NCAAF · 6 hours ago

College Football Quarterback Tiers 2026: The Athletic Ranks Top 16 QBs

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

Have Your Say! Who are the Best Quarterbacks in College Football?
Get into the Debate: Rate the QB Tiers

We’ve officially audited The Athletic's 2026 College Quarterback Tiers, but now it's your turn to step up to the whiteboard and weigh in!

The No. 1 Spot: Do you agree with Trinidad Chambliss holding down the top spot in college football, or is Oregon's Dante Moore the true No. 1 overall signal-caller?

System vs. Superstar: Is Ohio State's Julian Sayin being underrated by rival execs, or is he a product of the Buckeyes' loaded offense?

The Transfer Surge: Which portal passer, Darian Mensah at Miami, Drew Mestemaker at Oklahoma State, or Sam Leavitt at LSU, will have the biggest impact on the 2026 playoff race?

Drop your hot takes and own QB rankings in the comments!
The Athletic's College Football QB Tiers: Top 16 Pivots
Signal-Caller Hierarchy: The Athletic’s Top College Football Quarterbacks by Tier

Projecting college quarterbacks is a high-stakes, unpredictable science, but every summer, The Athletic sits down with roughly three dozen coaches, general managers, personnel directors, and scouts across the FBS landscape to cut through the noise.

Using anonymous insights from front-office evaluators who study these signal-callers on film and face them on Saturdays, the second annual College QB Tiers index breaks down the top passers in the country. From former Division II transfers surging to the top of the SEC to blue-chip NFL prospects returning to chase a national title, this list isolates the players who truly dictate games.

Clear off your whiteboards and step into the film room, here is how the experts tier out the top 16 quarterbacks entering the 2026 college football season.
16. John Mateer
Quarterback | Oklahoma | Tier 2

Mateer's dual-threat energy makes him one of the most frustrating assignments for opposing defensive coordinators to contain. Even after gutting through a hand injury last year, his off-script playmaking and physical running style keep the Sooners' offense dangerous.

"He’s just so damn hard to get on the ground and get your hands on." — Anonymous FBS General Manager

2025 Stats: 3,885 passing yards, 22 TD, 11 INT, 65.1 QBR
15. Kevin Jennings
Quarterback | SMU | Tier 2

Jennings is a battle-tested winner who simply finds ways to move the chains and post victories in Dallas. Battling through bumps and bruises last year, his dual-threat capability and veteran savvy under Rhett Lashlee have won over coaches across the country.

"He's one of those guys that just kind of gets the job done and has been really solid and probably overlooked because it doesn't look the prettiest all the time." — Anonymous Power 4 Offensive Coordinator

2025 Stats: 3,641 passing yards, 30 TD, 13 INT, 70.0 QBR
14. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele
Quarterback | Cal | Tier 2

The Golden Bears found an absolute star in Sagapolutele, who put together one of the most impressive freshman campaigns in the nation. His instincts under pressure, anticipate-and-deliver capability, and high-end ball placement make Cal a must-watch squad every weekend.

"His ball placement is terrific, but it’s his poise. It’s his understanding of where to go when the initial read ain’t open." — Anonymous ACC Personnel Staffer

2025 Stats: 3,454 passing yards, 22 TD, 9 INT, 58.5 QBR
13. Marcel Reed
Quarterback | Texas A&M | Tier 2

Reed sparked an 11-game winning streak in College Station thanks to his dual-threat mobility, intermediate accuracy, and field leadership. Now navigating a play-calling transition, he'll need to sharpen his deep ball against elite competition to elevate his game to the top tier.

"I didn’t love the decision making on a big-time stage against Miami. I wish he would have been a little more clinical." — Anonymous FBS Personnel Staffer

2025 Stats: 3,169 passing yards, 31 TD, 12 INT, 75.6 QBR
12. Josh Hoover
Quarterback | Indiana | Tier 2

Stepping into Bloomington to take over the defending national champions' offense, Hoover possesses raw arm talent and touch that can match anyone in the country. If the coaching staff can help him limit risky throws, he has all the tools to put together a storybook season.

