TJ Inman

Pac-12 Realignment Update: Essential Changes Explained

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/20-breakout-cfb-stars-to-know-for-the-2025-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Breakout College Football Stars to Know for the 2025 Season</a>
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/garrett-nussmeier/51357">Garrett Nussmeier</a> waited multiple years to become the starting quarterback for the LSU Tigers. The redshirt junior did not have the season many anticipated, but he was pretty good despite an offensive line that did not live up to the hype and a receiver corps that was far from what LSU ran out in 2023. Nussmeier had 29 touchdowns and threw for an impressive 4,052 yards with a completion percentage of better than 64 percent. The Tigers loaded up in the transfer portal and expect a playoff push in 2025.
Week 1: LSU (+2.5) at Clemson

1. Garrett Nussmeier - LSU Tigers

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/top-10-running-backs-for-the-2025-college-football-season-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranking the Top College Football Running Backs for 2025</a>
Few players made a more significant jump during the season than Clemson quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cade-klubnik/37193">Cade Klubnik</a>. After a disappointing opener against Georgia, Klubnik and the Clemson offense took off and showed a lot of progress in Garrett Riley’s second season. Klubnik threw for 36 touchdowns to only six interceptions and added seven scores on the ground and nearly 500 rushing yards. Klubnik will enter the 2025 season with more experience and a blossoming group of stars on offense. The opening-week matchup at Clemson against LSU has the makings of a classic!
Week 1: LSU at Clemson (-2.5)

2. Cade Klubnik - Clemson Tigers

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/top-10-offensive-linemen-in-college-football-for-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranking the Top College Football Offensive Linemen for 2025</a>
I'm high on Florida’s <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dj-lagway/44049">DJ Lagway</a>. His numbers from this past season do not stand out, as he was in and out of the lineup, alternating with <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/graham-mertz/44092">Graham Mertz</a>. Still, Lagway's promise persuaded Florida to keep Billy Napier for the 2025 season, and the fate of the Gators rests on the development and star turn of the talented young quarterback. Lagway has elite throwing ability, and if he can make consistently good decisions with the ball, Florida could make the College Football Playoff in 2025. He is one of two dual-threat dynamos in the SEC on this list.
2025 Heisman Odds: DJ Lagway (+2500)

3. DJ Lagway - Florida Gators

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/top-10-wrs-for-the-2025-college-football-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranking the Top College Football Wide Receivers for 2025</a>
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/arch-manning/41118">Arch Manning</a> was a part-time player in 2024 as the Texas Longhorns leaned on veteran <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/quinn-ewers/41130">Quinn Ewers</a> to carry the offense. Steve Sarkisian trusted Ewers, but he was banged up, and the offense definitely could have used Manning's running ability. In 2025, the show will belong to Manning, and it will be fascinating to watch. He has all the physical tools, and his teammates reportedly have complete faith in his ability. This is a critical offseason for Manning's development as he takes center stage with a Week 1 game at Ohio State.
Week 1: Texas (+4.5) at Ohio State

4. Arch Manning - Texas Longhorns

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/cfb-top-10-penn-state-nittany-lions-returning-for-another-college-football-playoff-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 10 Penn State Nittany Lions Returning For Another College Football Playoff Run</a>
Have we seen the ceiling for <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/drew-allar/49426">Drew Allar</a>? Or is there more to be unlocked for the veteran Penn State quarterback? The Nittany Lions reached the semifinal of the College Football Playoff. Still, it's fair to point out they lost each time they went up against a team with equivalent talent (Ohio State, Oregon, Notre Dame). Also, Penn State has not figured out the wide receiver position. Allar is a good collegiate quarterback who enters his second season under offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.
2025 Heisman Trophy Odds: Drew Allar (+1200)

5. Drew Allar - Penn State Nittany Lions

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/ranking-the-top-5-college-football-safeties-for-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranking the Top College Football Safeties for 2025</a>
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/lanorris-sellers/33348">LaNorris Sellers</a> is just scratching the surface of what he can be. As a redshirt freshman, Sellers threw for only 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns, but he managed to complete 65.6 percent of his passes, a figure that is higher than expected. His danger to defenses comes in the other part of his game, as he is a nightmare to tackle when he starts to get outside of the pocket. Sellers ran for 674 yards and seven touchdowns, and there were a few games this season when he looked like the most dynamic player in college football. South Carolina won some big-time portal battles and will be a top-25 team to begin the 2025 season.
Week 1: South Carolina (-9.5) at Virginia Tech

6. LaNorris Sellers - South Carolina Gamecocks

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Placing Arizona State quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/sam-leavitt/16678">Sam Leavitt</a> on this top ten list is as much a bet on head coach Kenny Dillingham and his offensive system as it is on Leavitt. As a redshirt freshman, Leavitt threw for 24 touchdowns to only six interceptions as he paired with <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cam-skattebo/16673">Cam Skattebo</a> and led the Sun Devils to the Big 12 Championship. He surprised defenses with his ability to evade tackles and pick up yards with his legs, running for 443 yards and five touchdowns. Leavitt gets back his best-receiving target and a good offensive line, and the offense will run through him more than it did in 2024.
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/newsletter/?utm_source=msn_feed&amp;utm_medium=video&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter">Have all the intel you need? Free actionable info is one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter, SportsGrid Daily.</a>

