside.

Akron 2024 Win Total: 3.5
125. Gunnar Gray - Buffalo Bulls
The Buffalo Bulls now have Pete Lembo in charge of attempting to restore the program. Lembo has his hands full, but Lance Leipold showed that you can win here, and Lembo had some success at Ball State before becoming an assistant at major programs. The Bulls have CJ Ogbonna as a mobile option, but he has barely been a functional passer in his previous experience. JUCO transfer Gunnar Gray is the better passer. Gray played two seasons at San Diego Mesa College and threw for 4,048 yards with 40 touchdowns, earning first-team all-conference honors in both campaigns. Heading from San Diego to Buffalo is quite a change, and moving up from the JUCO ranks to the MAC will require some adjustments.

Buffalo 2024 Win Total: 5.5
126. Davis Bryson - Kennesaw State Owls
The Kennesaw State Owls are the newest program to the FBS. They enter play at the sport’s top level in 2024 as a member of Conference USA. Finding success in year one will be difficult, particularly after a losing season in 2023. Still, there are recent examples of early winning for transition programs: Jacksonville State is the most pertinent. The most likely scenario is that the Owls will struggle this coming season. Head coach Brian Bohannon deploys an option running attack that limits the passing game, and the numbers of returning quarterback Davis Bryson reflect that. Bryson played in only four games last season as he was one of several key players that sat out to maintain another year of eligibility. The Virginia native had 24 rushes for 206 yards with two touchdowns, and he’ll be relied on to provide quality production with his legs and stay healthy. The Owls only had two quarterbacks on the roster exiting spring football.

Kennesaw State 2024 Win Total: 2.5
127. Chubba Purdy - Nevada Wolf Pack
The 2023 campaign was another disappointing season for Nevada, and they fired head coach Ken Wilson after two years (both 2-10). Veteran Jeff Choate is now in charge and brought in Nebraska transfer Chubba Purdy. Purdy, the younger brother of Brock Purdy, completed only 50% of his passes for the Cornhuskers with three touchdowns and five interceptions. It would be fair to say that everyone Nebraska has tried at quarterback recently has struggled, so maybe it was a Nebraska problem, and Purdy will flourish in a new setting with a new coordinator. It would also be fair to have a healthy dose of skepticism, as Nevada is starting over as a roster and has no proven weapons for Purdy to throw to. It could be another long year in Reno.

Nevada 2024 Win Total: 2.5
128. Kenny Lueth - Northern Illinois Huskies
Rocky Lombardi has moved on, and the Northern Illinois Huskies need to find a replacement quarterback if they are to return to the postseason with another bowl bid. The options are Jalen Macon, a transfer from Arkansas Pine-Bluff, or Kenny Lueth, a transfer from American River Community College. Macon is 6’5” and was the starter for Pine-Bluff during the middle of their season, while Lueth put up good numbers in 23 games at the JUCO level. He had 3,530 passing yards with 41 touchdowns and added seven rushing touchdowns. It’s a massive jump from lower-level JUCO to the FBS, but the Huskies don’t have much choice, and they’ll have to bet on the production translating for Lueth.

NIU 2024 Win Total: 6.5
129. Tommy Ulatowski - Kent State Golden Flashes
The Kent State Golden Flashes were one of the worst teams in the country in 2023. First-year head coach Kenni Burns has his hands full as he tries to engineer a turnaround after going 1-11 with zero wins over FBS teams. Burns returns Tommy Ulatowski and brings in Troy transfer JD Sherrod. Ulatkowski at least has some experience. As a sophomore, he appeared in ten games and went 60 for 121 with seven touchdowns to just two interceptions. He only averaged 6.1 yards per attempt, but that could have been a symptom of a porous offensive line. The line was young and should be improved in 2024 as they return a lot of starts up front.
130. General Booty - Louisiana Monroe Warhawks
The University of Louisiana Monroe, ULM for short, has had a rough go of things in the past decade. They tried to find a solution with Terry Bowden, but that experiment failed, and they turned to Bryant Vincent to lead the program. There are options for Vincent at quarterback, but none are particularly inspiring. Hunter Herring returns with some experience but little success. Aidan Armenta is a transfer from New Mexico, and Isaiah Velez is a transfer who has earned frequent flyer miles, having played for Coffeyville Community College, Florida International, and Eastern Kentucky. The best bet to land the starting position is the excellently-named General Booty. The redshirt junior spent one season at Tyler Junior College and led the JUCO ranks in passing completions and yards before committing to Oklahoma. He appeared in two games for the Sooners (one in 2022 and one in 2023) and is now with the WarHawks.