"Arm talent is as good as anyone’s." — Anonymous Big 12 Personnel Director

2025 Stats: 3,472 passing yards, 31 TD, 13 INT, 73.6 QBR
11. Gunner Stockton
Quarterback | Georgia | Tier 2

Stockton might not post jaw-dropping highlight reels every Saturday, but he is as dependable and tough as they come in Athens. Ranking among the P4 leaders in ball security and low off-target percentage, he does whatever is necessary to keep the Bulldogs in the win column.

"Stockton is old faithful. You know what you get and what you get is really good." — Anonymous SEC General Manager

2025 Stats: 2,894 passing yards, 34 TD, 5 INT, 84.9 QBR
10. Noah Fifita
Quarterback | Arizona | Tier 2

He might not meet traditional NFL height benchmarks, but Fifita plays with the heart of a giant and the mind of an offensive coordinator. With 34 career starts under his belt, his pocket awareness, quick release, and uncanny ability to extend plays keep the Wildcats dangerous against anyone.

"He can make every throw. He's athletic enough to extend. He's really good, and I think Arizona's a pretty sneaky, dangerous team in the Big 12." — Anonymous Big 12 Offensive Coordinator

2025 Stats: 3,228 passing yards, 32 TD, 6 INT, 71.2 QBR
9. Jayden Maiava
Quarterback | USC | Tier 2

Operating in Lincoln Riley's quarterback incubator, Maiava took massive strides in managing the offense cleanly while delivering big-time throws downfield. With improved pocket composure and natural size, he enters his senior year as one of the sneaky-best passers in the Big Ten.

"The most underrated quarterback is Lincoln Riley’s quarterback. The dude is good. Like, really good. I was just watching USC film. He’s in the top handful of quarterbacks and nobody talks about him..." — Anonymous Big 12 Head Coach

2025 Stats: 3,711 passing yards, 30 TD, 10 INT, 89.9 QBR
8. Sam Leavitt
Quarterback | LSU | Tier 1

Landing in Baton Rouge after a stellar run in the desert, Leavitt brings pure swagger and high-end physical traits to Lane Kiffin's offense. When healthy, his deep-ball touch and competitive grit make him a nightmare for SEC secondaries to keep contained.

"He’s as cool as a cucumber with the game on the line. … Throws an elite deep ball, is a really good athlete, super talented kid. You want to talk about competitive moxie? That kid’s got it through the roof." — Anonymous Power 4 Offensive Coordinator

2025 Stats: 1,628 passing yards, 15 TD, 3 INT, 129.2 rating
7. Arch Manning
Quarterback | Texas | Tier 1

The blue-blood spotlight is always blinding in Austin, but Manning proved he could weather the storm after a rough early start by torching defenses down the stretch. Armed with ideal frame mechanics, a big arm, and dual-threat mobility, he has all the physical tools to lock down elite status.

"You’ve got to tip your cap to that kid, because after the start of last year, to be able to rebound the way that he did and play as good as he did down the stretch is really impressive and something that not very many people would be able to do." — Anonymous Big 12 Offensive Coordinator

2025 Stats: 3,163 passing yards, 36 TD, 7 INT, 78.0 QBR
6. Drew Mestemaker
Quarterback | Oklahoma State | Tier 1

Following his coaching staff to Stillwater after throwing for nearly 4,400 yards, Mestemaker makes the jump to the Big 12 as the conference's premier passing threat. He brings off-platform magic and a rocket launcher for an arm that allows him to thread needles downfield.

"There’s no question (he’s the best in the league). That kid’s so good. … He’s good enough with his legs but his arm talent is freaky." — Anonymous Big 12 Personnel Staffer

2025 Stats: 4,379 passing yards, 39 TD, 9 INT, 168.7 rating
5. Julian Sayin
Quarterback | Ohio State | Tier 1

Few players trigger as much debate across war rooms as Columbus' young signal-caller. On one side, you have a surgical distributor who posted historic accuracy metrics and reached the playoff; on the other, critics wonder if he's holding the keys to a Ferrari or driving it himself.