7. Sam Leavitt - Arizona State Sun Devils

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/cfb-top-10-indiana-hoosiers-returning-for-another-college-football-playoff-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 10 Indiana Hoosiers Returning For Another College Football Playoff Run</a>
It was not a great transfer portal class for the quarterback position, but a few gems have switched schools. One of those is former Cal quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/fernando-mendoza/49656">Fernando Mendoza</a>. Mendoza completed 68.7 percent of his passes for over 3,000 yards and added two touchdowns on the ground. This success came despite playing behind a truly awful offensive line. Mendoza will now be playing for Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers in a system that just helped <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kurtis-rourke/39213">Kurtis Rourke</a> receive votes for the Heisman Trophy and a cast of weapons much better than what he had in 2024.
Matriculate down the field with SportsGrid’s FREE Top <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/picks">College Football Picks</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/player-props">College Football Player Prop Picks</a> weekly!

8. Fernando Mendoza - Indiana Hoosiers

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The most expensive transfer quarterback was reportedly <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/carson-beck/22644">Carson Beck</a>. If reports are to be believed, the former Georgia Bulldog is getting $4 million to play the 2025 season for the Miami Hurricanes. Beck was wildly inconsistent in 2024 but ended with nearly 3,500 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also had 12 interceptions and was below 65 for completion percentage on just 7.8 yards per attempt. Miami will hope to get a season like <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cam-ward/22788">Cam Ward’s</a> from Beck as they try to make the College Football Playoff.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/">SportsGrid</a>.

9. Carson Beck - Miami Hurricanes

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The Tennessee Volunteers made the College Football Playoff, but not because of the passing attack or the play of <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/nico-iamaleava/38678">Nico Iamaleava</a>. The quarterback was expected to be a star in 2024, but he threw for only 2,616 yards with just 19 touchdowns as the Vols leaned on a great running back and defense to win games. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dylan-sampson/38649">Dylan Sampson</a> is now gone, so it's time for Iamaleava to turn his potential into production.
UPDATE: Nico Iamaleava has transferred to the UCLA Bruins.
2025 Heisman Trophy Odds: Nico Iamaleava +1200

10. Nico Iamaleava - UCLA Bruins

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/john-mateer/20580">John Mateer</a> had a remarkably good 2024 for the Washington State Cougars, throwing for more than 3,100 yards with 29 touchdowns and adding a team-high 826 yards on the ground with 15 more scores. In total, he nearly eclipsed 4,000 yards and had 44 touchdowns for the Cougars! He follows his offensive coordinator to Norman, and the pair will try to revitalize the offense of the Oklahoma Sooners. How will Mateer make the leap from the shell of the PAC-12 to a loaded SEC schedule?
2025 Heisman Trophy Odds: John Mateer +2500

11. John Mateer - Oklahoma Sooners

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The Vanderbilt Commodores got a massive boost as <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/diego-pavia/34431">Diego Pavia</a> was granted another year of eligibility, and he will return to Nashville for the 2025 campaign. Pavia was excellent this past year, totaling more than 3,200 yards with 28 touchdowns as he operated Clark Lea’s offense with expert efficiency and led his team to a bowl win. Vanderbilt will have difficulty replicating their success from 2024, but Pavia will be one of the toughest quarterbacks in the SEC to stop.

12. Diego Pavia - Vanderbilt Commodores

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According to some early polls, Bret Bielema's Illinois Fighting Illini are a preseason top-ten team, and they return a veteran group that was on the verge of playoff contention in 2024. The offensive leader is veteran quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/luke-altmyer/22382">Luke Altmyer</a>. If the Illini have a strong 2025 season and make the College Football Playoff, Altmyer will get the attention he has thus far been denied. Altmyer had 2,717 yards with 22 touchdowns and only six interceptions in 2024 and should have another strong supporting cast in 2025.

13. Luke Altmyer - Illinois Fighting Illini

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With Shedeur Sanders exiting Colorado for the NFL Draft, there is a hole at the top of the Big 12 quarterback rankings. There are several strong candidates, but we are calling for Baylor’s <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/sawyer-robertson/35762">Sawyer Robertson</a> to step up and become the best of the bunch. Robertson was impressive in 2024, throwing for 3,071 yards and beating out transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dequan-finn/35789">Dequan Finn</a>. He averaged more than eight yards per attempt and had 28 touchdowns to only eight interceptions while chipping in 230 yards rushing and four more touchdowns for a Baylor Bears squad that got hot late and won their final six regular season games to save Dave Aranda’s job.

14. Sawyer Robertson - Baylor Bears

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kevin-jennings/30182">Kevin Jennings</a> had a rotten end to the season as he imploded at Penn State and looked overwhelmed by the atmosphere and the cold weather. Before that game, he was fantastic and helped lead the Mustangs to a shocking College Football Playoff berth. Jennings had 3,245 yards with 23 touchdowns and ran for another 354 yards and five scores in Rhett Lashlee’s wide-open attack. SMU was much more of a force in the ACC than many expected, and they have the investment and the quarterback to remain a contender moving forward.