ULM 2024 Win Total: 2.5
131. Katin Houser - East Carolina
The East Carolina Pirates have had offensive success under head coach Mike Houston, but the bottom fell out in 2023, and the Pirates went a dismal 2-10. Houston is now squarely on the hot seat and he needs to find some offensive juice. He turned to the transfer portal and brought Jake Garcia from Missouri and Katin Houser from Michigan State. Can either of the power conference backups help the offense at ECU? Houser gets the nod as the starting quarterback for the opener. As a freshman in 2023, Houser completed 58.6 percent of his passes for 1,130 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions at Michigan State. The Spartans were awful on offense, and House only averaged 5.9 yards per attempt, but he did gain some valuable experience that should help him in the AAC as he continues to develop.

East Carolina 2024 Win Total: 6.5
132. Taisun Phommachanh - UMass Minutemen
The Massachusetts Minutemen program does not have a whole lot going for it. The facilities are as bad as any in the country and would not feel out of place at a lower level of football. They have not seen success on the field for a long time, and they have a fairly difficult schedule in front of them in 2024. They do return a quarterback with some experience, but that experience was mainly of the unsuccessful variety. Taisun Phommachanh was a well-known recruit, but he transferred to UMass, played in nine games, and only threw for 1,507 yards on 227 pass attempts. That is woefully inefficient and ineffective. UMass is hoping the transfer portal will be pretty helpful as they brought in a lot of players on offense to try and jumpstart the attack.

UMass 2024 Win Total: 3.5
133. Skylar Locklear - UTEP Miners
UTEP has turned to former Austin Peay head coach Scotty Walden to fix their ailing program. Walden led one of FCS’s better offenses, and he is considered a bright offensive mind, so the days of bad offensive football at UTEP are likely numbered. The situation at quarterback for the 2024 campaign is hazy, though. Cade McConnell will be back as the leading passer in 2023 but is expected to be passed by Austin Peay transfer Skyler Locklear. Typically, a coach does not bring a quarterback from his previous program with him to sit that guy on the bench. Locklear was the backup for the Austin Peay Governors, so there is skepticism that he would immediately be successful at the FBS level, but at least he knows the offensive system.

UTEP 2024 Win Total: 4.5
134. Evan Simon - Temple Owls
The honor of being placed at the bottom of this starting quarterbacks list belongs to Temple’s Evan Simon. The Rutgers transfer was a backup for one of the country’s worst passing attacks, and he now has fewer weapons at his disposal as he takes over as the Temple quarterback. In 2022, Evan Simon averaged just 5.7 yards per attempt and still only had a completion percentage of 57.7. He had four touchdowns and threw six interceptions in just 137 pass attempts. Things likely won’t be any better for him at Temple.

Temple 2024 Win Total: 2.5
1. Carson Beck - Georgia
Georgia fell short of a three-peat, but Carson Beck performed well as a first-year starter. Beck threw for 3,941 yards with 24 touchdown passes and only six interceptions and easily would have surpassed 4,000 yards if he had been required to throw the ball late in games. Beck was briefly rumored to consider the NFL Draft before returning to Georgia for the 2024 season and is among the favorites for the Heisman Trophy (+7500).

Georgia National Title Odds: +300

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