"I think people are criminally low on Sayin. I think Sayin is a top-two or -three quarterback, and anyone else who doesn’t have him there is wrong." — Anonymous ACC Front Office Staffer

2025 Stats: 3,610 passing yards, 32 TD, 8 INT, 88.4 QBR
4. Darian Mensah
Quarterback | Miami (Fla.) | Tier 1

Miami hit the portal jackpot yet again by landing the undisputed crown jewel of the transfer market. Mensah brings a championship resume after collecting hardware at his previous stops, operating with a calm pocket presence and a quick-trigger arm that projects to fit seamlessly into the Hurricanes' loaded offense.

"If you have a Word doc, put that in bold and underline. It’s a clear-cut No. 1." — Anonymous ACC Personnel Staffer

2025 Stats: 3,973 passing yards, 35 TD, 6 INT, 76.6 QBR
3. CJ Carr
Quarterback | Notre Dame | Tier 1

Blessed with legendary football lineage, Carr stepped into the starting spot under the golden dome and played like a seasoned veteran from day one. Despite losing a hefty chunk of his surrounding playmakers to the pros, his field vision and layered passing ability give Notre Dame an absolute superstar behind center.

"For sure top-three (quarterback). Poised, makes all the throws, can layer the ball, elite processor, captain, kids love him, ultra competitor. He’s unbelievable. He’s a top-10 pick." — Anonymous Power 4 General Manager

2025 Stats: 2,741 passing yards, 27 TD, 6 INT, 83.4 QBR
2. Dante Moore
Quarterback | Oregon | Tier 1

Passing up a likely top-five selection in the NFL Draft to return to school is a massive statement, but Moore chose to lock in another year of development in Eugene. He brings a serene composure to the pocket, combining pinpoint arm mechanics with sneaky mobility that leaves opposing defensive coordinators awake at night.

"I love Dante. I think Dante would’ve been the first pick in the draft this year. I love the way he throws. I love how calm he is. I love his demeanor." — Anonymous SEC Assistant Coach

2025 Stats: 3,565 passing yards, 32 TD, 10 INT, 78.5 QBR
1. Trinidad Chambliss
Quarterback | Ole Miss | Tier 1

Taking the leap from Division II all the way to the top of the SEC sounds like a video game fantasy, but Chambliss turned it into real-world dominance during a storybook playoff run last season. Even with a brand-new coaching staff taking over in Oxford, his combination of off-script wizardry and stone-cold accuracy makes him the most dangerous game-changer in college football.

"Trinidad is probably the best one (in the SEC). I think he’s a baller." — Anonymous SEC Assistant

2025 Stats: 3,937 passing yards, 30 TD, 3 INT, 86.5 QBR
Have Your Say! Who are the Best Quarterbacks in College Football?
Get into the Debate: Rate the QB Tiers

We’ve officially audited The Athletic's 2026 College Quarterback Tiers, but now it's your turn to step up to the whiteboard and weigh in!

The No. 1 Spot: Do you agree with Trinidad Chambliss holding down the top spot in college football, or is Oregon's Dante Moore the true No. 1 overall signal-caller?

System vs. Superstar: Is Ohio State's Julian Sayin being underrated by rival execs, or is he a product of the Buckeyes' loaded offense?

The Transfer Surge: Which portal passer, Darian Mensah at Miami, Drew Mestemaker at Oklahoma State, or Sam Leavitt at LSU, will have the biggest impact on the 2026 playoff race?

Drop your hot takes and own QB rankings in the comments!
The Athletic's College Football QB Tiers: Top 16 Pivots
Signal-Caller Hierarchy: The Athletic’s Top College Football Quarterbacks by Tier

Projecting college quarterbacks is a high-stakes, unpredictable science, but every summer, The Athletic sits down with roughly three dozen coaches, general managers, personnel directors, and scouts across the FBS landscape to cut through the noise.

Using anonymous insights from front-office evaluators who study these signal-callers on film and face them on Saturdays, the second annual College QB Tiers index breaks down the top passers in the country. From former Division II transfers surging to the top of the SEC to blue-chip NFL prospects returning to chase a national title, this list isolates the players who truly dictate games.

Clear off your whiteboards and step into the film room, here is how the experts tier out the top 16 quarterbacks entering the 2026 college football season.