15. Kevin Jennings - SMU Mustangs

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Ten quarterbacks threw for over 3,600 yards during the 2024-2025 season. The three returning to play in 2025-2026 are <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cade-klubnik/37193">Cade Klubnik</a> of Clemson, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/garrett-nussmeier/51357">Garrett Nussmeier</a> of LSU, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/josh-hoover/38995">Josh Hoover</a> of TCU. Hoover completed 66.5 percent of his passes en route to a season with 3,949 yards through the air and 27 passing touchdowns. The Horned Frogs lost four games, including three defeats in games in which Hoover went off for more than 330 yards. He’s not a running threat (-19 yards on the season), but he’ll be one of the more prolific passers in the sport next season.

16. Josh Hoover - TCU Horned Frogs

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jake-retzlaff/30359">Jake Retzlaff</a> has all the tools needed to be a top-20 quarterback, but he needs to be more consistent. Retzlaff threw for nearly 3,000 yards with 20 touchdowns while adding 417 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground during a surprising campaign for the Cougars in which they almost reached the College Football Playoff but settled for a romp over Colorado in a bowl game. His biggest issue to correct is the completion percentage of only 57.9 percent. That needs to come up to around 63-65 percent if the Cougars are to live up to their likely top-ten preseason ranking.

17. Jake Retzlaff - BYU Cougars

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The Texas Tech Red Raiders were a bit of a disappointment in 2024, limping to an 8-5 record with a loss to Arkansas in their bowl game. The mediocre result was not the fault of quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/behren-morton/20911">Behren Morton</a>. Morton stayed healthy and started 12 games, throwing for 3,335 yards and 27 touchdowns while attempting 466 passes. The running game was not what they anticipated, and Morton is a negative in that department (-22 yards on the season). Improving his accuracy and upping the completion percentage by a few points will be key after the Red Raiders invested heavily in the transfer portal and have geared up for a run at the Big 12 Championship in Morton’s senior season.

18. Behren Morton - Texas Tech Red Raiders

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Is <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/taylen-green/27390">Taylen Green</a> ready to make a leap? He beat out Malachi Singleton for the starting role under offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. He was inconsistent but flashed terrific potential. Green threw for 3,154 yards with 15 touchdowns, but he turned it over nine times and was well below 55% completions in multiple games. The excitement comes in the running game as Green’s long strides can quickly eat up yards. If he can harness his potential, he can become a top-ten quarterback. The biggest impediment might be the hits the Razorbacks have taken in the transfer portal and whether they have a roster good enough to help him excel.

19. Taylen Green - Arkansas Razorbacks

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/eli-holstein/40158">Eli Holstein</a> was a well-regarded high school recruit who enrolled at Alabama. There were, reportedly, immediate concerns from the Alabama coaching staff that they had missed their evaluation of Holstein and that he would not be able to contribute to the Crimson Tide. Holstein was an afterthought when he transferred to Pitt, but he surprised everyone by winning the starting job and helping the Panthers to a shocking 7-0 start. Injuries and increased competition spoiled that as Pitt fell apart down the stretch, but Holstein showed a lot as a redshirt freshman. He’s relatively accurate, big-bodied, and a physical runner and offers a lot of promise for the Pitt offense moving forward.

20. Eli Holstein - Pitt Panthers

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/top-10-ohio-state-buckeyes-returning-for-another-championship-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 10 Ohio State Buckeyes Returning For Another Championship Run</a>
<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/julian-sayin/38120">Julian Sayin</a> is the heir apparent at quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/will-howard/38101">Will Howard</a> went to Columbus for one season and accomplished the mission before him, winning a national title and coming up huge during the College Football Playoff run. His eligibility is exhausted, and it was telling that Ohio State did not pursue any transfer portal quarterbacks to take over for him. Then he let former five-star <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/air-noland/38091">Air Noland</a> leave for South Carolina without a fight. Sayin has a fantastic arm and received rave reviews for his play in practice all season. Of course, he’ll have a fantastic group of weapons to throw to, including all-world receiver <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jeremiah-smith/38164">Jeremiah Smith</a>.

21. Julian Sayin - Ohio State Buckeyes

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dylan-raiola/37686">Dylan Raiola</a> arrived in Lincoln with nigh impossible expectations. He was a five-star recruit who initially committed to Georgia before choosing to play for Nebraska. The Husker legacy represented a great hope for Nebraska to return to relevance under Matt Rhule, and he was immediately thrown into the fire as the starting quarterback. His first season was not a smashing success, but it is fair to say it represented a significant step forward for Nebraska as the Huskers reached and won a bowl game. Raiola threw for 2,819 yards, completed 67 percent of his passes, and threw for 13 touchdowns. He needs to do a better job taking care of the ball, but Nebraska added some good pass catchers to help him take the next step.

22. Dylan Raiola - Nebraska Cornhuskers

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Potential. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/demond-williams/63965">Demond Williams Jr.</a> oozes potential, and the Washington Huskies are counting on 2025 as a significant step towards realizing it and turning potential into production. Demond Williams played as the backup to Will Rogers for much of the 2024 season, but he offered a spark every time he was on the field. Williams is a good athlete who can hurt opponents with his legs but appears to be quite capable of developing as an accurate passer. Jedd Fisch needs Williams to be the answer at quarterback for the Huskies to challenge in the top half of the Big Ten.

23. Demond Williams Jr. - Washington Huskies

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It would be fair to call <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/noah-fifita/38528">Noah Fifita’s</a> sophomore season a disappointment. A season after lighting it up as a freshman for Jedd Fisch in Tuscon, Fifita returned to Arizona and played for a new head coach in a new offensive system. Unfortunately, it did not go as planned, but Fifita was not terrible. He threw for 2,958 yards with 18 passing touchdowns despite playing behind a sieve of an offensive line. The biggest issue is Fifita’s accuracy, as he completed only 60.5 percent of his passes, and he’s now without his best receiver (a likely first-round NFL Draft pick).

24. Noah Fifita - Arizona Wildcats

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Can <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/maddux-madsen/23559">Maddux Madsen</a> get the job done without star running back <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/ashton-jeanty/23544">Ashton Jeanty</a> taking all of the defensive attention off the passing game? Madsen played second fiddle, understandably, but he had a terrific season and deserves a lot of credit for getting Boise State to the College Football Playoff. Madsen threw for over 3,000 yards and had 23 touchdowns with only six interceptions. The offense will need much more from him in 2025, but Madsen showed the ability to do what was asked of him.

25. Maddux Madsen - Boise State Broncos

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It was a bit of a surprise when freshman <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/darian-mensah/30844">Darian Mensah</a> beat out <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kai-horton/63457">Kai Horton</a> and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/ty-thompson/30865">Ty Thompson</a> for the starting quarterback position at Tulane. Despite his youth, Mensah completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,723 yards with 22 touchdowns and only turned the ball over six times. The Green Wave ran the ball quite a bit, but Mensah did everything asked of him. Mensah entered the transfer portal and surprisingly bolted to Duke to play for Manny Diaz. I do think a bit of skepticism is warranted here. He was poor against Oklahoma in a 34-19 defeat, struggled against Army in the AAC title game, and did not play in the bowl game. How is his game going to translate to a tougher league?

26. Darian Mensah - Duke Blue Devils

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/avery-johnson/18504">Avery Johnson</a> and the Kansas State Wildcats did not have the season they hoped for in 2024. The sky is still the limit for this talented athlete. If he can stay healthy in 2025, I believe in his ability to elevate the Wildcats to a playoff spot. Johnson needs to improve his accuracy and consistency, and Kansas State needs to do a better job of putting him in a position where he can utilize his legs. He can hurt defenses if he can get outside of the tackles.

27. Avery Johnson - Kansas State Wildcats

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The Michigan State Spartans had a rougher-than-expected first year under head coach Jonathan Smith. He came from Oregon State and brought <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/aidan-chiles/19819">Aidan Chiles</a> to East Lansing. The talented quarterback has definite growing pains, but the ability is undeniable. Chiles must increase his accuracy (59.4% completion percentage) and improve his decision-making. When under pressure, which was often, Chiles had a tendency to try and make a play, resulting in many turnovers (11 interceptions), but if Michigan State can improve their offensive line play a bit, Chiles should have a good junior season.

28. Aidan Chiles - Michigan State Spartans

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/grayson-mccall/17067">Grayson McCall</a> was brought in from Coastal Carolina, and Dave Doeren was counting on him to improve the NC State offense after a disappointing 2023 season. After a few terrible starts and an injury to McCall, North Carolina State turned to freshman <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cj-bailey/17056">CJ Bailey</a> and gave the Wolfpack a glance at the future. Bailey impressed, completing 65 percent of his passes and accumulating 2,413 yards with 17 touchdowns. He adds a good running element and had five rushing touchdowns and almost 280 yards on the ground. As they try to compete in the ACC, Bailey is a good foundation piece for North Carolina State.

29. CJ Bailey - North Carolina State Wolfpack

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Matt Campbell seemed to have all of the pieces in place for Iowa State to finally get over the hump and push for the Big 12 Championship, but they needed a strong season of growth for young quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/rocco-becht/45201">Rocco Becht</a>. Becht threw for 3,504 yards and 25 touchdowns, but he still has another level to grow. He only completed 59.4 percent of his passes and needs to jump by at least a few percentage points, which will be difficult after losing both of his top receivers.

30. Rocco Becht - Iowa State Cyclones

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Ole Miss went “all-in” for the 2024 season, investing a ton of money in defensive reinforcements in the transfer portal, believing they could challenge for the SEC Championship. Things did not go as planned, and the Rebels missed the College Football Playoff. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jaxson-dart/48278">Jaxson Dart</a> is now in the NFL Draft but Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss have a firm belief they have a rising star at quarterback ready to step into the void.
As a freshman, <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/austin-simmons/48379">Austin Simmons</a> completed 19 of 32 passes with two touchdowns, and he clearly has Kiffin's trust. The “Portal King” did not opt to pursue anyone at the position in this year’s transfer portal. Simmons is still only 19 years old, and he will be entering his third season in Kiffin’s system in Oxford. He’s a good athlete, and coaches believe his ceiling is incredibly high.

31. Austin Simmons - Ole Miss Rebels

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The Texas A&amp;M Aggies entered the 2024 season, Mike Elko’s first season in charge in College Station, relying on <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/conner-weigman/45593">Conner Weigman</a> to begin playing like the highly-touted prospect he was. Weigman never really took off and then was injured, and the Aggies turned to freshman <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/marcel-reed/45716">Marcel Reed</a> to spark the offense. He ended up playing in 11 games and took over the starting role, offering glimpses of really good play mixed with inconsistency. Reed is a good athlete who definitely looks like a player who could develop into a difference-maker at the position. Texas A&amp;M should have a great rushing attack in 2025, but they need Reed to offer a consistent threat at quarterback to exceed expectations.

32. Marcel Reed - Texas A&M Aggies

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<a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/ncaaf/article/cfb-top-10-oregon-ducks-returning-for-another-college-football-playoff-run" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 10 Oregon Ducks Returning For Another College Football Playoff Run</a>
The quarterback for the Oregon Ducks is almost sure to put up big numbers. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/players/bo-nix/60112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bo Nix</a> did it, and then Dillon Gabriel stepped in, and the offense actually made a bit of a further jump. Offensive coordinator Will Stein is remarkably adept at putting his players in position to succeed, and Oregon has a dynamic group of skilled players to distribute the ball to. 
The next quarterback to take a turn in the spotlight is <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/dante-moore/29407">Dante Moore</a>. Moore transferred into the program from UCLA before the 2024 season and spent a year learning in Eugene. The show is now his. There are significant questions about whether or not he can live up to his five-star billing as a high school prospect. Still, the Ducks had enough belief in him not to seriously pursue anyone at the position in the transfer portal. We’ll see if Stein can work his magic.

33. Dante Moore - Oregon Ducks

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Do the Iowa Hawkeyes have a good quarterback? There’s not much to like about the wide receivers but South Dakota State transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/mark-gronowski/26282">Mark Gronowski</a> might be the answer at the position that has vexed the black and gold for years. The veteran has played in 55 games, thrown for 10,309 yards, rushed for 1,767 yards, and racked up a remarkable 110 touchdowns. Will Iowa open up the playbook some and let Gronowski take some chances? Unfortunately, he had to undergo offseason shoulder surgery and will not be available in the spring. That could limit his ability to hit the ground running in Iowa City.

34. Mark Gronowski - Iowa Hawkeyes

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Auburn was a mess for much of the 2024 season, but it must be pointed out that they lost many close games and suffered from abysmal turnover luck. If you squint, there is a path for the Tigers to be genuine playoff contenders in 2025, but it will require a major step forward from transfer quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jackson-arnold/21212">Jackson Arnold</a>. Arnold was benched at Oklahoma but stuck with the team and played a big part in a stunning upset of Alabama. He has talent but has not played like the five-star prospect he was in high school. Auburn reaching a level deemed acceptable by their hungry fanbase will require him to begin to play like a top-level quarterback. They have surrounded him with a good group of weapons.

35. Jackson Arnold - Auburn Tigers

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The numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page, but you cannot quantify leadership, toughness, and how much a player means to a team. The intangibles are off the charts for Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/haynes-king/30011">Haynes King</a>. He was hampered by injuries in 2024 and was limited to more than 2600 yards and 25 touchdowns as he rotated and the Yellow Jackets altered the offense. He should enter the 2025 campaign healthy and as the leader of Georgia Tech’s offense. The schedule sets up nicely for Georgia Tech to be a real sleeper in the ACC.

36. Haynes King - Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

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Brendan Sorsby transferred from Indiana and started for the Cincinnati Bearcats as a sophomore, completing 64% of his passes and throwing 18 touchdowns to only seven interceptions. It was a relatively successful season for Sorsby but the Bearcats struggled mightily and missed a bowl game, losing the final five contests of the season including bad home losses to West Virginia and TCU. Can Sorsby positively impact winning in 2025?

37. Brendan Sorsby - Cincinnati Bearcats

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Jeff Brohm continues to cycle through transfer portal quarterbacks and has a type. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/miller-moss/36450">Miller Moss</a> fits the mold on paper and joins the Cardinals for the 2025 campaign after a wild ride at USC. Moss was outstanding in a bowl game to end the 2023 season but sputtered in an up-and-down 2024 before losing his job to <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jayden-maiava/36482">Jayden Maiava</a> and then transferring to Louisville. Brohm’s offensive system requires accuracy and quick decision-making from his quarterback, and Moss inherits a good running back group to lean on.

38. Miller Moss - Louisville Cardinals

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It is difficult for a true freshman to be highly successful at the quarterback position. Still, Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 recruit in the incoming freshman class, is a special talent that could buck tradition. Fresno State transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/mikey-keene/28090">Mikey Keene</a> might begin the season at No. 1 as a veteran presence, but I’m betting Underwood won’t be on the bench for long. Underwood has been described by recruiting analysts as “Cam Newton with better accuracy.” If he can scratch the surface of his potential, the Wolverines will have solved their quarterback issue.

39. Bryce Underwood - Michigan Wolverines

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The USC Trojans turned to <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/jayden-maiava/36482">Jayden Maiava</a> for their final four games, and the UNLV transfer seemed to stabilize the offense in a way that <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/miller-moss/36450">Miller Moss</a> could not. He threw for 11 touchdowns and 1,135 yards and could hardly be called a star, with “solid” being a more apt description. Is Lincoln Riley capable of reproducing his successes of the recent past and developing Maiava into a star now that he is the full-time starter? Placing him at this spot on the list leans towards a modest improvement but no star-turn in 2025.

40. Jayden Maiava - USC Trojans

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What to do with <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/gunner-stockton/22591">Gunner Stockton</a>? He’ll need to hold off four-star <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/ryan-puglisi/63789">Ryan Puglisi</a>, a player the UGA staff thinks highly of. Stockton is a wildcard, assuming he is the starter for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2025. The former high school star does not have the physical profile of a stud quarterback, but Stetson Bennett did not either, and that turned out just fine for the Bulldogs. He looked overwhelmed against Notre Dame but still ended up with 234 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He made a few critical runs to help Georgia beat Texas while Carson Beck was injured. How much has he progressed with some experience under his belt? The answer will be a key to determining Georgia’s potential to return to the top of the sport.

41. Gunner Stockton - Georgia Bulldogs

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/byrum-brown/48983">Byrum Brown</a> was a breakout star in 2023. As a true dual-threat quarterback, he accumulated more than 4,000 yards and 37 touchdowns, propelling the South Florida Bulls. USF took a step back in year two under Alex Golesh, as Brown suffered a leg injury and only played in six games. South Florida has a good group of skill players, but a questionable offensive line gives me pause about ranking Brown higher than this.

42. Byrum Brown - South Florida Bulls

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The Florida State Seminoles are essentially starting over after an unthinkably bad 2024 season. Gus Malzahn is the new offensive coordinator, and former Boston College quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/thomas-castellanos/20776">Thomas Castellanos</a> is the new QB1. Castellanos essentially quit on his team last season, but it’s fair to say that he was never a good fit for Bill O’Brien’s system and makes a whole lot more sense in Tallahassee with Malzahn. Castellanos will not be a remarkably accurate or efficient quarterback, but he’s a significant threat as a runner and will be an upgrade on what the Noles had last season.

43. Thomas Castellanos - Florida State Seminoles

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There were high expectations in Blacksburg entering the 2024 season as Virginia Tech got a lot of buzz, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kyron-drones/28872">Kyron Drones</a> was expected to compete for All-ACC honors at quarterback. Things did not go as planned, and head coach Brent Pry enters the 2025 campaign on a hot seat. Drones played in nine games in 2024 and completed only 60.7% of his passes for 1562 yards with ten touchdowns and six interceptions. He also only ran the ball for 3.43 yards per rush and was generally ineffective as the Hokies sputtered to a 6-7 record. He’ll have to be much better in 2025 to stay on the field.

44. Kyron Drones - Virginia Tech Hokies

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/caden-veltkamp/48595">Caden Veltkamp</a> left Western Kentucky, which is generally not an advisable move for a quarterback. However, he’s going to Boca Raton with new head coach and former offensive coordinator at WKU Zach Kittley. That likely means a very prolific offense and huge numbers for Veltkamp. The former tight end had over 3,100 yards with 32 total touchdowns and 66.3 percent completions. After entertaining some interest from power conference schools, Veltkamp decided to play for Kittley. This pairing could form one of the more explosive offenses in the Group of Five.

45. Caden Veltkamp - FAU Owls

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There are some players that you end up just believing in. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/gio-lopez/42412">Gio Lopez</a> is one of those players for me. The South Alabama quarterback lost running back Fluff Bothwell, which likely hurts the team but will increase Lopez’s production in 2025. As a redshirt freshman, the undersized Lopez had more than 3,000 yards with 25 touchdowns, and he now has a full year of experience under his belt and will be entering year two in a solid offensive system. The Jaguars might struggle in the Sun Belt after personnel losses, but Lopez is a significant reason for optimism, and I think he’ll keep them competitive.
UPDATE: Transfer to North Carolina Tar Heels

46. Gio Lopez - North Carolina Tar Heels

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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a deep quarterback room, but the group is light on experience, and the starter will be a player who has barely played. Steve Angeli was the odds-on favorite to win the battle, but he was beaten out by <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/cj-carr/46131">CJ Carr</a>.

47. CJ Carr - Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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Eli Drinkwitz is an exceptional talent evaluator and usually hits on the quarterback position. After the graduation of Brady Cook, Drinkwitz turned to the transfer portal and snagged former Penn State backup <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/beau-pribula/49470">Beau Pribula</a> to be the next starter for the Missouri Tigers. Pribula only threw 35 passes but completed 74.3 percent of his attempts for five touchdowns with only one interception. He is way more mobile than Cook, and his legs add a new dimension to the Missouri offense after he ran for 242 yards with four scores. Pribula will now have the keys to an offense, and it’s unknown whether he is ready. Still, Drinkwitz is betting on him to lead Missouri to the College Football Playoff against a favorable schedule.

48. Beau Pribula - Missouri Tigers

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We have reached an interesting stage of the rankings. Powerhouse programs like Notre Dame and Alabama like the talent and potential depth they have at quarterback, but there is uncertainty and a significant lack of game experience. The Crimson Tide have <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/austin-mack/71719">Austin Mack</a>, a redshirt freshman, and true freshman Keelon Russell, the incoming five-star recruit. The best bet to emerge as the starter appears to be <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/ty-simpson/19485">Ty Simpson</a>. Simpson was a decorated recruit who joined the program in 2022. Despite his familiarity with the college game, he has only thrown 50 total passes and has zero touchdown passes during his career. The Tennessee native undoubtedly has some talent, but it’s anyone’s guess as to how he’ll look as QB1 against competitive defenses.

49. Ty Simpson - Alabama Crimson Tide

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/billy-edwards/47730">Billy Edwards</a> finally broke through at Maryland and got his chance to be the full-time starter for the Terrapins. The results were decidedly mixed. He threw for 2,881 yards, completed 65 percent of his passes, and scored five touchdowns on the ground. However, he also had nine interceptions, averaged only 6.9 yards per attempt, and Maryland stumbled to a 4-8 record and was just 1-8 in the Big Ten. Edwards is staying in the Big Ten but jumped to Madison and will be the starter for the Wisconsin Badgers. He’s a mid-level quarterback that Wisconsin is hoping can elevate, but there’s not much evidence to suggest that is likely.

50. Billy Edwards Jr. - Wisconsin Badgers

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/preston-stone/30120">Preston Stone</a> was expected to be the starter for the SMU Mustangs as they moved to the ACC in 2024 after he put together a fantastic campaign in 2023. He was injured at the end of that season and never looked like himself as he struggled to open the 2024 campaign. Stone began splitting time with Kevin Jennings and was outperformed, so Rhett Lashlee made the call to switch to Jennings full-time, and Stone rode the bench for the rest of SMU’s run to the College Football Playoff. Unsurprisingly, Stone hit the portal, but it was a bit of a surprise that he ended up at Northwestern. The Wildcats don’t have a quarterback-friendly system, but Stone offers a higher ceiling than they have recently had at the position.

51. Preston Stone - Northwestern Wildcats

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The Tulane Green Wave had a darn good quarterback room in 2024. Darian Mensah emerged as the starter, but he’s now Duke's quarterback. Kai Horton has moved on as well. That leaves <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/ty-thompson/30865">Ty Thompson</a> as QB1, and the Green Wave seem comfortable with that. He was not good in 2024, but Thompson does have talent, and the Arizona native was good in his appearances in 2023 (77.4%, four touchdowns to only one interception). There is a good group of weapons around him, and the Green Wave will contend for the American Athletic Conference if Thompson excels.

52. Ty Thompson - Tulane Green Wave

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Bill O’Brien has a strong history of developing good quarterbacks. He started the 2024 season, his first in Chestnut Hill, with Thomas Castellanos as his starting quarterback, but turned to <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/grayson-james/36297">Grayson James</a> late in the season. Castellanos eventually transferred to Florida State. James was 20 for 28 for 253 yards, two touchdowns, and more than 300 yards against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in their bowl game. There has been positive buzz from BC about James's development and improvement, and they believe he has a bright future.

53. Grayson James - Boston College Eagles

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Appalachian State had a poor year, by their standards, in 2024, but <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/joey-aguilar/46523">Joey Aguilar</a> was prolific and offers hope for the UCLA Bruins at the quarterback position. He only completed 55.9 percent of his passes but had 3,003 yards and 23 touchdowns in a reasonably tough league (Sun Belt) while playing behind a patchwork and porous offensive line. Aguilar returns to his home state of California after putting up 6,760 yards in 25 appearances for the Mountaineers. He has to improve his accuracy and take better care of the ball (24 interceptions) as he moves up to the Big Ten.
UPDATE: Committed to Tennessee Volunteers

54. Joey Aguilar - Tennessee Volunteers

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/chandler-morris/73122">Chandler Morris</a> has had quite a journey. The Virginia Cavaliers will be at his fourth school and third different conference. He began his career at Oklahoma, transferred to TCU, and started last season at North Texas. He threw for 3,774 yards with 31 touchdowns and is finishing his collegiate career in Charlottesville for the Cavaliers. Morris led the American Athletic Conference with an average of more than 308 yards per game, but it’s a big step up as he tries to elevate the Cavaliers.

55. Chandler Morris - Virginia Cavaliers

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Was the 2024 season for <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/zach-calzada/29596">Zach Calzada</a> a product of the system at Incarnate Word, or has the former blue-chip prospect figured things out? Calzada threw for 3,744 yards and 35 touchdowns with the Cardinals, but those numbers constitute a significant increase over his previous accomplishments. Again, Kentucky is relying on a one-year fix through the transfer portal at quarterback, and Calzada has flopped at the high-major level. The Wildcats need him to work out, but have had serious losses at the wide receiver position, and optimism is not high.

56. Zach Calzada - Kentucky Wildcats

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/devon-dampier/16862">Devon Dampier</a> is not a particularly good passer. As a sophomore for the New Mexico Lobos, he completed only 57.9 percent of his passes with just 7.1 yards per attempt and threw the same number of interceptions as touchdowns (12). However, I love the fit of Dampier with the Utah Utes, and his running ability will be a significant difference-maker as Kyle Whittingham tries to return the physicality and toughness to his program. When Utah is at its best, Dampier should do well in Salt Lake City, despite the step up in competition.

57. Devon Dampier - Utah Utes

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The Duke Blue Devils went 9-4 in 2024 under new head coach Manny Diaz. <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/maalik-murphy/47005">Maalik Murphy</a> started his career at Texas and then transferred to Duke as a hyped acquisition for the Blue Devils. His numbers were pretty good as he completed 60.3% of his passes for 2,933 yards with 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Still, Diaz and his staff clearly felt there were many things left on the field and missed opportunities as they let Murphy walk to the portal again and replaced him quickly with Tulane transfer Darian Mensah. Murphy did not get much traction or interest, but he did land in a good position, transferring to Oregon State to lead the Beavers. Murphy should be very productive against OSU’s schedule.

58. Maalik Murphy - Oregon State Beavers

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The Cal Golden Bears lost terrific quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the Indiana Hoosiers and addressed the hole with additions through high school and the transfer portal. Justin Wilcox landed Devin Brown from Ohio State and flipped elite high school recruit Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. The two have spent spring practice locked in a battle for the starting role, and Wilcox is unlikely to name a starter until much closer to the season. I bet that Sagapolutele wins out. The freshman is more talented, and Brown struggled in spring scrimmages. New offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin needs a difference-making talent after the Bears lost some significant pieces to the transfer portal.

59. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele - Cal Golden Bears

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Senior transfer quarterback <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/kaidon-salter/25462">Kaidon Salter</a> was ranked much higher on this list ahead of the 2024 season, but he struggled mightily in 2024 after leading the Flames to the Fiesta Bowl the year before. Salter only completed 56.3 percent of his passes for 1,886 yards, and Liberty took a step back despite playing a very weak schedule. He decided to transfer to quarterback-friendly Colorado and will battle with true freshman Julian Lewis for the starting quarterback job. The Buffaloes lost a lot of talent at wide receiver, but I think the offensive line should be improved, and I trust Deion Sanders to put enough talent on the field to help the quarterback succeed. I think Salter gets the first shot at quarterback, and he’ll need to play well to keep Lewis on the bench for a year.

60. Kaidon Salter - Colorado Buffaloes

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/conner-weigman/45593">Conner Weigman</a> was a hyped high school prospect and was seen as a huge recruit for the Texas A&amp;M Aggies. However, he rarely produced at the level expected, and Jimbo Fisher was canned. The Aggies turned to Mike Elko, and Weigman was given another chance to show his talent in a new system. That did not go particularly well, and the Aggies turned to Marcel Reed. Reed jumpstarted the attack and eventually took over the starting role from the oft-injured Weigman. Weigman entered the transfer portal and returned home to Houston to play for Willie Fritz and the Cougars. It seems like a good fit, but Houston is severely out-manned on the lines of scrimmage (even by Big 12 standards), and they’ll need a healthy Weigman in 2025 to have a shot at going bowling.

61. Conner Weigman - Houston Cougars

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Hawaii may have stumbled upon a star. Starting quarterback Brayden Schager threw for 2,591 yards. Still, he was forced to sit out the regular-season finale against New Mexico with an injury, and they gave the nod to freshman <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/micah-alejado/37312">Micah Alejado</a>. Alejado led the Rainbow Warriors to a 38-30 victory as he lit up the Lobos for 469 passing yards with five touchdowns plus 54 rushing yards. In the Hawaii offensive system, Alejado is going to put up huge numbers.

62. Micah Alejado - Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

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<a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/drake-lindsey/32095">Drake Lindsey</a> sat behind Max Brosmer last season. He’ll have to beat out Georgia Tech transfer Zach Pyron, but hopes are high in Minneapolis for Lindsey. The media and coaches have lauded the redshirt freshman during spring practice, and he has been getting most first-team reps. Lindsey is a big and physical quarterback with a huge arm. He’ll make mistakes as he gains experience, but the ceiling is high and worth taking a risk on despite the growing pains.

63. Drake Lindsey - Minnesota Golden Gophers

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The bar has been pretty darn low for the quarterback position at Rutgers. It has been the one position that Greg Schiano has been unable to get consistent play from since his return to Piscataway. Still, Minnesota transfer <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/athan-kaliakmanis/40204">Athan Kaliakmanis</a>, aka “The Greek Rifle," provided a boost in 2024, and he returns for his senior season. Rutgers only averaged 207 passing yards per game last season, so listing him this low is justified. He must improve his 53.9 percent completion rate. Kaliakmanis has a good group of receivers to throw to and needs to capitalize with them as the running game will be in flux with the departure of Kyle Monangai.

64. Athan Kaliakmanis - Rutgers Scarlet Knights

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Football fans know the McCown name, and <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/owen-mccown/42555">Owen McCown</a> is now the unquestioned starter at UTSA. The Road Runners started slowly in 2024 before settling in, and McCown ended up ranking third in the American Athletic Conference with 3,424 yards and No. 1 in explosive passing rate. McCown should be one of the best quarterbacks in the AAC this season.

65. Owen McCown - UTSA Road Runners

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Old Dominion head coach Ricky Rahne was on the hot seat before a quarterback change from Grant Wilson to <a href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/cfb/players/colton-joseph/43956">Colton Joseph</a> helped spark the team to a strong finish and bowl eligibility. Joseph is an excellent dual-threat weapon for the Monarchs, and he’ll be one of the best quarterbacks in the Sun Belt Conference this season. He appeared in nine games in 2024 and totaled 22 touchdowns with more than 2,200 yards (1,627 passing and 647 rushing).

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